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How to connect a Double Pole Switch? Homer 10-09-2007
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Posted by Mark Lloyd on October 9, 2007, 2:31 pm
On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 08:47:14 -0700, "Bill"

>"Homer" wrote in message
>>
>> What I have is a DPST (Four Screws, Two marked as Input, Two as
>> Output).
>>
>
>The only time I would use a double pole switch is with 240 volts. Like a
>range or hot water heater would use. But I would not need to place a switch
>on these. Of course there are saws and shop equipment which are 240 volts
>and it would be normal to place a switch going to the outlets for these.
>
>So I'm trying to figure out why a double pole switch would be installed to
>switch a 120 V light?
>

Controlling lights on 2 different circuits?

>Note you can use a continuity tester to be sure the switch is actually a
>double pole and not a 4 way. That might help.
>
>Double pole = Off, neither input connects to either output.
>
>4 way = Flipped either way (no off/on marking), one input connects to one
>output, flip switch and connects to other output.
>
--
77 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin

Posted by John Cochran on October 9, 2007, 12:20 pm
>On Oct 9, 11:05 am, spamb...@milmac.com (Doug Miller) wrote:
>> >Two Switches.
>>
>> >This switch is Double-Pole. On its back it says Two Input and Two
>> >Output (It's two single switches in one box).
>>
>> So there are actualy two separate switch levers? How many screw terminals
>> total?
>>
>> Can you post a photo of the switch somewhere?
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)
>>
>> It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
>
>What I have is a DPST (Four Screws, Two marked as Input, Two as
>Output).
>

What you're describing doesn't conflict with your having a 4-way switch.
In fact, seeing the connections labeled as "Input" and "Output" argues
very strongly for your switch being a 4-way switch.

See about getting a ohm meter or a continuity checker. If you can't do this,
just use a flashlight bulb, a couple of batteries, and some tape and wire.

Test the switch you have using the continuity checker. Assuming it's a
4-way switch you should see the following behaivor.

Switch set one way
Input 1 connected to Output 1
Input 2 connected to Output 2

Flipping the switch you'll get
Input 1 connected to Output 2
Input 2 connected to Output 1

If upon testing the switch you determine that it is a 4-way switch, then
take a look at
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/
and see if it helps you understand how a 4-way switch is connected and helps
you with your problem.


Posted by Homer on October 9, 2007, 1:19 pm
On Oct 9, 12:20 pm, j...@smof.fiawol.org (John Cochran) wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Oct 9, 11:05 am, spamb...@milmac.com (Doug Miller) wrote:
> >> >Two Switches.
>
> >> >This switch is Double-Pole. On its back it says Two Input and Two
> >> >Output (It's two single switches in one box).
>
> >> So there are actualy two separate switch levers? How many screw terminals
> >> total?
>
> >> Can you post a photo of the switch somewhere?
>
> >> --
> >> Regards,
> >> Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)
>
> >> It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
>
> >What I have is a DPST (Four Screws, Two marked as Input, Two as
> >Output).
>
> What you're describing doesn't conflict with your having a 4-way switch.
> In fact, seeing the connections labeled as "Input" and "Output" argues
> very strongly for your switch being a 4-way switch.
>
> See about getting a ohm meter or a continuity checker. If you can't do this,
> just use a flashlight bulb, a couple of batteries, and some tape and wire.
>
> Test the switch you have using the continuity checker. Assuming it's a
> 4-way switch you should see the following behaivor.
>
> Switch set one way
> Input 1 connected to Output 1
> Input 2 connected to Output 2
>
> Flipping the switch you'll get
> Input 1 connected to Output 2
> Input 2 connected to Output 1
>
> If upon testing the switch you determine that it is a 4-way switch, then
> take a look at
> http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/
> and see if it helps you understand how a 4-way switch is connected and helps
> you with your problem.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks John. I will test it when I get home. From what you've
described, it maybe 4-way. This is what I tested:

Switch set one way
Input 1 connected to Output 1
Input 2 connected to Output 2

Flipping the switch you'll get
Input 1 is not connected to Output 1
Input 2 is not connected to Output 2

If it's a 4-way, how can I replacing it with 3-way switch? Assuming we
only have two switches now.

Homer


Posted by Jeff Wisnia on October 9, 2007, 2:33 pm
Homer wrote:

> On Oct 9, 12:20 pm, j...@smof.fiawol.org (John Cochran) wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>On Oct 9, 11:05 am, spamb...@milmac.com (Doug Miller) wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Two Switches.
>>
>>>>>This switch is Double-Pole. On its back it says Two Input and Two
>>>>>Output (It's two single switches in one box).
>>
>>>>So there are actualy two separate switch levers? How many screw terminals
>>>>total?
>>
>>>>Can you post a photo of the switch somewhere?
>>
>>>>--
>>>>Regards,
>>>> Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)
>>
>>>>It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
>>
>>>What I have is a DPST (Four Screws, Two marked as Input, Two as
>>>Output).
>>
>>What you're describing doesn't conflict with your having a 4-way switch.
>>In fact, seeing the connections labeled as "Input" and "Output" argues
>>very strongly for your switch being a 4-way switch.
>>
>>See about getting a ohm meter or a continuity checker. If you can't do this,
>>just use a flashlight bulb, a couple of batteries, and some tape and wire.
>>
>>Test the switch you have using the continuity checker. Assuming it's a
>>4-way switch you should see the following behaivor.
>>
>>Switch set one way
>>Input 1 connected to Output 1
>>Input 2 connected to Output 2
>>
>>Flipping the switch you'll get
>>Input 1 connected to Output 2
>>Input 2 connected to Output 1
>>
>>If upon testing the switch you determine that it is a 4-way switch, then
>>take a look at
>> http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/
>>and see if it helps you understand how a 4-way switch is connected and helps
>>you with your problem.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> Thanks John. I will test it when I get home. From what you've
> described, it maybe 4-way. This is what I tested:
>
> Switch set one way
> Input 1 connected to Output 1
> Input 2 connected to Output 2
>
> Flipping the switch you'll get
> Input 1 is not connected to Output 1
> Input 2 is not connected to Output 2

Ah, but after "flipping" the switch:

Is input 1 connected to output 2, and
input 2 connected to output 1?

If so, it IS a "four way" switch and COULD have functioned fine with the
hot wire from Pair 1 connected to just ONE of the two inputs and the two
wires from Pair 2 to the two outputs. Nothing needs to be connected to
the other input, you could cap off the other wire from Pair one.

Interestingly, if the other wire of Pair 1 IS a nuetral, things would
still work fine even if it WAS connected to the other input of the four
way switch. (Disbelievers, I suggest you sketch it out before igniting
your flames...<G>)

>
> If it's a 4-way, how can I replacing it with 3-way switch? Assuming we
> only have two switches now.
>
> Homer
>

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.


Posted by Bill on October 10, 2007, 8:22 am
Another possibility is that the switch *should* be a 4 way switch, but
someone replaced it in the past with the wrong switch (double pole).

The key to this would be how the light switches operated *before* the switch
was removed from the wall.

A proper 3-way, 4-way, 3-way operating switch setup would allow any switch
to turn on/off the light no matter what position any other switch was
flipped to at a given time.

However if someone incorrectly replaced the 4 way switch with a double pole
switch, then when that switch was flipped to off, the other 3 way switch(s)
would not be able to turn on the light.

Again, all sorts of possibilities with this situation...




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