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Posted by RBM on November 6, 2009, 4:39 pm
>I have an L-shaped hallway with:
> a ceiling light in the middle of each leg
> a light switch at the end of each leg
> a light switch at the intersection.
> Several years ago, I used to be able to turn the lights on and off
> from any switch. But now the lights can be turned on and off by only
> one switch (at the end of one leg).
> In previous attempts to resolve this problem, I replaced all of the
> switches but I didn't record what wires went to each terminal.
> Question: What kind of new switches do I need (single-pole, 3-way, 4-
> way) and how many of each?
> How do I determine what wire connects to each terminal of each switch?
Whenever a system like this craps out, the problem is invariably the 4 way
switch. They just don't seem to be made as well as single poles or 3 ways,
possibly because of it's switching complexity. For this reason I wouldn't
advise using a 4 way anywhere that it's not required. It's also more
expensive
>
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Posted by N8N on November 6, 2009, 4:49 pm
> >I have an L-shaped hallway with:
> > =A0 =A0 a ceiling light in the middle of each leg
> > =A0 =A0 a light switch at the end of each leg
> > =A0 =A0 a light switch at the intersection.
> > Several years ago, I used to be able to turn the lights on and off
> > from any switch. =A0But now the lights can be turned on and off by only
> > one switch (at the end of one leg).
> > In previous attempts to resolve this problem, I replaced all of the
> > switches but I didn't record what wires went to each terminal.
> > Question: =A0What kind of new switches do I need (single-pole, 3-way, 4=
-
> > way) and how many of each?
> > How do I determine what wire connects to each terminal of each switch?
> Whenever a system like this craps out, the problem is invariably the 4 wa=
y
> switch. They just don't seem to be made as well as single poles or 3 ways=
,
> possibly because of it's switching complexity. For this reason I wouldn't
> advise using a 4 way anywhere that it's not required. It's also more
> expensive
Hmm, I found an old snappy style 4-way at the base of the stairs when
I replaced it (could have been a three way, but apparently builders
used a 4-way because that's what they had;) the only reason I replaced
it was that the girl didn't like brown switches. It appears to have
been there since the late 40's. I still have it in my junk box...
or is this one "don't make 'em like they used to" kind of deals?
nate
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Posted by RBM on November 6, 2009, 5:00 pm
> >I have an L-shaped hallway with:
> > a ceiling light in the middle of each leg
> > a light switch at the end of each leg
> > a light switch at the intersection.
> > Several years ago, I used to be able to turn the lights on and off
> > from any switch. But now the lights can be turned on and off by only
> > one switch (at the end of one leg).
> > In previous attempts to resolve this problem, I replaced all of the
> > switches but I didn't record what wires went to each terminal.
> > Question: What kind of new switches do I need (single-pole, 3-way, 4-
> > way) and how many of each?
> > How do I determine what wire connects to each terminal of each switch?
> Whenever a system like this craps out, the problem is invariably the 4 way
> switch. They just don't seem to be made as well as single poles or 3 ways,
> possibly because of it's switching complexity. For this reason I wouldn't
> advise using a 4 way anywhere that it's not required. It's also more
> expensive
Hmm, I found an old snappy style 4-way at the base of the stairs when
I replaced it (could have been a three way, but apparently builders
used a 4-way because that's what they had;) the only reason I replaced
it was that the girl didn't like brown switches. It appears to have
been there since the late 40's. I still have it in my junk box...
or is this one "don't make 'em like they used to" kind of deals?
nate
You can buy good switches today, but back in the forties, I don't think you
could buy crappy switches. I think that because it's a complex switch, it is
more vulnerable to failure. What I can say for certain is that whenever I'm
diagnosing a malfunctioning multi-switch system, the bad switch is
invariably, the 4way.
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Posted by mm on November 6, 2009, 11:18 pm
>>I have an L-shaped hallway with:
>> a ceiling light in the middle of each leg
>> a light switch at the end of each leg
>> a light switch at the intersection.
>> Several years ago, I used to be able to turn the lights on and off
>> from any switch. But now the lights can be turned on and off by only
>> one switch (at the end of one leg).
>> In previous attempts to resolve this problem, I replaced all of the
>> switches but I didn't record what wires went to each terminal.
>> Question: What kind of new switches do I need (single-pole, 3-way, 4-
>> way) and how many of each?
>> How do I determine what wire connects to each terminal of each switch?
>Whenever a system like this craps out, the problem is invariably the 4 way
>switch. They just don't seem to be made as well as single poles or 3 ways,
>possibly because of it's switching complexity. For this reason I wouldn't
>advise using a 4 way anywhere that it's not required. It's also more
>expensive
This would also be a good clue where the problem is!!! :)
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Posted by Metspitzer on November 6, 2009, 6:20 pm
On Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:35:03 -0800 (PST), gcotterl
>I have an L-shaped hallway with:
> a ceiling light in the middle of each leg
> a light switch at the end of each leg
> a light switch at the intersection.
>Several years ago, I used to be able to turn the lights on and off
>from any switch. But now the lights can be turned on and off by only
>one switch (at the end of one leg).
>In previous attempts to resolve this problem, I replaced all of the
>switches but I didn't record what wires went to each terminal.
>Question: What kind of new switches do I need (single-pole, 3-way, 4-
>way) and how many of each?
>How do I determine what wire connects to each terminal of each switch?
Take all three switches loose and find the only hot wire in the bunch.
Put a 3 way there. Finished (The hot goes to the common)
Go to the 4 way and find the two wires the first switch makes hot when
you switch it back and forth. Put a 4 way there with those two wires
hooked to the same color terminals on the 4-way Finished
Go to the last 3 way and find the wire that does not get hot when you
flip the other two switches. Put that wire on the common of the last
3 way. Finished
Miller time
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> a ceiling light in the middle of each leg
> a light switch at the end of each leg
> a light switch at the intersection.
> Several years ago, I used to be able to turn the lights on and off
> from any switch. But now the lights can be turned on and off by only
> one switch (at the end of one leg).
> In previous attempts to resolve this problem, I replaced all of the
> switches but I didn't record what wires went to each terminal.
> Question: What kind of new switches do I need (single-pole, 3-way, 4-
> way) and how many of each?
> How do I determine what wire connects to each terminal of each switch?