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Light switches in "L"-shaped hallway

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Light switches in "L"-shaped hallway gary 01-26-2008
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Posted by gary on January 26, 2008, 12:24 pm
My "L"-shaped hallway has a light switch at the end of each leg, a
switch at the intersection of the legs and a ceiling-light the middle
of each leg.

Originally, the ceiling-lights could be turned on/off from each
switch.

I've replaced the original switches with new switches but now only one
switch operates the ceiling-lights.

Should a three-way switch be installed at each end of the hallway and
the four-way switch be installed at the intersection of the legs? If
the answer is "NO", where should the various switches be installed?

How to I determine what wire gets connected to each terminal of each
switch?

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Posted by S. Barker on January 26, 2008, 12:32 pm
You should have replaced the switches with like switches. yes, you'll have
2-three ways and one 4-way. WHERE the 4-way is , is anybodys guess. It's
the one with 4 wires on it.

s


> My "L"-shaped hallway has a light switch at the end of each leg, a
> switch at the intersection of the legs and a ceiling-light the middle
> of each leg.
>
> Originally, the ceiling-lights could be turned on/off from each
> switch.
>
> I've replaced the original switches with new switches but now only one
> switch operates the ceiling-lights.
>
> Should a three-way switch be installed at each end of the hallway and
> the four-way switch be installed at the intersection of the legs? If
> the answer is "NO", where should the various switches be installed?
>
> How to I determine what wire gets connected to each terminal of each
> switch?



Posted by gary on January 26, 2008, 12:46 pm
HI "S. Barker",

When you say "...WHERE the 4-way is is anybody's guess..." are you
saying it doesn't matter if the 4-way switch is installed at either
end of the hallway or at the intersection of the legs?

Gary

Posted by RBM on January 26, 2008, 3:13 pm
Physically, the 4 way could go anywhere. Electrically, it's located between
two 3 way switches. When you install a pair of 3 way switches, Three wires
are run between them, two of those wires are called travelers, and get
connected to the 3 way switches on the terminals other than the common
terminal. When you install one or a hundred 4 way switches into the circuit,
they simply go between the travelers, so you're cutting the travelers giving
you 4 wires, two from one side go to the input and two from the other side
go to the output




> HI "S. Barker",
>
> When you say "...WHERE the 4-way is is anybody's guess..." are you
> saying it doesn't matter if the 4-way switch is installed at either
> end of the hallway or at the intersection of the legs?
>
> Gary



Posted by RBM on January 26, 2008, 12:47 pm
In addition to what S. Barker said: Assuming you noted the "common" terminal
on each three way and transferred the wires to the new switches correctly,
your problem is likely at the 4 way. The in and out terminals won't
necessarily be located in the same position from switch to switch. You'll
have 4 wires on that switch. Each pair of wires will come from different
cables. One set goes to the input and one set to the output which will be
marked on the back of the switch, maybe!!



> You should have replaced the switches with like switches. yes, you'll
> have 2-three ways and one 4-way. WHERE the 4-way is , is anybodys guess.
> It's the one with 4 wires on it.
>
> s
>
>
>> My "L"-shaped hallway has a light switch at the end of each leg, a
>> switch at the intersection of the legs and a ceiling-light the middle
>> of each leg.
>>
>> Originally, the ceiling-lights could be turned on/off from each
>> switch.
>>
>> I've replaced the original switches with new switches but now only one
>> switch operates the ceiling-lights.
>>
>> Should a three-way switch be installed at each end of the hallway and
>> the four-way switch be installed at the intersection of the legs? If
>> the answer is "NO", where should the various switches be installed?
>>
>> How to I determine what wire gets connected to each terminal of each
>> switch?
>
>



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