Confusing 4-way switch wiring

Anonymous · #1 IP: 12.23.96.161 November 22nd, 2002, 10:30 AM

We are finishing our basement in our 1 year old home. We are going to rough in the wiring ourselves and let the electrician hook up the circuits to the panel.

Anyway I am trying to figure out how to wire together a 4 way switch with 6 can lights in between. The lights are going to be in the middle of a rectangular shaped room with switches controlling them on three different walls. One of the switches will be on the other side of the panel so I figured I would start with that one. Then go to another switch, then the 6 lights then to the last switch. I have looked at all of the diagrams I can find but they all just show basic hook ups. So I was wondering if anyone could describe, draw or point me to a website that has a diagram describing a similar set up. Thanks for any help in advance.

**Wgoodrich** · #2 IP: 148.78.243.121 November 22nd, 2002, 11:16 AM

The three switches must be connected together then run to the first light then the second then the third etc.

Your second switch must be a four way switch and the two end switches must be three way switches.

If is not possible to wire one switch through the light at the end of our wiring design. It won't work. Don't do it.

I suggest you run 12/2wGrnd from power to the first switch then 12/3wGrnd from that first switch to the second switch being the only four way switch then from that second switch to the third switch then from the third switch to the first light then from the first light ot the second light.

YOu can not run one switch from teh end of our daisy chain lights and make it work and meet the NEC rules unless you ran a 12/3wGrnd beside the 12/2wGrnd from light to light extending that 12/3wGround from the second switch through all the lights to the third switch. Too much repetitve waste of wire running 5 insulated conductors through the light boxes to get the wires from teh second switch to the last switch. That would be like going to Florida from California through the state of maine. Way out of your way to get where you are going.

Hope this helps

Wg

Anonymous · #3 IP: 12.23.96.161 November 22nd, 2002, 11:38 AM

Thanks. I was thinking that might be the only way to do it. I was trying to dray out a diagram but I just seemed to run out of wires the other way. I did find a couple diagrams that helped on the home wiring website. I think that is the only one I was most confused by.

Thanks again.