3. way Light help

http://home.howstuffworks.com/three-way2.htm
does this help?

 

The link donkey posted reads:

Which means you have the hot come into the light fixture, the neutral leaves the light fixture and splits into two paths, one to each switch. Then, each switch either connects the neutral or interrupts it. If both switches are interrupting the neutral path, the light will be off. If either switch is on, there will be a path from the hot, through the light, and completed through the switch to neutral, completing the circuit. When the circuit is completed, the light turns on.

If you don't know the difference between series and parallel, you can Google for more information. These two images illustrate the difference:

 

There are numerous diagrams online for both 3-way and 4-way switch wiring if this is what you're looking for. Ordinary light switches are SPST, 3-way switches are SPDT and 4-way switches are DPDT, so make sure you have the right type.
http://www.google.com/search?q=3+way+and+4+way+switch+diagram&hl=en&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=NZxGTo880tSIAoPzofIB&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBMQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=635

 

One way to solve these problems is to sit down with a piece of paper and figure out the schematic yourself. It's not too hard. You can also look for help here, which is a pretty good site for folks dealing with home electrical problems.

 

ok for a 2 way switches and 1 light.

need 2 SPDT toggle sw or whatever
1 light

ok now how to wire it up.

one common of first sw goes to hot side of power, the NC (normally closed) terminal goes to the NO (normally open) of the second sw and likewise NO of first sw goes to NC of second sw.

now the common of the second sw, you wire this to light.

the cold/gnd of pwr supply goes directly to the other side of the light.

For 3way sw you would need a sw called intermediate sw. (google intermediate sw and all info should be there) hope this helps. this sw is installed between the first 2 sw if you want 4way sw bung in another intermediate sw in between and so on whatever you want how many ways you wanna ttrun that light. And add more light if you want in parallel with first light.

it will get to a point where you starting to consider the power consumed by all lights then also determines what rating of switches you gonna need.

 

Wiring a lamp / switch

what i can make out of what your doing is a ring or radial circuit, mains potential or not ? why would you want to add another switch, unless its for some extended control, some circuits, mainly power sockets take a spur from one socket to the other application taking that circuits total power into consideration , light can be wired in a similar way, you must comply with your country's wiring regulations, if your not getting the idea from the above posts it might be better to get some extra help in. Dave.

 

I believe this is what you want.




Bob

 

I showed you how to do it with 2 4-way switches. You could also do it with 2 3-way switches. I don't understand what you are not getting.

Bob

 

You seem to know how two way switches work. There is a loop going from the line to neutral with the switches and lamp in that loop. The lamp can come first or the switches, if the switch is off, anywhere in that loop, the light will not work.
However, you should think about safety. The switches should always be in the live lead so that when turned off the system is dead. It is not good to change a bulb with a live socket. Various layouts are used to minimise the amount of cable, not always wisely.
The two way switches select one of two wires to turn the light on. The switches have to be connected to the same wire for the light to work. An intermediate switch can swop the wires over to switch the light. Any number of intermediate switches can be used.

 

I visited the site you mentioned and it is exactly what I mentioned earlier. The switches mentioned there 3way and 4way switches, that is another terminology to a single pole double throw, and the intermediate sw which is the 4 way, to my understanding the way they labelled the switches are misleading and confusing. The power does not go first to the light then the switches it is the neutral/cold side is, the active/hot side is going throught the switches then to the light.

If still not clear get it on paper study it and redraw it in another way that you see it like the previous posts have said if still not clear time to get back to basics of switches and types.