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Using 3-way switches as a 4-way

R

reactancexl

Jan 1, 1970
0
I heard some contractors hooking up three 3-way switches instead of a four
way. How is that wired? I always use a four way, but I think it is done
for cost reasons.
 
H

Harry Bloomfield

Jan 1, 1970
0
reactancexl wrote on 27/01/2004 :-
I heard some contractors hooking up three 3-way switches instead of a four
way. How is that wired? I always use a four way, but I think it is done
for cost reasons.

For what exactly?

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT)...

Remove the 'NOSPAM' in my email address to reply.

Free Amateur Radio Courses:-
http://www.ukradioamateur.org
 
S

SQLit

Jan 1, 1970
0
reactancexl said:
I heard some contractors hooking up three 3-way switches instead of a four
way. How is that wired? I always use a four way, but I think it is done
for cost reasons.
Use a 3 way for a 4way?
I for the life left in me do not understand what you are talking about.
3ways are used in pairs to switch from 2 locations.
4ways in the middle of the circuit add another location depending on the
number of 4 ways.
I await the lords of electricity to explain this one.

Are you sure someone is not pulling your leg?
 
M

Mike Lamond

Jan 1, 1970
0
reactancexl said:
I heard some contractors hooking up three 3-way switches instead of a four
way. How is that wired? I always use a four way, but I think it is done
for cost reasons.
I remember an article, in a 1960 vintage homeowner's encyclopedia, that
showed
how to wire _two_ three-way switches to work as a four-way switch. The
handles
were ganged by runnning a screw through them to make the switches
operate
together. Electrically, you have same thing, but I don't think it really
meets
code.

What the contractors may have been talking about is rearranging a
lighting
circuit with three or more switches into several circuits with only two
switches on each one. Why they might need or want to, I have no idea.

Mike
 
S

SQLit

Jan 1, 1970
0
I remember an article, in a 1960 vintage homeowner's encyclopedia, that
showed
how to wire _two_ three-way switches to work as a four-way switch. The
handles
were ganged by runnning a screw through them to make the switches
operate
together. Electrically, you have same thing, but I don't think it really
meets
code.


any chance you still have that book? and could scan the article. I would
like to add it to my collection
 
M

Mike Lamond

Jan 1, 1970
0
SQLit said:
any chance you still have that book? and could scan the article. I would
like to add it to my collection
Sorry, I don't have the set. It was my parents' from when they got
married and bought their first house. Over the years it got pretty
much beat up and was finally tossed out.

There's a 1962 edition, virtually identical, on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3582755746&category=28666

I'd forgotten earlier that the illustration showed the switched mounted
outside on a pole next to the driveway, with no weatherproof cover and
the happy homeowner reaching from his car to turn on the front porch
light. Code violations, anyone?
 
B

Beachcomber

Jan 1, 1970
0
Intermatic makes a Decora single-unit timer module (also a switch)
that has a single lead that can be used with a simple spst switch at a
different location. Thus, you can have 3-way operation in effect with
one less traveler wire. I believe the instructions for the timer also
indicate how to wire it up for three location control with one timer
and two three-way switches.

This might work for you if you're doing outdoor lighting or one of the
control points needs to be a timer.

The Intermatic model SS8 Decora Timer Switch also has a cool
"astronomic dial" feature so that your lights go on at local sunset,
whatever time of the year it happens to be.

Beachcomber
 
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