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i'm looking to install 6 recessed lights and a total of 3 switches to control the lights. i believe i need two 3 way switches and one 4 way switch?
should all light fixtures being controlled by the 3 switches be wired from the last switch in the connection?
for example, using the same three switch configuration from above, if i have 6 recesseed lights all being controled by 3 light switches; two 3 way switches and one 4 way switch. the first and last switch in the configuration are the 3 way switches with the 4 way switch in the middle of the configuration. the 6 cans would be powered from switch #3, the last in the configuration?
OR can the lights be powered from any switch in the configuration.
i hope this makes sense and i'm hoping for a good answer - sparkie
so, the first 3 way switch (the one receiving power from electric panel) needs to be directly connected to one of the cans?
the other 2 switches will not be directly connected to a can? i guess they just are connected to each other?
1 three way common gets the constant hot, the other three way goes to the lights hot(black wire). Between the 2 3 ways are the 2 "travellers". That is your 3 way setup.
A 4 way will swap the 2 travellers.
If you cut the 2 travellers, you can install the 4 way to the 4 wires(2 travellers interrupted.
You can use as many 4 ways in the middle as you want.
Stratmando, so the first 3 way gets the power from the electric panel and the 3rd 3 way sends the power to the light fixtures and the 4 way in the middle only controls the switches? meaning, the 4 way switch has no direct power coming from the electric panel or power going directly to the light fixtures?
Stratmando, so the first 3 way gets the power from the electric panel and the 3rd 3 way sends the power to the light fixtures and the 4 way in the middle only controls the switches? meaning, the 4 way switch has no direct power coming from the electric panel or power going directly to the light fixtures?
Maybe this will help:
S3= 3 way switch
S4= 4way switch
Pw= Power
Yes the 4 way has 4 connections(wires), 2 go to 2 screws of one three way, and the other 2 wires go to other 3 way.
Only 1 3 way gets power to common screw, the other 3 way common screw goes to light.
Whites and grounds all get connected at all boxes(not to each other)
Where power comes in with 14-2 hook the power to common screw of first 3 way. red and black of 14-3 go to other 2 screws, red and black from first 3 way, connects to same colored screws of 4 way, connect the other red and black to other 2 screws on 4 way.
Now at the last switch, red and black hook to 2 same screws on 3 way.
Then with lights run to last switch, hook light hot to common and the red and black to same 2 screws on this last 3 way, and the lights white to white.
You don't have enough wires for a constant hot for recepticle downline from last 3 way.
You could hook a recepticle downline, just tie on to the light wires, however it will be 3/4 way switched with light.
It is best to run lights to last 3 way. Good Luck.
Yes the 4 way has 4 connections(wires), 2 go to 2 screws of one three way, and the other 2 wires go to other 3 way.
Only 1 3 way gets power to common screw, the other 3 way common screw goes to light.
Whites and grounds all get connected at all boxes(not to each other)
Where power comes in with 14-2 hook the power to common screw of first 3 way. red and black of 14-3 go to other 2 screws, red and black from first 3 way, connects to same colored screws of 4 way, connect the other red and black to other 2 screws on 4 way.
Now at the last switch, red and black hook to 2 same screws on 3 way.
Then with lights run to last switch, hook light hot to common and the red and black to same 2 screws on this last 3 way, and the lights white to white.
You don't have enough wires for a constant hot for recepticle downline from last 3 way.
You could hook a recepticle downline, just tie on to the light wires, however it will be 3/4 way switched with light.
It is best to run lights to last 3 way. Good Luck.
i understand most of what you are explaining. however here are my questions:
Whites and grounds all get connected at all boxes(not to each other)...by this you mean white to white and ground to ground? but NOT white to ground. correct?
and i'm not sure what this means...You don't have enough wires for a constant hot for recepticle downline from last 3 way.
You could hook a recepticle downline, just tie on to the light wires, however it will be 3/4 way switched with light.
finally, will i use 14/2 to connect each of the 6cans? or is 14/3 the preferred wire to connect the 6 cans to each other?
Stratmando, so the first 3 way gets the power from the electric panel and the 3rd 3 way sends the power to the light fixtures and the 4 way in the middle only controls the switches? meaning, the 4 way switch has no direct power coming from the electric panel or power going directly to the light fixtures?
Where in your question did you ask how to wirenut wires (or make proper terminations)?????????????
My picture explains your question.
Strat put in a few extras to help the process along. Yet, I do not see where this question was asked??!
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