Wiring a wall switch timer

hkstroud · Jul 27, 2008, 06:09 PM

The switch that you are working with is a 4-way switch. Four way switches are used in between two 3-way switches, giving you three or more points to turn lights on and off. A 3-way switch will have 3 wires connected to it. The common screw will be marked or will be a different color, usually darker. You'll have to locate your timer at one of the other switches

Stratmando · Jul 28, 2008, 05:23 AM

Common is the white or neutral, and connects to timer common(neutral), You will want to eleminate the 3 and 4 ways(jumper)so timer will always be operating, you can install switch at any of the locations.
The red may be line(constant hot)and blue may be load(to light)

stanfortyman · Jul 28, 2008, 05:55 AM

Strat, in this case the common is not the neutral and is not necessarily white, it is the "common" of a 3-way switch. A 3-way switch having one "common" and two travelers.

The OP certainly does have 4-way switch there, meaning there are three or more switching locations. I am not sure if this timer can be used in place of a 4-way. I do know it can be used in place of a 3-way.

Stratmando · Jul 28, 2008, 06:22 AM

Stan, I don't think this is a 3 or 4 way timer?
I was thinking he was talking about timer that has a Common(neutral), a red and a blue(line and load).
You don't want to put timers on 3 or 4 way, unless for on or off override.

stanfortyman · Jul 28, 2008, 06:51 AM

I do know those Intermatic in-wall timers include a little jumper so then can be wired into an existing 3-way setup.
The jumper gets placed on the other 3-way switch.

Tev · Jul 28, 2008, 08:38 AM

If I read the original post correctly then he he wants to replace the 4-way switch in the circuit with this timer. According to the instructions I found online this can't be done easily. It will have to replace one of the 3-way switches and the 4-way be replaced by a 3-way. Also an additional wire is required. Here's the instruction link in case anybody can see any easy way to do it http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ej11853.pdf

The easiest way I see to make use of this timer is to remove the 4-way switch altogether by connecting the 2 blacks together and the 2 reds together and leaving the whites connected, then putting a blank cover over the box. Then put the timer on one of the 3-way switches by following the instructions. But that eliminates one of your switch locations and may or may not be a safety issue depending on where the removed switch was located.

stanfortyman · Jul 28, 2008, 09:34 AM

Why bother removing a switch? The timer is not something you need to go to very often, so putting it in place of one of the 3-ways should not really be an issue, should it?

Tev · Jul 29, 2008, 08:36 AM

Removing the 4-way switch would seem to be easier than adding additional wiring, which is required if 3 switch locations are to be retained. At least that is how I read the instructions. The manufacturers instructions are linked in my previous post.

Wiring a wall switch timer

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