Hello Everyone! I have a situation with a room with 10 can lights. I have power coming into the first 3-way and from there I have 14-3 going to the first and subsequent can lights wired black to black, white to white, red to red, until the very last can light, which is where they stopped wiring and where the 4-way switch comes in before going to the 2nd 3-way switch. I sense something is amiss here, but the other lights are already finished and the only accessible light is the last can light. Can anyone attempt to help me out here. I hooked it up as is, and I when I turn on the breaker I get all lights on, but as soon as I toggle either 3-way I get a tripped breaker. In the last can light, they have the black and white reversed going to the 4-way which then goes to the 3-way. Help Please!:confused:

What does the 3 wire connect to in each light? Is this the only cable feeding each light?

The 3 wire from the first 3 way should have gone directly to the 4 way then to the 3 way, and then 2 wire to the lights.

As a follow-up, review the diagram to see how a 3way-4way system is wired, and get back if you do not understand.

The power comes into the first switch box with a 14-2 from the panel. From there 14-3 was ran to each of the can lights, 10 in all, black to black, white to white, red to red, until the very last can light, where the black and white were paired oppositely with 14-3 coming from the 4-way box, which then goes on with a 14-3 to the last 3-way box. Is there any way to fix this problem.:eek:

So if I understand you correctly, there is only the 3 wire, black, red, and white, in each light. And the black and white of the light splices onto the black and white of the 3 wire. I suppose that is why you are asking, because you have discovered that this does not work.

Since the 3 way needs to have two dedicated wires connect directly between both 3 way switches, and each light needs the white as a neutral, there is one wire missing. With the feed at one 3 way, the switched leg needs to come from the other 3 way switch.

Another 2 wire cable needs to come from the other 3 way and go to each light. If this cannot be done because the ceiling and walls are finished, thenthere are not many options.

You may look into remote control devices, called X-10 devices, or technology. With these you can get a transmitter switch that only needs a feed, and sends a signal back out on the feed, which will find it's way to the lights, where a receiver module at each light will see the signal and turn on the light.

These devices can be seen at:
http://www.leviton-lin.com/catalog/CatalogGroup.aspx?CatalogSection=B.

Searching the net for X-10 will find many other websites that offer these devices.

You may look into remote control devices, called X-10 devices, or technology. With these you can get a transmitter switch that only needs a feed, and sends a signal back out on the feed, whcih will find it's way to the lights, where a receiver module at each light will see the signal and turn on the light.

These devices can be seen at:
http://www.leviton-lin.com/catalog/CatalogGroup.aspx?CatalogSection=B.



I tried looking on that website above and I was unable to locate the name of that switch which you were talking about. Do you know what its labeled under in that section?

And if I understand you correctly, even though I have 14-2 power coming into the first switch box and a 14-3 going from first switch to the lights, and finally back to last switch, that I cannot anyway use the existing layout even if I modify the wiring.

Thank you kindly for your continued help and cooperation!!

That is correct, you need a switched return from the last 3 way back to each light. Note the drawing I furnished, the power to the first 3 way switch, then to the next 3 way switch, THEN to the lights.

The power must go through the switches before going to the lites, you have the switch wiring going through the lites with no switched return.

As far as the X-10, you will need a transmitter switch for each switch location. And a receiver module for each light. This can get expensive depending how many switches and lights you have.