4 way switch for light fixture kicks breaker.

Can you explain further the circumstances? Such as, when does the CB trip, in one position, both positions, does switching either one the 3 way switches trip the CB, does the light work at all?

Really need more info than 4 way switch for light fixture kicks breaker.

Originally, the light switch in the kitchen caused the breaker to kick when it was turned on. I checked all the switches and saw that the 4 way switch was broken, replaced it but it immediately kicked the breaker when I turned it on. I then rewired the 4 way and it allowed the 2nd switch to turn on the light but the kitchen switch did nothing. I then rewired the 4 way and it again kicked the CB. I then changed the wiring to all possible combinations on the 4 way but none would work. Rewired to original setup, still would not work. (Switches are rocker type.) Switches control light fixture above open stairway; one switch in kitchen, one switch in hallway near stairway, 4 way at bottom of stairway.

I don't think the switching is the issue, unless there is a pinched or nicked wire in one of the switch boxes. Pull out all three switches looking for any damaged wires or something touching ground.

Disconnect and remove the light fixture and check if breaker trips.

Hopefully you have a voltage tester to use while troubleshooting.

I added a typical wiring diagram for 3 way-4 way switching. The key thing to watch out for is connecting each pair of travelers to the 4 way properly, usually the top terminals are for one set of travelers, and the bottom are for the others.

If the switch is new, then there should have been a diagram on the package to show exactly which pair of terminals are which.

When switches fail, they rarely short out, so I believe the problem is elsewhere in the circuit.

Thanks TK. I will do as you suggest. However, at the 4 way, I have only 2 white wires on the left connectors and two black wires on the right connectors, which is where they were on the original switch which has been there for 27 years. The light fixture is in the ceiling with the acces in the attic, because it is a very high reach from the stair landing. I'll try to let you know the result.

Clyde Hall

If the 4 way switch now installed is new, the pairs of travelers may not be the same as the old, read the diagram that came with the switch, or go to tha manufacturers website to confirm which how the traveler terminals are to be connected.

So connecting to left or right may not be correct, and I realize that you probalbly cannot check if the switching works as the breaker trips.

I have checked the light fixture and it does not appear to have a short, since it works now from both of the 3 way switches. The switch at the 4 way trips the CB now instead of turning the light off.

The wiring diagram on the box shows the neutral (wht)going directly to the box with the power (blk) going to the a 3 way from the source, then kinto the 4 way, then to the other 3 way and another wire to the fixture.

I don't think the wiring for the existing system is like this, I think the neutral (wht) passes through the kitchen switch first, then through the hall switch, then through the 4 way to the fixture, or some combination of those switches. I am not sure which way the power (blk) goes, but suspect it enters the kitchen switch first and then distributes to the others.

The switch is a Pass & Seymour Decorator Switch 4 Way #TM874-I I couln't find a diagram on their web site.

The neutral should not connect to any switch, it should go directly to the white wire at the light fixture.

As I suspected the top terminals are one set of travelers, and the bottom are the other.

See the diagrams I found on Page D2 of their device catalog:
http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/D.pdf#xml=http://www.passandseymour.com/cgi-bin/texis.exe/Webinator/search/xml.txt?query=TM874-I+wiring+diagram&pr=pands&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&sufs=0&order=r&cq=&id=459639322

If your system is switching the neutral that may be part of the problem, since the neutral should not be switched. If you home is that old, this practice was done then until someone learned better, and it now not allowed.

Best you can do is to trace out all this wiring, try to get the hot to be switched and theneutral only going to the light.

I have replacing a OLD 4way double pole switch. The OLD switch has 2 wires on top and 2 on bottom ( not on the sides). There is one towards the front of the switch and one behind it and these wires are not labeled at all, therefore I cannot tell where they should go on the new switch. I tried to put the 2 wires on top of the old switch on the top left and right sides of the new switch and the 2 bottoms wires of the OLD switch on the bottom left and right of the new switch. Then I tried to put the wires that were further back on the top and bottom of the OLD switch on the top and bottom of the new switch and visa-versa for the others.
I cannot seem to be able to find a diagram of a light switch like this. I am not sure how old it is but I know it is a Leviton Cat. # 262 and it is marked as both a double pole and 4 way. I have a attached a basic drawing of what the switch looks like from the top view.

Please help!!