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onthelipsplz · Mar 10, 2008, 06:06 PM

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!!

hkstroud · Mar 10, 2008, 06:47 PM

Look in the box, you should have two cables coming into the box. Each should have three wires plus a ground wire. One of the wires from each cable should be connect together. Connect the other two wires of one cable to the top screws and connect the two wires of the other cable to the bottom screws. The grounds of course should be connected togeather and connected to the switch.

Stratmando · Mar 11, 2008, 06:23 AM

Many 4 ways have 2 same colored screws on top or sides, other 2 same screws are for the other 2 travellers. Have the 2 wires from 1 cable go to same 2 colored screws, other 2 wires to other 2 screws.

Stratmando · Mar 11, 2008, 06:31 AM

Here is another way if you can't see inside the switch box.
1) Remove wires from 4 way switch, Find the 1 hot wire identify it.
2) Switch both 3 ways to opposite positions, now identify the second hot.
3) those 2 hots you just found are 1 set of travellers, and need to go to same colored screws. Other 2 to 2 remaining screws.

onthelipsplz · Mar 17, 2008, 06:56 PM

I don't think you are really understanding my question. The old switch has 2 of the wires on the top and 2 on the bottom. I need to change it to a 4 way switch which has wires going on the left and right side. The wires in the wall are all the same color except for one which appears to have a black stripe on it. This switch is the 4 way needed to make the other 2 switches work.

hkstroud · Mar 17, 2008, 07:31 PM

Yes, we understand.

Originally Posted by Stratmando

Many 4 ways have 2 same colored screws on top or sides, other 2 same screws are for the other 2 travellers. Have the 2 wires from 1 cable go to same 2 colored screws, other 2 wires to other 2 screws.

What that means is connect the two wires in one cable to two screws of the same color and the two wires of the other cable to the other two screws.

The two screw of the same color could be on the top with two screw of a different color on the bottom or there could be two screws of the same color on one side and two screws of a different color on the other side.

Originally Posted by onthelipsplz

I need to change it to a 4 way switch which has wires going on the left and right side.

Does that mean you have wires attached to the new switch instead of screws?

Stratmando · Mar 18, 2008, 07:41 AM

We really really understand. You may have to place wires in side and other side as opposed to top and bottom.
If after you hook it and test, If three ways only work in 1 position, it could be a double pole switch and not a 4 way, both have 4 screws, The 4 way swaps 2 wires as opposed to Make and break of 2 wires. Are all 4 screws the same color?

onthelipsplz · Mar 20, 2008, 10:53 AM

No, there are no wires attached to the new switch. And the screws on the left side are a different color from the ones on the right. If I understand correctly, I am to take both wires that are connected to the top of the old switch and put them on the same side of the new switch and do the same with the ones that were on the bottom of the old one? If so, I tried that and it did not work. One of the wires is a different color from the other three. I do not know which ones go to which cable.
With having 3 switches to the same light source, how can I check each one individually to see if they work? I am not sure if I made an error with one which might be causing others to NOT work.

onthelipsplz · Mar 20, 2008, 10:55 AM

How does a double pole switch differ from a 4 way? Also, can I use a double pole switch in this situation?

Stratmando · Mar 20, 2008, 12:46 PM

The double pole switch makes and breaks 2 connections x 2. A 4 way switch swaps the 2 pairs of wires(travellers). Needs to be 4 Way, not double pole switch.
At the box where the 4 way goes, connect 2 wires together, then connect the other 2 wires together.(1 wire from 1 pair to 1 wire of other pair, repeat for remaining 2 wires)
Now if the 3 ways work with the 4 way bypassed, then you just need to get the correct 4 way. If bypassing doesn't work you have different problem and we can help you there also.
Good Luck

hkstroud · Mar 20, 2008, 09:33 PM

Since you don't know which wire goes to which cable I suggest that you purchase a small multimeter if you don't have one. Set to AC voltage, separate all of the wires such that they touch nothing. Turn the power on, set both of the 3-way switches to the up position, check for voltage between the ground wire and each wire. One wire and only one wire should have voltage. Note that wire. Set switches to down position, one wire and one wire only should have voltage. Connect these two wires to one set of colored screws on the 4-way and the other two wires to the other set. Your wire colors seem a little odd. Are you in USA?

Just to check switch operation and screw location, while you have you meter out, set to resistance (that horse shoe setting) check for continuity between screws. When you find two screws that give you a reading on your meter connect one hot wire to one screw and one non-hot wire to the other. Same thing with switch in the other setting.

Footnote: You do have another two wires in the box that are wire nuted togeather don't you?