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    ahodges69's Avatar
    ahodges69 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Feb 1, 2009, 04:46 PM
    Change 2 switches in a four way light configuration
    I must admit I am not very good with electricl work so sorry. I have a 4-way switch configuration and I wanted to change the two switches on the 4-way setup so I switched them, both were the ones with only 3 screws, I kept the existing 4 screw switch, which is standard, the new ones are dimming, so if that matters, but I changed them and when I flipped the standard switch the light went out and never came on again, the bulbs are not dead. Please Help.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #2

    Feb 1, 2009, 04:51 PM
    You CANNOT use two dimmers in a 3/4-way switching setup. You must only use one dimmer at one 3-way switch location.

    The ONLY time you can do this is with "smart dimmers" which are electronic dimmers, and they must be used at ALL locations, not just one.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
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    #3

    Feb 1, 2009, 05:16 PM
    I see from the other thread you do have smart dimmers. What brand and model number are they?
    ahodges69's Avatar
    ahodges69 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Feb 1, 2009, 05:17 PM

    I know but I already did it, and the two I changed are the smart ones but now that I did the damage what did I actually do, and how do I fix it
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
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    #5

    Feb 1, 2009, 05:23 PM
    It is impossible to say what you did. What you needed to do was change all of them. Typically there is one master and two slave dimmers in a 3/4/3-way setup. A typical 3-way setup would have one master and one slave.

    I'd say your best bet is to get all new dimmers and see which one are damaged. Try and return the damaged ones.
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