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    rickbarnes61's Avatar
    rickbarnes61 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Oct 8, 2009, 12:39 AM
    Multi switch circuit not turning off lights
    I have a set of four lights in two hallways that are all controlled by 4 switches. The two end switches are 3 way ane the middle two switches are double polled. All of a sudden the lights will not shut off. I have swapped out each of the switches to narrow down the problem switch with out any luck. Any hints?
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    Oct 8, 2009, 12:48 PM
    Do the two "double polled" switches have On and Off on the handles?
    WallyHelps's Avatar
    WallyHelps Posts: 1,018, Reputation: 136
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    #3

    Oct 8, 2009, 03:32 PM

    The part that confuses me is that "all of a sudden" this started to happen. Surely something was changed that initiated this behavior.

    Confused...
    WallyH
    rickbarnes61's Avatar
    rickbarnes61 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Oct 8, 2009, 07:19 PM

    The middle switches are indeed 4 way not double polled. (My mistake for the mis-guided question)... And yes it was all of a sudden - the house is 20 years old and I have not touched this circuit. I have replaced the switches with the correct ones and not luck the lights stay on.
    Dakarpsi's Avatar
    Dakarpsi Posts: 13, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Oct 8, 2009, 08:24 PM

    If you have switched out all of the switches, then the problem almost has to be a short in one of your runners. That would be the wires the run from one switch to the next.

    Switch off the breaker, then disconnect the switches. Use a multimeter to check continuity between the wires. You should locate a place where they are making contact between two switches
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #6

    Oct 9, 2009, 08:50 AM
    LOL

    Quote Originally Posted by rickbarnes61 View Post
    The middle switches are indeed 4 way not double polled. (My mistake for the mis-guided question)....
    Good catch on me trying to catch you.

    Hey, stranger things have been found. I thought it would have been very possible that you took out a real four way, and not notice it was different from a double pole switch, and used DP switches in place of the 4 ways.

    Before you start taking anything apart, you need to keep your wits about you with three way/four way wiring.

    Three way switches are easy, 3 terminals and one is marked common.

    4 ways, not so much, some the traveler pairs connect top and bottom, some on either side, so be careful how those connect.


    I don't have my 3way/4way diagram handy on this PC, but I am sure you can find one on the Net.

    Mark every wire and which terminal it is connected to before you get too far with wires and terminals and loose track of what went where.
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