Light switches

[mm]

This would also be a good clue where the problem is!!! :)

[JIMMIE]

..

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These switches don't connect to the hot or the load they connect to the travelers.

There are 4 terminals lets call them A, A+, B and B+ In one position A is connected A+ and B is connected to B+. In the other position A is connect to B+ and B is connected to A+. Think straight thru or crossing over. Draw a diagram of a 3 way switching circuit and insert this switch between the two switches connected to the travelers. Follow the current path as you change each switch. Draw it out, work thru it until you understand it and tyou will never forget it. Changing the position of the 4 way switch has the effect of reversing the connection of the travelers on a 3 way switch. You can have as many 4 way switches between the 3 way switches as you like. My inlaw's house has a circuit with 4 four way ans 2 3 way switches to control a light in the den

BTW in a pinch you can use a 4-way switch as a 3 way switch. let A or A+ be the common and B and B+ will be the travelers Also if you choose B or B+ as the common A and A+ will be connected to the travelers.

Jimmie

[Mark]

Bottom line is that if the wiring wasn't documented when the previous switch replacement was attempted, you are probably going to have to do it by trial and error. Lots of them! An electrician with proper meters could probably figure out with a few tries, but doing it without them will take time. Check out the diagrams for such an arrangement. It might seem obvious that the 4-way is the one in the middle of your arrangement but that doesn't have to be the case. Jot down what wires you have in each box, and you may also need to pull the lights to check them as well. If there a 2 conductor wires in a couple of the boxes, you can probably figure one of these is the supply, the other perhaps the load (lights). With all the wires safely separated, try turning on the power and testing for your hot. Then using a meter try to identify each line. Finally you can figure out what the switch configuration needs to be.

[Nate Nagel]

In some older houses that is not the case, I have seen 3-ways where there's a 3-wire switch leg from the ceiling box to each switch box. Makes for a rat's nest in the ceiling box... (found this in the dining room of the same old house that had the miswired 3-ways in the stairwell)

nate