IONH
Well-known member
Okay, so my first attempt at adding another switch to my existing two 3 way switch setup failed because I bought another 3 way switch and didn't understand exactly how the circuit worked. That caused me to do some research and found the following link.
http://users.wfu.edu/matthews/misc/switches/4WayAnimation.html
Alright, let me start with the 3 way wiring is existing. I did extend it months ago to add some T8 fixtures with conduit, but I did not touch the switch wiring.
I figured the switch at the back wall is the one which is really responsible for supplying voltage to the main lighting. I am adding a switch by the front side door, this is the 4 way. The front wall at the center of the doors has the other 3 way.
Long story short, after a couple of hours of troubleshooting, I figured out that the rear 14-3 line was providing power on the red and white wires, depending on switch orientation. Okay, so the black must be common. This 3 way is very old and has no ground screw (that tells its age right there). Let it be noted that this rear 3 way has two 14-2 romex hooked up to it and I do not know where in the ceiling it turns into 14-3 to get to the front wall, probably near the original lights back there.
I think I set up the 3 way in the front with the red as common (darker screw) and white and black on the other screws.
I hooked the 4 way up with two runs of 14-2 romex. I attached both whites to one side of the switch and both blacks to the other side.
I got both 3 ways to work with the 4 way in one position but not in the other.
I'd like to say "thankfully" I haven't popped any circuits because this is all dealing with hot wires so the only two "wrongs" are lights ON or OFF at any time and no popping circuits. This said, I can experiment with wire orientations till it finally all works... this is definitely a challenge of my legs and knees crouching in the attic swapping wires to then go back downstairs to turn the breaker on and try the switches in my heavily cluttered garage. I must be down to the last couple of combinations by now!
http://users.wfu.edu/matthews/misc/switches/4WayAnimation.html
Alright, let me start with the 3 way wiring is existing. I did extend it months ago to add some T8 fixtures with conduit, but I did not touch the switch wiring.
I figured the switch at the back wall is the one which is really responsible for supplying voltage to the main lighting. I am adding a switch by the front side door, this is the 4 way. The front wall at the center of the doors has the other 3 way.
Long story short, after a couple of hours of troubleshooting, I figured out that the rear 14-3 line was providing power on the red and white wires, depending on switch orientation. Okay, so the black must be common. This 3 way is very old and has no ground screw (that tells its age right there). Let it be noted that this rear 3 way has two 14-2 romex hooked up to it and I do not know where in the ceiling it turns into 14-3 to get to the front wall, probably near the original lights back there.
I think I set up the 3 way in the front with the red as common (darker screw) and white and black on the other screws.
I hooked the 4 way up with two runs of 14-2 romex. I attached both whites to one side of the switch and both blacks to the other side.
I got both 3 ways to work with the 4 way in one position but not in the other.
I'd like to say "thankfully" I haven't popped any circuits because this is all dealing with hot wires so the only two "wrongs" are lights ON or OFF at any time and no popping circuits. This said, I can experiment with wire orientations till it finally all works... this is definitely a challenge of my legs and knees crouching in the attic swapping wires to then go back downstairs to turn the breaker on and try the switches in my heavily cluttered garage. I must be down to the last couple of combinations by now!