Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
Will a double pole switch work as a 4 way switch in between two three ways? This is for lighting, of course...
double-pole or 4-way switch ?
- Thread starter Buck Parrish
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Volta
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
No, it would only serve to disconnect the lights from the source.
Volta
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
True.
Once I built a rack space of DPDT relays to operate as four-way switches.
The coils were controlled by two-wire switch loops. Any switch could be opened or closed, and would actuate its "four-way" relay set, and either turn the final load on or off.
The benefit was two-wire rather than four-wire loops.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
So both travlers are opened at one time. I thought a 4 way switch opened one travler and closed the other and vice versa...
And a double pole opens both simeltaneously.
And a double pole opens both simeltaneously.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Go get a 4 way and ohm it out and see first hand. DP switch have on/off written on them so obviously it will disconnect any current flowing when the switch is "off". There is no "off" position on a 4 way.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
That's the reason I'm asking. I thought I had a 4 way but it is opening both travlers at once.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Does the switch have an on/off on it?
If you look at it this way,,,,,,,,,,, A 4-way is equivalent electrically to two 3-ways in one package and is a DPDT,with internal jumpering that is factory installed.
I started to write a explanation of metering but got all out of sync with myself so how about a picture.
I started to write a explanation of metering but got all out of sync with myself so how about a picture.
greeny
Member
- Location
- Southern NH
Nice drawing, however, there's a jumper missing from the outer travellers.
Volta
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
More like they either are connected straight through in one position, or they are connected diagonally across.
I don't think so, sketch a 3-way on each side,hot to one 3-way and switch leg to other 3-way,then of course the light and neutral connected to the light.
dick
Call each internal SPDT switch#1 & switch#2,,,,,,,,,It does when you measure in and out on each individual switch, in one position it will read closed,toggle the switch and measure again they will read open but this time the internal busing or jumper will cause the reading to read closed from switch #1 input to switch #2 output but never from switch#2 input to switch #1 output.
see my sketch above and number the individual SPDT switches
dick
I agree with greeny. One of the poles on the bottom 3-way is not connected to anything.
Volta
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
Sure it does. It needs to be connected to the top right-hand contact.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
Here is a diagram of a 4 way switch (SW3)
So you could use a DPDT switch with a pair of jumpers to replicate a 4 way switch.
I doubt, however, there is anything to be gained as I'll bet the DPDT switches are way more expensive than a 4 way, plus consider the next person in the box.
So you could use a DPDT switch with a pair of jumpers to replicate a 4 way switch.
I doubt, however, there is anything to be gained as I'll bet the DPDT switches are way more expensive than a 4 way, plus consider the next person in the box.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
So your saying when moved the line on the bottom with dashes will move up and contact a travler. How ever that pole would become open. While the other pole moves up and becomes shut. Right?
As far a a double pole double throw. The ones I have used are off in the middle. And on in either top or bottom.
While a double pole is just up on and down off. (both poles)
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