4 Way Snap Switch Disconnect

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Smitty@41

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Anyone come across a 4 way switch being used as a means of disconnecting both the ungrounded and the grounded conductors to a equipment rack outlet strip? The grounding conductor is continous and this is in a residential home. First is switching the grounded conductor permissible and second are 4 way switches rated for that application? Thoughts?
 
A 4-way switch does not function as a disconnect on two different conductor paths. It exchanges the two paths or "travellers", one for the other.

Also from 404.2(A): "Three-way and four-way switches shall be wired so that all switching is done only in the ungrounded circuit conductor."

In 404.2(B) Exception: "A switch or circuit breaker shall be permitted to disconnect a grounded circuit conductor where all circuit conductors are disconnected simultaneously, or where the device is arranged so that the grounded conductor cannot be disconnected until all the ungrounded conductors of the circuit have been disconnected."

A DPST switch would be needed to disconnect both ungrounded and grounded conductors.
 
Smitty, are you sure it's not a 2-pole switch? A 2-pole would allow line-to-line voltage usage as well asline-to-load.

Both have two dark and two light terminals, but the 2-pole will have 'on' and off' on the toggle; the 4-way will not.

Plus, now that I think about it, a 4-way would short the supply (and the load) conductors when turning off the load.
 
LarryFine said:
Smitty, are you sure it's not a 2-pole switch? A 2-pole would allow line-to-line voltage usage as well asline-to-load.

Both have two dark and two light terminals, but the 2-pole will have 'on' and off' on the toggle; the 4-way will not.

Plus, now that I think about it, a 4-way would short the supply (and the load) conductors when turning off the load.
Click to expand...

That’s what I was thinking. At a glance, they would look very much the same.

And wouldn’t the 4 way just reverse the conductors on the load side, as opposed to shorting them? Depending on how it’s wired, I guess.
 
retirede said:
And wouldn’t the 4 way just reverse the conductors on the load side, as opposed to shorting them? Depending on how it’s wired, I guess.
Click to expand...
Yes, if a 4-way is wired to de-energize the load, and not just flip polarity, the off position would cause the shorts.
 
4 way would need to have a "center off" position to be able to be a disconnecting means.

There are some DPDT switches out there that have that center off feature, could add some jumpers to make it operate like a 4 way
 
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