4 way switch question

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Little Bill said:
There are some brands that don't have different color screws. If it's a brand I have never wired, and no wiring diagram included, I use my meter to find the correct terminals. I had one that I looked for the diagram and didn't see one so I used my meter. When picking up my trash after the job, I noticed the box the 4-way came in and on the inside, printed on the inside, was the wiring diagram! You had to tear the box apart to read the whole thing!
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^ that right there.....
 
Fred B said:
Then found one that someone must have but in the wrong box, it turned out to be not a 4way but DPDT, no markings on switch that I saw to indicate it being a DPDT, that will really throw a wrench into a 4way installation.
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Wouldn't a DPDT be apparent because it has 6 screw terminals? You could wire it to act like a 4-way using a couple of jumpers, but that would be a waste of money. If it was a DPST then it would have 4 screws and not be as obvious that it isn't a 4-way. And as you mentioned, it would be no good if you needed a 4-way function.
 
synchro said:
Wouldn't a DPDT be apparent because it has 6 screw terminals? You could wire it to act like a 4-way using a couple of jumpers, but that would be a waste of money. If it was a DPST then it would have 4 screws and not be as obvious that it isn't a 4-way. And as you mentioned, it would be no good if you needed a 4-way function.
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My mistake yes DPST.
 
goldstar said:
We're only seeing the back of the switch. If it's a Decora switch the name "Legrand" is embossed on bottom of the face of the switch. Installing it upside down the top it would read "dnargeL". :cool:
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I worked at a plant many years ago, where the head maintenance guy would install all the single pole switches upside down! He said they were that way at his house, so that’s the way he wanted them at the plant. I told him, look at the switch, it says “NO” when upside down!
 
hillbilly1 said:
I worked at a plant many years ago, where the head maintenance guy would install all the single pole switches upside down! He said they were that way at his house, so that’s the way he wanted them at the plant. I told him, look at the switch, it says “NO” when upside down!
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“No” means “No dark”!
 
LarryFine said:
Which brings us squarely back to my point.

So many times I have heard "But, I put each wire in the same place it was on the old switch!"
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I've had them do that when replacing a three way with a single pole, and landing one of the conductors on the grounding screw. :rolleyes:
 
Fred B said:
Seems 4ways are always an issue. Not due to lack of knowing how it works but that each mfg seems to want to configure their's unique to what the next mfg does. Unfortunately don't always have the luxury to have available a singular mfg 4way. So I always either meter or find mfg diagram. Found them with the traveler connections across top/bottom, or right/left. Then found one that someone must have but in the wrong box, it turned out to be not a 4way but DPDT, no markings on switch that I saw to indicate it being a DPDT, that will really throw a wrench into a 4way installation. Biggest system I've had to connect was with an 8way, pretty straightforward after first 4way.

Want to mess with GC who wants to get the materials because he doesn't want to pay the markup? Tell them you need 5way switch.
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I seem to recall some brands will have terminal configuration of a 4 way "toggle" one way and configuration of a "decorator" 4 way a different way. so it isn't just differences between manufacturers.
 
goldstar said:
We're only seeing the back of the switch. If it's a Decora switch the name "Legrand" is embossed on bottom of the face of the switch. Installing it upside down the top it would read "dnargeL". :cool:
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Not a Decora. I've noticed that the interior devices are grey and the weather resistant devices are black. I'm thinking that maybe it has something to do with weather resistance to have the ground come in at the bottom? But nowhere on the package or face does it say WR. Or like someone said, maybe they used the same back as a WR version?
 

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Nice!, On a completely different note, my status changed from "Member" to "Senior Member". Always hunt the good stuff in life. Never dismiss the positive little things. It can change your outlook, and more good things can happen for you due to other people noticing your positive outlook.
 
Sea Nile said:
Not a Decora. I've noticed that the interior devices are grey and the weather resistant devices are black. I'm thinking that maybe it has something to do with weather resistance to have the ground come in at the bottom? But nowhere on the package or face does it say WR. Or like someone said, maybe they used the same back as a WR version?
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As far as NEC goes the only thing that WR applies to (so far) is 15 and 20 amp 125 volt receptacles. There possibly some out there that are called corrosion resistant. They were there but not too commonly used before NEC decided to include the WR requirement and probably are mostly the same thing as the WR versions.
 
Sea Nile said:
Not a Decora. I've noticed that the interior devices are grey and the weather resistant devices are black. I'm thinking that maybe it has something to do with weather resistance to have the ground come in at the bottom? But nowhere on the package or face does it say WR. Or like someone said, maybe they used the same back as a WR version?
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That changes everything, never see a wr switch, but there is probably a drain hole, or some other device to keep moisture from forming that requires a certain position.
 
kwired said:
I've had them do that when replacing a three way with a single pole, and landing one of the conductors on the grounding screw. :rolleyes:
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One of my first "I see what you did wrong" comments, and I was maybe 9 or 10, was looking at a neighbor having their cousin replace the single pole switch going to a porch light, 1950s house. The cousin went and bought a three way switch, as he pulled the Neutral wires out of the back of the box where they were properly connected by a wirenut, and he proceeded to wire the hot, lamp hot and neutral wires to the three way switch. He could not see why the fuse kept blowing.... Then the smart ass kid from up the block said.... ;)
 
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