Despard switches!!!!!

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Doctor Electric

Doctor Electric

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Recently another electrician was swapping out devices in an old funeral home and he thought they were regular 3 way 4 way switches but apparently it's some kind of double switch double throw Orr single switch double throw circuitry

Well the old switches were discarded before I could get my hands on them and none of the lights work I've been troubleshooting for an entire day now and I'm pretty sure that I need those same devices and I can't seem to find them anywhere


I either need a solution to get the circuitry to match my new devices or I need to know some where I can get some new 4 way despard switches demoing and redoing is not an option thanks guys
 
The only advice I can give is to draw out the existing circuitry and this will let you know what type of switches you need.

First off, how many places are the lights controlled from? Locate which end of the circuit feeds power to the light. and then locate and mark the travelers going to the next switch box.

I would power up the lights from the first switch box just to make sure they are working to start with. a wire may have come loose during the demo.
 
Granted, I've not seen a lot of them, but I don't recall ever coming across a Despard switch that was not a common switch configuration (single, 3-way, 4-way). My guess is he wired something up incorrectly. Growler's troubleshooting suggestion is sound.
 
What circuitry?? Despard switches were standard switches that were made small enough so that you could put up to three of them on a yoke. It was not uncommon to find 3 in a single gang box which is one reason they were used- someplace where you couldn't fit more than a single gang box and plate.

Despard switches came in the standard single pole, three way and four way configurations so they can be replaced with what we have today, assuming you have the space.

Looks like what has happened to you is somebody removed the old switches and now you have no idea what wire goes where on what kind of switch. As was said, figure out what lights were controlled from where and start ringing the wiring out.

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
What circuitry?? Despard switches were standard switches that were made small enough so that you could put up to three of them on a yoke. It was not uncommon to find 3 in a single gang box which is one reason they were used- someplace where you couldn't fit more than a single gang box and plate.

Despard switches came in the standard single pole, three way and four way configurations so they can be replaced with what we have today, assuming you have the space.

Looks like what has happened to you is somebody removed the old switches and now you have no idea what wire goes where on what kind of switch. As was said, figure out what lights were controlled from where and start ringing the wiring out.

-Hal
Click to expand...

I agree.
Take a deep breathe and go at it.
You know what to do.
 
hbiss said:
What circuitry?? Despard switches were standard switches that were made small enough so that you could put up to three of them on a yoke. It was not uncommon to find 3 in a single gang box which is one reason they were used- someplace where you couldn't fit more than a single gang box and plate.

Looks like what has happened to you is somebody removed the old switches and now you have no idea what wire goes where on what kind of switch. As was said, figure out what lights were controlled from where and start ringing the wiring out.

-Hal
Click to expand...

I had this same problem last year where a homeowner had tried to change out his switches. Nothing like haveing 5 switches and a dimmer in a three gang box and all the wires mixed up.

A least he had written down what switches controlled what but hadn't marked any wires.

But we get paid for that sort of thing.

They still sell these switches at home depot or Lowe's.
 
I figured it out. There were two switches acting as pass throughs for power one for the third floor one for the second floor and it was two switches in the middle of a round hallway with a 3 way , 4 way 4 way, 4 way and finally 3 way at the bottom of the stairs so. What confused me was why I had neutrals hooked up to switches I swear as soon as I think I've seen it all something new presents itself to me. A wise man never stops learning
 
Doctor Electric said:
I figured it out. There were two switches acting as pass throughs for power one for the third floor one for the second floor and it was two switches in the middle of a round hallway with a 3 way , 4 way 4 way, 4 way and finally 3 way at the bottom of the stairs so. What confused me was why I had neutrals hooked up to switches I swear as soon as I think I've seen it all something new presents itself to me. A wise man never stops learning
Click to expand...
Did you have neutrals hooked up to switches or did you just have white conductors used as portions of the switching legs?
 
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