School Project: 3-way and 4-way switches

[ZappNRoger]

Hello! New to the forum, was told to use this as a resource by a professor.

We have been tasked with completing a project utilizing 3-way and 4-way switches to lights utilizing both series and parallel circuits.

Attached is a photo, can anyone draw a wire-diagram for me showing how to wire everything, alternating the luminaires between series and parallel? Thank you for your help!



First switch is 4 way, second is 3 way and where power comes in, third is 4 way, fourth is 3way, 5 and 6 are 4way.

I have a drawing but doesn’t look like I can upload directly to the forum without uploading elsewhere.

 

[LarryFine]

Welcome to the forum.

Where is your pic stored now? You can usually copy'n'paste pics directly in the response window.

Note that we may not simply answer your question without asking you to try first.

 

[ZappNRoger]

Thank you. Me and my school partner are mid project so we’re trying! Let me see if I can paste my drawing in. Doesn’t look like I can paste it in here directly. Thanks for responding!

 

[ptonsparky]

Use your cellphone to edit, crop and save the pic. Select Drop an Image. Select you pic, add text if desired. Post reply.

 

[kwired]

Hint: the switches need to be in series with each other, the lights need to be parallel to one another.

 

[ptonsparky]

Hint: the switches need to be in series with each other, the lights need to be parallel to one another.

 

[ZappNRoger]

Haha thanks for the hint. He wants 3 of the lights in series, 3 in parallel.

 

[ptonsparky]

Haha thanks for the hint. He wants 3 of the lights in series, 3 in parallel.

Are you sure about this?

 

[ZappNRoger]

Are you sure about this?

Yep! That’s why it’s an annoying project.

 

[ruxton.stanislaw]

Let's entertain this; three 120 V incandescent bulbs in series on a Canadian 347 V service and the other three are LED drivers of sufficient voltage rating.

 

[ptonsparky]

Yep! That’s why it’s an annoying project.

Is it supposed to work properly?
Does he want the three in series ahead of the paralleled, parallel with the paralleled or ???

 

[ptonsparky]

Hello! New to the forum, was told to use this as a resource by a professor.

We have been tasked with completing a project utilizing 3-way and 4-way switches to lights utilizing both series and parallel circuits.

Attached is a photo, can anyone draw a wire-diagram for me showing how to wire everything, alternating the luminaires between series and parallel? Thank you for your help!



First switch is 4 way, second is 3 way and where power comes in, third is 4 way, fourth is 3way, 5 and 6 are 4way.

I have a drawing but doesn’t look like I can upload directly to the forum without uploading elsewhere.

Hmm.

 

[ZappNRoger]

The image I uploaded is exactly how we were told to wire it. We were using the previous students setup which is why the power comes in a random spot and the switches are placed that way to make it difficult and annoying.

 

[GMc]

Can you post the actual question from the professor.

 

[ZappNRoger]

Can you post the actual question from the professor. I’ve attached a photo of the area we are using for the project.

I can’t, he verbally told us and it’s what I stated earlier in the thread.

 

[ZappNRoger]

Is it supposed to work properly?
Does he want the three in series ahead of the paralleled, parallel with the paralleled or ???

It’s just to give us a difficult problem to work on. I don’t think it matters where the lights are or which ones are parallel or series. Just needs to have them. Thanks

 

[ptonsparky]

Draw It out as if the switching would control a single light from any location.
Post what you get.

 

[ptonsparky]

Start with the three ways. Insert a four. Repeat.

 

[Strathead]

OK, I am pretty sure your professor didn't mean to log on here and GET the answer. Most of us tend to step in to teach mode. That said, draw out what you think and then ask for input. Some of us will get in the weeds about parallel vs series and real world applications, but if that is really what he asked for, not that difficult of a distinction. I will start you off with...
At the power source you have one with (the hot) leaving and going to your first switch, the electrons will leave your last switch and go to the first light. Also regardless of how they are physically oriented, electrically the first switch will be a 3 way, the last switch will be a three way and all the ones in between will be four way.

GO!

 

[ptonsparky]

Let's entertain this; three 120 V incandescent bulbs in series on a Canadian 347 V service and the other three are LED drivers of sufficient voltage rating.

25 watt or 300s?