Three ways, the debate

Status
Not open for further replies.
K8MHZ said:
If a town has only three roads that lead from the outside world, it would be said that there are only three ways in or out of town, regardless of which is taken in or out.

A valve or a switch can be likened to a town and it's roads schematically, and it appears some of the terminology came from there.

But, the bottom line is that in switches and valves, 'way' has nothing to do with how many positions there are, it's all about how many 'connections' there are.
Click to expand...

Yup, and I can take all 3 in or out. I cant jump between 1 and two in a '3 way'.
 
Chamuit said:
Who installs one right-side up and one up-side down so that both switches can be in the off position when they are both in the "off" position?
Click to expand...

Me! :D At my home anyway, having one up drives me nuts. When I moved into my home I could only turn the lights on and off from down stairs because the switch upstairs would point up in the off position. I am severally OCD with how things look.
 
charlie b said:

I was not referring to a pathway THROUGH the switch, but rather a pathway that leads you TO the switch (or away FROM it). The word "way" means the same a "road," in this context. Ignore the switch for a moment, including everything that happens inside it. Think of driving on a road, and coming to a fork that requires you to choose to either take the left fork or the right fork. There are three roads, three "ways," that meet at one point (i.e., the switch).
Someone asked why it is called a 3-way, and some old timer is answering that question. :happyyes:
Click to expand...

I know, but that for me is not the right way to name such a switch. Though I do still thank you on finding out how the name came to be :)
 
Chamuit said:
Who installs one right-side up and one up-side down so that both switches can be in the off position when they are both in the "off" position?
Click to expand...
I always do, so I can go to sleep during a power failure and not be awakened by the lights coming on. All switches down -- all lights off.

As for the original question ...
Probably for the same reason that 12/3 MC cable contains four wires, 12/3 SO cable contains three wires and your vagus nerve loops through your chest before coming back up to your throat. They evolved independently without any unifying force.

Counting screws is as likely to be correct as anything else.

"Ways through" doesn't work because there are two different ways through a three-way switch and two different ways through a four-way switch.
 
Chamuit said:
Who installs one right-side up and one up-side down so that both switches can be in the off position when they are both in the "off" position?
Click to expand...


3 ways cannot be upside down, and with dimmers, the traveler orientation is often different than regular 3 ways. But yes, I install them so that all switches down = all lights off, tho there is a 90% chance I will guess wrong if I am connecting a dimmer, so I always check them before I stick 'em back in the box and install the plate.
 
Someone told me that the word "way" was adopted from a British term for "wire". 3-way equal 3 wire, 4-way equals 4 wire. Can be completely bogus but it sounded good.

Maybe our resident Brit can dispel the myth. :)
 
infinity said:
Someone told me that the word "way" was adopted from a British term for "wire". 3-way equal 3 wire, 4-way equals 4 wire. Can be completely bogus but it sounded good.

Maybe our resident Brit can dispel the myth. :)
Click to expand...

In the UK they call 3 way two way and 4 way 3 way :thumbsup:




2-way-lighting-circuit.png



3-way-lighting-circuit.png
 
mbrooke said:
I know, but that for me is not the right way to name such a switch. Though I do still thank you on finding out how the name came to be :)
Click to expand...
You could still call it (the three way) a double throw and that would be accurate. We call most non "snap switches" with same basic configuration double throw, and the "four way" is basically a two pole reversing switch.
 
kwired said:
You could still call it (the three way) a double throw and that would be accurate. We call most non "snap switches" with same basic configuration double throw, and the "four way" is basically a two pole reversing switch.
Click to expand...

How though? Double is still double, not triple.
 
kwired said:
:? not sure what you are asking

Maybe started that way, if so has evolved to naming them three way and four way switches, or do you go to the supply house and request them under a different name?
Click to expand...

If a 2 way switch is called a single pole double throw, then how does it become a 3 way?


different-types-of-relays.jpg



I am not denying the history of the naming, rather that its always been incorrect.
 
mbrooke said:
If a 2 way switch is called a single pole double throw, then how does it become a 3 way?


different-types-of-relays.jpg



I am not denying the history of the naming, rather that its always been incorrect.
Click to expand...
still lost me, all I was saying before is same switching configuration in other then a "snap switch" is typically called single pole double throw, which you seem to be saying as well
 
kwired said:
still lost me, all I was saying before is same switching configuration in other then a "snap switch" is typically called single pole double throw, which you seem to be saying as well
Click to expand...


MY bad :ashamed1: That is what I am saying, perhaps I misread- but someone wanted to call a SPDT a 3 way because of that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top