Three ways, the debate

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djd

djd

Let me ask you gentleman , can you wire a three way so that when the light is on ,:? both switches are up and when there off both switches are down.
 
djd said:
Let me ask you gentleman , can you wire a three way so that when the light is on ,:? both switches are up and when there off both switches are down.
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with the 4 way in there, or with just one wire between, but landed on opposite traveler terminals of the three ways. You can do the same thing with two single pole switches in series with one another.
 
You do not need to think at all about how you might wire the circuit, the requirement is logically inconsistent:

1. You must be able to turn the light on or off from either switch, regardless of the state of the other.
2. With both switches down the lights must be off.
Combine those two and it is logically required that putting either switch in the up position turns on the light.
From that state, go to the switch that is down. To change the light to off from there the only option is to move that switch to the up position.
Which contradicts our requirement that both up must be on.

If you allow momentary contact with latching or toggling relay(s) or multiple throw switches you do not have this limitation.

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mivey said:
Tell me about it!! Real professionals know to use touch-up paint on the slots so they don't show:D

Merry Christmas everyone.:)
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Now I know. :)



Another tip is a container of 'White Out' commonly found in offices and the like, fixes suspended ceiling tiles.



Merry Christmas.​
 
you guys crack me up... 11 pages! and not one mention of what we call a three-way grenade, the funnest part of hot checking other peoples work!
 
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Methinks 480's antiquated findings probably rate the best response so far

3 point, 4 point........no two point need apply......

Now way back in my past, i posed the same Q as the OP.

The old timer (K&T tenure) pivoted his foot on his heel

He said the 'heel' is the common, and it's either ON-OFF-ON or it's OFF-On-OFF , depending on orientation

Ergo '3 way' literally meaning 3 functions to get back to where you started from....

~RJ~
 
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?
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We used to do that but now the guys do it differently.. When the feed is the point then the black of the travelers is on the same side as the feed. When the switch leg is the point then the red is on the side with the switch leg
 
GoldDigger said:
You do not need to think at all about how you might wire the circuit, the requirement is logically inconsistent:

1. You must be able to turn the light on or off from either switch, regardless of the state of the other.
2. With both switches down the lights must be off.
Combine those two and it is logically required that putting either switch in the up position turns on the light.
From that state, go to the switch that is down. To change the light to off from there the only option is to move that switch to the up position.
Which contradicts our requirement that both up must be on.

If you allow momentary contact with latching or toggling relay(s) or multiple throw switches you do not have this limitation.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
iwire said:
If you damage the finish on white suspended ceiling tiles typical office 'white out' will work as touch up paint.
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Heh, I've only worked as maintenance, so a damaged tile got some sort of paint, which never matched the finish. But hey, spray bomb is cheaper than fixing the roof leaks which caused the discoloration.
 
kwired said:
When I was in High School we did an experiment in physics class on this. Our instructor lived about a block away from the school and wanted us to find out if he would be drier walking or running to work/home when it is raining. We took some big sheets of paper out in the rain and walked with some, ran with others. Our test results were that it didn't seem to matter very much - so he could walk or run, depending on his mood at the time and would likely be about the same wetness level.
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But boundary conditions are important. If, for example, you walked so slowly that it took you an hour to walk that block vs. ran it in 20 seconds, I guarantee that you'd get wetter walking if the rate of rainfall were constant.
 
ggunn said:
But boundary conditions are important. If, for example, you walked so slowly that it took you an hour to walk that block vs. ran it in 20 seconds, I guarantee that you'd get wetter walking if the rate of rainfall were constant.
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Well there is all kind of things that can change the outcome, rain rate, droplet size, wind speed, wind direction, stepping in a puddle along the way....

I think the whole thing was a good exercise for young minds to put what physical science we had been learning in textbooks into practical use, and it is always fun to do an activity out of the classroom when you are a school age person.
 
I didn't read the whole replies but what I remember the three way switch the one to be inserted in the circuit when you want to have a three or more locations for control


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m sleem said:
I didn't read the whole replies but what I remember the three way switch the one to be inserted in the circuit when you want to have a three or more locations for control


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In US usage the third or additional switches added after you have the required two "three way" switches to start with for two control points are four way switches, and that is why it is hard to understand exactly why.
 
m sleem said:
I didn't read the whole replies but what I remember the three way switch the one to be inserted in the circuit when you want to have a three or more locations for control


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That would be a 4 way


This down here, imo, is the best explanation for the meaning of the phrase 3 way......

V V V V V V V V

romex jockey said:
3 point, 4 point........no two point need apply......

Now way back in my past, i posed the same Q as the OP.

The old timer (K&T tenure) pivoted his foot on his heel

He said the 'heel' is the common, and it's either ON-OFF-ON or it's OFF-On-OFF , depending on orientation

Ergo '3 way' literally meaning 3 functions to get back to where you started from....

~RJ~
Click to expand...
 
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