one 3-way switch to two 3-way switches (possible?)


  #1  
Old 07-22-13, 05:02 PM
J
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
one 3-way switch to two 3-way switches (possible?)

I am trying to see if it is possible to have one 3-way switch at the top of the stairs connected to two 3-way dimmer switches at the bottom. I want to be able to control both sets of lights from the one 3-way switch up top, while being able to control them individually from dimmers downstairs. Is this even possible? If so, could someone hook me up with a wiring diagram or description of how to do it? because I can't find anything.

Thanks.
 
  #2  
Old 07-22-13, 05:53 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,939
Received 3,951 Upvotes on 3,544 Posts
Welcome to the forums.

I don't think what you want to do is possible. If you have all three sharing the switching duties and the two downstairs are both pushed....... the upstairs one can't shut the circuit off. Now you'll have to figure which one to turn off. Very confusing.
 
  #3  
Old 07-22-13, 06:00 PM
Nashkat1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 7,458
Upvotes: 0
Received 6 Upvotes on 5 Posts
You may be over-engineering this. Do you actually need 3-way control? What if you took the power from the panel to a regular on/off switch at the top of the stairs and then to two on/off dimmer switches at the bottom? Then you could control each set while you were downstairs and cut both off as you left the basement at the top of the stairs. Would that give you what you want?
 

Last edited by Nashkat1; 07-22-13 at 08:58 PM.
  #4  
Old 07-22-13, 08:47 PM
B
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: usa
Posts: 5
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
To make it right you'll have to use two 3way switchs and 1 four way switches,, this will require running 2wires from the 3way swith to the 4way switch and another 2 wires from the 4way swich to the last 3way switch. This way all the switchs will control the light..
 
  #5  
Old 07-22-13, 09:00 PM
Nashkat1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 7,458
Upvotes: 0
Received 6 Upvotes on 5 Posts
you'll have to use two 3way switchs and 1 four way switches,,
Those three switches will control one set of lights from three locations. That's not what the OP said he was trying to accomplish.
 
  #6  
Old 07-23-13, 06:48 AM
J
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Nashkat, You are absolutely correct, I am over engineering it. Your suggestion should do exactly what I want. Thanks so much.
 
  #7  
Old 07-23-13, 05:01 PM
Nashkat1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 7,458
Upvotes: 0
Received 6 Upvotes on 5 Posts
Thanks for the feedback, Jonathan! Glad that worked for you.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: