4 Way Light Switch Help

I recently decided to replace some light switches as a cosmetic upgrade in my home. I ran into an issue. I'm trying to sort through the wiring mess from the previous home owner. I am replacing 1 4-way switch and 2, 3-way switches. From how it was wired before it looks like there is a 3 way switch downstairs, another 3 way switch at the entry way (live wire) and a 4 way switch upstairs. All 3 switches control 2 lights that turn on together. First image is of where the electricity comes in at the entryway. I've labeled the wires so I hope that helps.

Also I know this is messy and will be cleaned up before install.

Arrow #1: Live wire (I temporarily wrapped tape around the wire so I knew which one was live. This will be removed at installation.) There are 4 wires, black, red, white and ground. Not sure if this goes directly to the fuse box or how the lights are wired in this series. There are 2 light switches at this location (1 pictured is a 2-way switch that controls and outside light.)

Arrow #2: Goes to the top of the stairs which is where the 4 way switch is located. This also is 4 wires.

Arrow #3: Goes to an outside light by the front door. Has 2 wires, black and white.

Arrow #4: Goes to the garage. Has 2 wires, black and white.

 

Next image is the 4 way switch at the top of the stairs.



Lastly is the 3-way switch at the bottom of the stairs.




I want to thank everyone in advance for the help provided.

 

The important think to remember on three way switches is common wire on old switch to common screw on the new. Actual position of the common on the switch may vary so you must do it by function not position. The common is the odd colored screw usually dark gray. The other two screws, usually brass, are the travelers and are interchangeable.

 

You've got some "home handyman" issues here.

You say that cable 2 goes to the four way switch. That would mean that the red and black of that cable go to the two brass screws of a three way switch. The white wire from cable 2 goes to the neutral splice in that box. That is not correct. That would mean that the neutral was being switched in that series. That white wire is the return of the series and the black screw on the local three way switch is the supply or start.

 

In the 4-way switch the old home owner had the red wires tied together and the black and white wires on the switch.

 

Your picture does not show that.
What did you do..... change the colors that were on the switch.

 

Sorry it was late and I forgot that important part. All I did was on the 4 way tried the red wires on the switch instead of white. I left it alone at that point and decided to ask for assistance. If I made any mistakes I will learn from them.

 

If the switches worked correctly there was no need to change the wiring. All that should have been done was to move the wires over one at a time and test and then move to the next switch.

 

Are you able to help me correct this issue I seem to have?

 

If white was connected to white and not the switch that remains the same*. The remaining wires of the two 3-conductor cable are the travelers. You should have two sets of two screws on the 4-way switch. Two will be one color the other two another color. Lets sat two brass two black. Travelers from one cable to brass and travelers from the other cable to black.

*The wires passing through unconnected to the 4-way switch are not always white. Open the 3-ways and check the color of the travelers at each end.

 

Your picture of the third three way switch shows white as the non traveler color which agrees with the four way switch but not with what you are describing.

The homeowners wiring was correct. White is not normally used as a common color.

 

If power is fed to one of the switches it should have been on the white which would put it on the common.

 

Thanks for the help this far. I've taken everyone's advise but still have one problem. The lights don't work as 3 and 4 ways are supposed to work. For example if I turn on the 4 way, 1 of the 3 way switches won't work.

3 way switch downstairs



4 way switch



Lastly is the other 3 way switch. I've labeled the 2 group of incoming wires. The 3 way switch is the one on the right side. I have the common wire as the red wire from wire group #1.



Thanks for everyone's help, I appreciate it.

 

There are four screw terminals on a four way switch. There are two light colored and two dark.
I've seen them use the pairs in two different ways.

In your application with white and black travelers..... it may be that the whites need to go on light colored and the blacks on the dark colored.

OR it may be that you have to put the whites on one side of the switch and the blacks on the other side.

 

You need to check the wiring diagram on the 4 way to see how the terminals are paired up. One pair of wires does to each pair of terminals.

 

Here are the two common ways a 4-way switch is arranged.



On the first switch one set of travelers to the top and the other set of travelers to the bottom. In other words travelers of cable A to black and travelers of cable B go to the brass.

On the second switch cable A travelers goes to black on the left side of the switch and Cable B travelers to brass on the right side.

Screw colors may vary but the key is the X which may or may not be embossed on the back of the switch.