I have one incoming line that powers lighting in three separate areas of my basement (a total of 8 ceiling lights). Three of the lights in the center area are operated by switches in three locations (3-way to 4-way to 3-way). I need to pull power from one of the 3-way switches and the 4-way switch to power up the other two lighting areas. I tried to do this using single pole switches, but it didn't work no matter how I tried to connect the wires.

Here's a diagram: ( [SP]= single pole)


Incoming---->[3way]----[4way]----[3way]----Light----Light----Light

I need to tap into the power at the 4-way and the last 3-way as follows:

[4way]----[SP]---Light----Light

[3way]----[SP]---Light----Light


The most it does is turn on when the center lights are off, and vice versa, but at no time do all of the lights come on at once.

Can anyone help? BTW, there is no possibility of running any additional wires to light these areas, so I have to live with this somehow.

Your input and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Ginger

 

What you want to do is completely and 100% impossible. It is never possible to tap power from a 4-way switch, and seldom possible to tap power from a 3-way switch. The 3-way switch that you want to tap is not one of those few situations where this is possible. Neither switch has a source of continuous power to tap.

Find another source of power. A unswitched receptacle is usually your best bet. Or you could tap power from the 3-way switch where power comes first.