4-way switch troubles.. using only 3 switches

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01-31-21, 10:10 AM

Dholzemer

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4-way switch troubles.. using only 3 switches

So I have myself in a jam with wiring I totally buggered up. Maybe some one can straighten me out.
I have a split level house. My switches are
a switch on the bottom landing (box 1), a switch on the actual landing (box 2) and a switch on the upper landing (box 3).. and they go to a single overhead light.
my issues comes in that box 2 has the power from the circuit and also goes to the light.

I have looked at a lot of wiring diagrams but haven’t found any that address my layout. I’m thinking that box 2 would be a 4 way switch and the top and bottom landings would be 3 way switches, it I have myself confused. Hope someone can straighten me out.

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01-31-21, 10:18 AM

PJmax

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Welcome to the forums.

A three way system is two switches. A four way system uses three switches.
You must use two 3 way switches and an unlimited amount of 4 way switches.

Either post a picture of each box or tell us what colors you see at each box.
How-to-insert-pictures.

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01-31-21, 10:56 AM

Dholzemer

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Oh my..so sorry. There are 3 switches.. so that would be a 4 way correct?

will these photos be helpful.?

thanks so much Pete!

This is box 1, at the bottom of landing.. 3 way switch. I tested and there is no power

This is box 2. This has 3 lines in it. And 2 switches. One switch turns on/off outside light and works. One on the right has power. The middle one seems to go to both the outside light and the inside light(the one I’m trying to fix). And then the 3rd I don’t have connected and are red white and black.

This is box 3 top of the landing. There are 2 sets of red white and black in it. I tested and nothing has power

ill repost the pictures.. I think they were too big to upload

Last edited by Dholzemer; 01-31-21 at 11:25 AM.

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01-31-21, 11:31 AM

Dholzemer

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This is box 1, at the bottom of landing.. 3 way switch. I tested and there is no power

This is box 2. This has 3 lines in it. And 2 switches. One switch turns on/off outside light and works. One on the right has power. The middle one seems to go to both the outside light and the inside light(the one I’m trying to fix). And then the 3rd I don’t have connected and are red white and black.

This is box 3 top of the landing. There are 2 sets of red white and black in it. I tested and nothing has power

Last edited by PJmax; 01-31-21 at 04:04 PM. Reason: resized/labeled pics

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01-31-21, 11:36 AM

Dholzemer

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Hi Joed.. took a min, but just posted photos of my mess

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01-31-21, 01:57 PM

joed

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Box 3 is the 4 way.
Here is a new drawing of what I think you might have. Is that black wire with no nut at the top the light cable?
The black pigtail going out the bottom right of the image is your power feed. It goes on the common screw.

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02-02-21, 01:17 PM

Dholzemer

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Thanks Joed!

I got a little confused by your diagram.. Sorry, I'm not an electrical person.
But I found this and this worked.
Thanks so much for trying to get me straight!!