How To Wire a Four-Way Switch
Did you know slips, trips and falls are some of the most common home safety hazards? Say goodbye to stubbed toes and bruised shins. Add a four-way switch and walk with confidence.
Switches are one of the simplest electrical devices. When closed, current passes through it and a light, appliance or device turns on. When you open the switch, current has nowhere to go and the light goes off.
Wiring switches can be confusing, especially with three-way and four-way switches. Three-way switches control light(s) from two locations, like the top and bottom of a stairway. When you add a four-way switch into the circuit, you can control light(s) from three locations, like the entrance to a big family room with three doors from the kitchen, the hall and the back porch.
Here we'll show you how to wire a four-way switch. Four-way switches must be installed into the circuit in between two separate three-way switches. We brought power to the first three-way switch box, which is common, but other configurations exist.
Before starting any electrical project, plan your circuitry and the best route for cables. Type NM cable (nonmettallic sheathed) is expensive, so do some homework and make sure you buy the correct size and quantity of cable. And, most importantly, make sure power is off by testing all circuits with a non-contact voltage tester.
Always consult a licensed electrician if you need help. Safety first; this project is not for a novice DIYer.
Tools Required
Lineman's pliers
Standard screwdriver
Utility knife
Wire strippers
Materials Required
14/2 with ground nonmetallic-sheathed cable
14/3 with ground nonmetallic-sheathed cable
3-way switch (2)
4-way switch
Electrical tape
Single-gang box (3)
Wire nuts
How To Wire a Four-Way Switch
Did you know slips, trips and falls are some of the most common home safety hazards? Say goodbye to stubbed toes and bruised shins. Add a four-way switch and walk with confidence.
Switches are one of the simplest electrical devices. When closed, current passes through it and a light, appliance or device turns on. When you open the switch, current has nowhere to go and the light goes off.
Wiring switches can be confusing, especially with three-way and four-way switches. Three-way switches control light(s) from two locations, like the top and bottom of a stairway. When you add a four-way switch into the circuit, you can control light(s) from three locations, like the entrance to a big family room with three doors from the kitchen, the hall and the back porch.
Here we'll show you how to wire a four-way switch. Four-way switches must be installed into the circuit in between two separate three-way switches. We brought power to the first three-way switch box, which is common, but other configurations exist.
Before starting any electrical project, plan your circuitry and the best route for cables. Type NM cable (nonmettallic sheathed) is expensive, so do some homework and make sure you buy the correct size and quantity of cable. And, most importantly, make sure power is off by testing all circuits with a non-contact voltage tester.
Always consult a licensed electrician if you need help. Safety first; this project is not for a novice DIYer.
Tools Required
Lineman's pliers
Standard screwdriver
Utility knife
Wire strippers
Materials Required
14/2 with ground nonmetallic-sheathed cable
14/3 with ground nonmetallic-sheathed cable
3-way switch (2)
4-way switch
Electrical tape
Single-gang box (3)
Wire nuts
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