4 way switches an animation. This is a basic explanation of how to turn lights on and off from more than one location.
What Is It Called When 2 Light Switches Control 1 Light Quora
3 way vs 4 way switch. This makes things clear for the answer 3 way and 4 way mean the switch can connect its pole in 3 or 4 different positions with or without off position this needs to be specified. A 4 way switch is used when you need 3 or more switched to control the same fixture. I will show how to wire 3 switches however you can add as many 4 way switches to the circuit as you need or want. There is one basic difference between the 3 way switch and the 4 way switch and that is the number of terminals in the switch. Any number of four way switches may be added between two three way switches. There is a pathway for the electricity through the four way switch but that pathway ends at one of the three way switches.
For example single pole 3 way with off double pole change over two pole 4 way without off two pole 6 position 5 way one position is off. 2 wire cable runs from the light to the first switch and then 3 wire is run between all the switches. For more than two switches one or more 4 way switches are added. With 4 way switches you can control them from three places. In case of a 3 way switch you can control the lights from two different places. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work controlling a light with two or more switches.
For 4 way switch wiring you will need two 3 way switches one at each end and then as many 4 way switches as you want in between. This page describes how to use 3 way and 4 way switches to control lights. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work. Trace your finger over the wires as shown on the screen and you can see this more clearly. This one minute animated tutorial is my clearest presentation of 3 and 4 way switches in action. Controlling a light with three or more switches.
I will show how to wire 3 switches however you can add as many 4 way switches to the circuit as you need or want. For 4 way switch wiring you will need two 3 way switches one at each end and then as many 4 way switches as you want in between.