This one minute animated tutorial is my clearest presentation of 3 and 4 way switches in action. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work.
How To Wire A 4 Way Switch
3 way vs 4 way switch. 2 wire cable runs from the light to the first switch and then 3 wire is run between all the switches. Trace your finger over the wires as shown on the screen and you can see this more clearly. With 4 way switches you can control them from three places. A 4 way switch is used when you need 3 or more switched to control the same fixture. 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 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. 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. 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. 4 way switches an animation. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work controlling a light with two or more switches. This page describes how to use 3 way and 4 way switches to control lights.
This is a basic explanation of how to turn lights on and off from more than one location. 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. 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. 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. In case of a 3 way switch you can control the lights from two different places. 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.
For more than two switches one or more 4 way switches are added. Controlling a light with three or more switches.
Gallery of 3 Way Vs 4 Way Switch
