There are four terminals that provide two sets of toggle positions on a four way switch. I have a few of the most common ways in wiring a 4 way switch to help you with your basic home wiring projects.
Multiway Switching Wikipedia
4 way switch connection. The white wires get spliced through. Turn off electric power. Order is not important. In the 4 way box connect the pair of wires from the first 3 way switch to the in pair of screws of your 4 way switch. Turn on the light or device being controlled by the 3 way switches if you already have them. Connect the other pair of wires which lead to the second 3 way switch to the other pair of screws.
The red and black wires are connected to the four way switches. The black wire running to the 4 way switch is connected to the hot terminal on the light and at the switch box its spliced to the black wire from the common on sw2. If the device is still. 4 way switch wiring 4 way switches provide switching from three or more locations. How to wire 4 way light switch and intermediate switch in this video we explain how four way intermediate switching works to connect a light fitting which is controlled with three or more light. In the diagrams below the first switch 3 way common terminal connects to line voltage.
Each set of terminals is one of the toggle positions. A 4 way switch wiring diagram is the clearest and easiest way to wire that pesky 4 way switch. Return to location you plan to wire to verify that there is no electric flow to that device. The 4 way is wired with the power to the 3 way switch first then the 4 way 3 way and then lights. The first switch 3 way travelers brass color connect to one pair of the second switch 4 way travelers black or brass color. The red and white are used as travelers between the 4 way and sw2.
A four switch configuration will have two 3 way switches one on each end and two 4 way switches in the middle. Four way switches are used to control lighting from three or more locations. You would just continue from one 3 way switch box with the 143 three conductor cable two colored traveler wires a white neutral and a bare or green ground wire in and out of each four way switch box. The white wire is marked black at each end to mark it as hot. If more than three switches are needed simply place more 4 way switches between the three way switches. 4 way wiring source and light middle.
Four way switches are used in combination with three way switches. Starting with safety and understanding 1. The last 3 way turns the lights on and off but when i use the first 3 way and 4 way it trips the breaker. As you will see most 4 way switch wiring is placed between the wiring of two 3 way switches therefore a 4way switch is installed with two 3way switches.