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Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

US NEC:

A 3-way switching system is where one light, or a set of lights, can be controlled from two switches. Each switch is a one pole double-throw switch. The incoming Hot feed is connected to the center point of one switch and the load is connected to the center point of the other switch. The two outer poles of both switches are connected together. The load can be turned on or off from either switch. Note that all wires on both switches are considered hot, so none of them may be wires having white insulation. Typically, red and black are used.

A 4-way switching system is where a light or a set of lights can be controlled from three or more switches. The two outer switches are the same as if they were 3-way switches. Each inner switch is a two pole double throw reversing switch with only four connections. It is wired to reverse the two hot conductors that run between the two outer switches. The load can be turned on or off from any switch.

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

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13y ago
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12y ago

If you are intending to use a 4 way switch as a single pole switch this is quite easy. A 4 way switch has 2 pairs of terminals (4 screws); usually 2 are brass and 2 are black. Place the hot wire on one of the brass screws and the switch leg wire on a black screw and you're done.

You may need to test the switch to know what position to place it in for down to be off since this is not self evident on a 4 way switch.

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8y ago

Three way, power to the one off terminal, one wire on each of the other terminals to the same two on the second switch, one wire on the second switchs off terminal to the light.

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Q: How do you wire a light fixture with a four way switch?
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Can you connect a wall switch and a light fixture to an existing light fixture?

If the question is, can I wire a switch to an existing light fixture (and I must assume that it's something like a pull-chain light fixture), the answer is yes.If the question is, "how do I wire a switch to an existing light fixture that has no external switch", the answer is, "in series".The attached web site gives simple instructions on how to wire a basic light switch to an existing light.See sources and related links below


How do you wire a 220 volts light?

The light is wired the same as any voltage fixture. Bring the source voltage to the fixture and connect it to the two fixture wires. If you want to control the off-on of the fixture take the source voltage to a switch first and then out of the switch to the light fixture.


How do you add another porch light to an existing switch?

Piggyback off the box for the existing light. Run a wire from the existing junction box to a new junction box (which is placed wherever you want the new fixture). Then, in the existing box, connect the wire coming from the switch, the wire for the existing fixture, and the wire for the new fixture together using wire nuts. Wire up the new fixture, and presto, you have two fixtures on a switch where there was only one before.


How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?

Connect the black wire to the incoming hot wire and the red wire to the out going load.


How do you repair a pull chain switch on a fluorescent light?

Shut off the breaker that supplies the voltage to the fluorescent fixture. Wire the new pull chain switch in series with the black incoming wire and the black wire of the ballast. Turn the breaker back on and your switch will now control the off on operation of the light fixture.

Related questions

Can you connect a wall switch and a light fixture to an existing light fixture?

If the question is, can I wire a switch to an existing light fixture (and I must assume that it's something like a pull-chain light fixture), the answer is yes.If the question is, "how do I wire a switch to an existing light fixture that has no external switch", the answer is, "in series".The attached web site gives simple instructions on how to wire a basic light switch to an existing light.See sources and related links below


How do you wire a 220 volts light?

The light is wired the same as any voltage fixture. Bring the source voltage to the fixture and connect it to the two fixture wires. If you want to control the off-on of the fixture take the source voltage to a switch first and then out of the switch to the light fixture.


How do you add another porch light to an existing switch?

Piggyback off the box for the existing light. Run a wire from the existing junction box to a new junction box (which is placed wherever you want the new fixture). Then, in the existing box, connect the wire coming from the switch, the wire for the existing fixture, and the wire for the new fixture together using wire nuts. Wire up the new fixture, and presto, you have two fixtures on a switch where there was only one before.


How do you wire in a pull chain switch in a bathroom light fixture?

If you are adding the pull chain to an existing fixture then the pull chain switch should have two wires. Wire nut either one to the hot wire coming in and the other to the black wire of the fixture.


How do you wire a pull switch on a hard wire ceiling light that has no switch?

Two options. Change the fixture to a keyed pull-chain, or add a pull-chain adapter to the existing fixture. Both available from Home Depot and others for about $3.


How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?

Connect the black wire to the incoming hot wire and the red wire to the out going load.


How do you repair a pull chain switch on a fluorescent light?

Shut off the breaker that supplies the voltage to the fluorescent fixture. Wire the new pull chain switch in series with the black incoming wire and the black wire of the ballast. Turn the breaker back on and your switch will now control the off on operation of the light fixture.


How do you connect a 3 wire fixture to a 2 wire fixture that are connected to the same switch what do you connect the red wire to?

A three wire fixture most likely is one that has two separate loads within it. An example is a ceiling fan with a light fixture. If the three wire is used to separately switch the two loads you have to make a decision as to which load you want to work with the two wire fixture. Once that decision has been made connect the two wire fixture in parallel with the your selected load on the three wire fixture. On these types of installations the three wire fixture is usually controlled by two separate switches in a two gang box. The red and black wires of the three wire terminates on the bottom of either switch. The white wire is connected to the incoming neutral. The top of the switches are paralleled together with the "hot" feeder from the distribution source.


What type of prewire for a ceiling fan light?

The pre wire for a ceiling fan light should be made with a three wire cable. This cable will have a red, black, and white wire as main conductors. This cable will also have a bare ground wire. This wire should be strung between a two gang switch box to the fixture junction box. This pre wire allows the supply to be either fed to the two gang box. From the two gang switch junction box, one side will be used for the light in the fixture and the other side of the switch junction box, itwill be used for the fan portionin the fixture.


What do I attach the green wire from the light fixture to?

The green wire on the light fixture is a ground wire. If there is no ground wire in the conduit, the green wire should be attached to the metal box with a screw.


What should the reading at the light switch be when the switch and the light fixture is removed. I had a dimmer switch on that light it went out I checked the volts at the switch they were about 14?

On the "hot"wire that comes from the breaker panel the voltage should be from 115 to 120 volts. This is taken from the "hot" wire to either the neutral or the ground wire. If its not then you have a breaker problem or you are on the wrong scale of the test meter.


What are the four features required to construct a working simple circuit?

power source, wire, switch, end fixture. Simplest circuit would be a power source and a heating element. No wire or switch needed.