How to a four way switch wiring
Four Way Switching Explained - How to wire 4 way intermediate light switch
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Hey there guys,
Paul here from TheEngineeringMindset.com.
In this video we're going to be looking
at four different ways to control a light
using three separate switches, and then we'll also look
at two different ways to control a light
with four, five, six or more switches.
This is very useful, for example, to control the lights
on some stairwells to different floors,
or perhaps from either side of the bed,
and one at the bedroom door,
like you might find in a hotel room.
In our last video, we looked at how to control a light
with just two switches.
Do check that video out if you haven't already.
Links are in the video description below.
Now this system is called by a different name
depending on where in the world you live.
In North America, this is called a four way switch circuit,
and in the E.U. and other parts of the world,
this is called an intermediate switch circuit.
To make this circuit work, we require
two different types of switches.
We need a two way switch, otherwise known
as a three way switch, and we also need
an intermediate switch, or a four way switch.
Again, the names of these switches depend on where
in the world you live.
On the front face of the switch, both switches
look the same, but the two way, or three way switch,
has three terminals on the back.
The switch can be flipped only two ways, up or down,
but the electricity can flow through the switch
in four different ways, depending on how it's connected
into the circuit.
The intermediate switch, or four way switch,
can also be flipped in only two ways, up or down,
but on the back we find four terminals.
The electricity can flow through this in 14 different ways,
depending on how it's wired into the circuit.
I will leave some links down in the video description
for where you can buy both of these switches online cheaply.
Do check those out.
These intermediate or four way switches,
have a very clever design.
The switch has a mechanical component inside,
which means that when the switch is flipped,
it crosses its tracks to change the direction.
These two tracks do not touch,
they are kept completely separated.
By crossing its tracks to change the direction,
we can therefore divert the electricity and
make or break the circuit.
The colour of the cables varies around the world.
In this video, I'm using the European colour code,
but you should check your local regulations.
We're just covering the theory of switching in this video,
but you should be electrically competent and qualified
to carry out electrical works according to
your local laws and regulations.
Electricity is dangerous and can be fatal.
The first circuit we will look at is the simplest method
and the easiest to understand.
It's typically used for a new installation.
We have our two, three terminal switches at either end,
and then an intermediate switch in the middle.
We take our live and feed it into the common of switch one.
We then run a brown cable from L1 of switch one
over to L4 of switch two.
We then run a brown cable from L2 of switch two,
over to L2 of switch three.
We then run a blue wire from L2 of switch one
over to L3 of switch two.
We'll also place a brown sleeve at each end of the wire
to warn it is intermittently live.
We run another blue wire from L1 of switch two,
over to L1 of switch three.
And then we run a final blue wire from the common
of switch three up to the light.
Now, when we turn the power on, the electricity can flow
through switch one and two and into switch three,
but the circuit is broken, so the light will stay off.
If we then flip switch three, we complete the circuit
and the light turns on.
If we flip switch two, we cross the paths and
break the circuit.
If we flip switch one, we make the circuit again.
If we flip switch one again, then we break the circuit.
If we flip switch three, then we complete the circuit.
And if we flip switch two, then we break the circuit.
This is the second method, which is typical
for converting an existing circuit.
In this version, we run the live to L1 of switch one,
and then from L1 of switch one, to L1 of switch two.
Then from L3 of switch two, to L1 of switch three.
We then run a grey wire from L2 of switch three
to L4 of switch two.
We'll place a brown sleeve on the wires to indicate
that this intermittently live.
We then run another grey wire from L2 of switch two
to L2 of switch one.
We then join the two end switches with a black wire
to each common.
We then connect the blue wire from L2 of switch one
to the light circuit.
When we turn the power on, the electricity passes
through switch one and two and stops at switch three,
because the circuit is broken.
If we flip switch three, we make the circuit,
and the lamp turns on.
If we flip switch two, then we break the circuit,
and the lamp is off.
If we flip switch three, we make the circuit again.
And if we flip switch one, then we break the circuit
so it can't reach the lamp.
We flip switch two to make the circuit,
and we break the circuit by flipping switch one.
This method is a variation of the last one,
where we use the same cables, but change
their route a little.
We have the live into L1 of switch one, then a brown wire
from L1 of switch one to L3 of switch two.
Then another brown wire from L1 of switch two
to L1 of switch three.
Then we have the grey wire from L2 of switch one
to L4 of switch two.
Then another from L2 of switch two to L2 of switch three.
We then have a black wire between the two commons,
and finally the blue wire back to the lamp circuit.
When we power this circuit, the electricity flows
through switch one and two, but stops at switch three.
If we flip switch three, we make the circuit
and the light turns on.
If we flip switch two, we break the circuit.
If we flip switch one, we make the circuit.
If we flip switch two, we break the circuit again.
If we flip switch three, we make the circuit.
And if we flip switch one, we break the circuit.
In this design, we're bringing the power
and the lamp control to the right most switch.
We run a brown wire from L1 of switch three
to L1 of switch two.
Then another brown wire from L3 of switch two
over to L2 of switch one.
We then run a grey wire from the common of switch one
over to the common of switch three.
We then run a black wire from L2 of switch three
to L2 of switch two.
We then have another black wire from L4 of switch two
over to L1 of switch one, and we finally have the blue wire
from L2 back to the lamp.
When we power this circuit, the circuit is complete
so electricity flows through switch three, two,
and then one, and back to three where it will
then feed the light.
If we then flip switch three, we break the circuit.
If we flip switch two, we make the circuit again.
If we flip switch one, we break the circuit.
If we flip switch three, we again make the circuit.
If we flip switch two, we break the circuit,
and if we flip switch one, we make the circuit.
This method is the simplest way to connect
four, five, six or more switches into a light circuit.
It's based off the design in the very first method
we saw earlier in this video.
This is typically used for completely new installations.
The power comes in from one end and the lamp
is connected to the other end.
This way allows any switch to make or break the circuit.
With this method, we can add four, five, six or more
switches to an existing installation.
This design is based on the third method we saw earlier
in this video.
For this design, we just extend the black wire
from the two common terminals of the end switches,
and then we run the grey and brown wires
between the switches.
This allows us to extend it as much as we need.
Each switch can then make or break
the circuit independently.
Okay guys, that's it for this video, but to continue
your learning then check out one of the videos on screen now
and I'll catch you there for next lesson.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and, of course, TheEngineeringMindset.com.
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