4-Way-Switch Wiring Diagram

• 3-Way Switch Diagrams
• Wiring a Ceiling Fan/Light
• Wiring Receptacles
• Wiring Switches

This page contains wiring diagrams for circuits using a 4 way switch. These schemes use a 4 way switch in combination with two 3 way switches, to control lights from three locations. Use this link to see several wiring diagrams for circuits using 3 way switches to control lights from two locations.

This diagram illustrate wiring for a 4 way switch circuit with the electrical source at the light fixture and the traveler terminals on the same side of the 3 way switches.

This circuit is the same as the one above but with the traveler terminals are on opposing sides of the 3 way switches.

This diagram illustrates wiring a 4 way switch with the electrical source at one of the 3 way switches and the traveler terminals are on opposing sides.

This wiring diagram is the same as the one above but the traveler terminals are on the same side of the 3 way switches.

About 4 Way Switch Circuits

Use a 4 way switch between two 3 way switches to control a fixture from three locations. A four way switch has four terminal screws divided into two matching pairs. The terminal pairs will be different colors. Each pair of screws should be wired to each three way switch. Don't mix up the pairs or the circuit won't work correctly. The 4 way switch must be wired between the two three way switches as shown in these diagrams.

Modern three way switches have 3 terminals to carry circuit electricity and one terminal for a ground wire. Older 3 way switches will not have a ground terminal. Of the three circuit terminals on the switch, one is called the common and the other two are known as travelers. The common terminal is usually black and the travelers silver. The ground terminal will usually be green. In any case the common terminal will always be a different color than the traveler terminals to distinquish them. Depending on the manufacturer, the common terminal may be on the opposite side of the switch from the two travelers or the two travelers may be on opposing sides. Included here are diagrams for both types of switches.

All these diagrams have been tested in real life circuits but because of variable factors in existing wiring the examples displayed here may not work in every instance. To avoid problems make sure the hot wire from the source is connect to the common on one of the 3 way switches and the hot wire to the fixture is connected to the common terminal on the other switch. If after wiring, you experience problems with the circuit, switching the traveler wires on one of the switches will most likely resolve the issue. To connect the circuit use 14/3 cable between the switches and 14/2 cable to the light fixture in these diagrams. To avoid confusion the white wire should be marked with black electrical tape when splicing it to carry current between the switches.