Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So, I recently painted all the trim in my house white and decided to replace all the outlets & switch which were almond with white to match and came across a curious wiring situation in one of my switch boxes.
The light in my foyer is controlled by 3 separate light switches. One switch has two red wires, a white, and a ground. There may be some other wires in the box tied together as well, but it's a four gang box and so there's a lot in there and I haven't looked that closely. I'm drawing a blank currently on what color the wires are in the other two boxes as I haven't opened them recently. I'm just surprised to find no black wire.
The color of the wires is not so important with a 3-way or 4-way light switch, rather it is what each wire is being used for!
In theory all wires connecting to a 3-way or 4-way switch could be considered "black" or hot.
Another VERY important consideration is what each wire is for on the old switch. And what the same connections will be for on a new switch. Manufacturers will change the positions of what is what on new 3-way or 4-way switches!
Before doing anything, turn off the main power to the house.
DO NOT disconnect any wires until you have taken pictures of which wires are going to which connection on the old switches. Also place labels on the wires and note what they are going to on the switch. KEEP THE OLD SWITCHES!
In the 4-gang box, ONLY disconnect the wires going to that switch - leave all other connections connected! (Some people don't document a thing, disconnect all the wires going to all the switches, then ask on the internet what went to what!)
The new switches may be different. There are two "travelers" and a "common". Those could be arranged differently.
Billy's link to the wiring diagram is only one particular way to wire a 4/way light- there are other combinations. But doing one switch at a time, terminal for terminal should erase any doubt you may have.
So, I recently painted all the trim in my house white and decided to replace all the outlets & switch which were almond with white to match and came across a curious wiring situation in one of my switch boxes.
The light in my foyer is controlled by 3 separate light switches. One switch has two red wires, a white, and a ground. There may be some other wires in the box tied together as well, but it's a four gang box and so there's a lot in there and I haven't looked that closely. I'm drawing a blank currently on what color the wires are in the other two boxes as I haven't opened them recently. I'm just surprised to find no black wire.
Has anyone else ever seen that before?
Are the boxes metal? and was the house run in conduit EMT? then they would have used THHN/THWN wiring that's why you see only red wires. It's somewhat rare that houses are done in conduit but places like Chicago it's code. Not sure where you are from.
Pictures would help. I'm an electrician I see all kinds of wiring setups and nightmares.
switches don't neutrals (unless there is a light built in)
so everything in the box is hot so color not really an issue
Current code has a neutral in the box (though it won't go to the switch); that was added for "electronic" dimmers, though I don't know when it took effect.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
