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This might belong somewhere else...Mod, please feel free to move it.
We have three 3-switch light controls (flip up switches). I wanted to change them out to white w/a white switchplace.
Two of the panels control the dining area, kitchen area, and a small entryway inside the house.
The third, near the front door, controls the front porch lights, dining area, and kitchen area, in that order.
I seem to recall (not like I haven't looked at this for nearly 20 years!) that the middle switch on the 3rd panel, is always in the 'up' position but we usually turn on the dining or kitchen lights from one of the other panels.
Hubs is having a fit because he thinks all the switches on the 3rd panel should go in the 'off' position; but after discussing it, we think that one switch is meant to stay up and someone allows the other two panels to work in sync (you can turn the lights on from one panel and off from the other one as you leave the room).
He thinks he's made a mistake. I'm not so sure, but "I am not an electrician." (remember that Home Depot commercial). The middle switch at the front door is a 4-way switch and the other two middle switches are 3-way. I think that middle switch by the door just stay in the up position because we use the other two switches for the dining room. I think it's alright like this, unless somewhere along the line the switches were not installed properly.
hahah..it makes sense, the light switch is ok in the up position OR the switches were incorrectly wired?
I probably could have phrased this better.
Poor DH is still out there ....
Im not the BLDR but I have a switch at the top of my stairs that controls the stair light and the entry way light. At the bottom of the stairs I have a switch just for the stair light and another panel by the door for the mudroom and the entry way light that is also controlled from the top. flipping the switch either opens the circuit (turns it off) or closes the circuit (turns it on). Its not determined which is which. The reason yours is always flipped "on" is because you dont use it. If you flip if "off" and then operate the dining room the controls in their will be backward. It really doesnt matter whether its up or down. it could be sideways or a button or a motion switch.
I have no idea what you are asking, but if you have standard 3 way or 4 way switches and you want them in a different color, you need to go to an electrical supply house and buy what you want.
Hubs said he had the wrong 4-way switch. Oh vey. I feel bad because I’m the one that bought the wrong switches .... I had no idea or didn’t consider this .... ugh
3 and 4 way switches are not on or off depending on being up or down like a traditional single switch. No matter what you do, some of them will be up and some down.
If the issue is just that that switch is mostly left in the up position, why not just undo the switch from the box, and turn it over in the box ? Leave the wiring as is.
ISTR 3way and 4way switches are not marked on/off like 2 ways.
A homeowner and a bunch of 3 and 4 way switches can provide hours of entertainment
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