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beachfront71_gw

Can someone tell me what the heck this is and how to fix it

beachfront71
13 years ago

Remodeling part of the house and moving electrical when we came across this gem ..

4 switches all controlling 1 flood light ..

took it all apart and only the RED is hot ..

Anyone have a clue on how to clean this up and why someone would do this in the first place..

Comments (7)

  • btharmy
    13 years ago

    Any actual photos? Not sure from drawing exactly what you are dealing with.

  • beachfront71
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    no photos .. took it all apart .. it was 2 duplex switches hooked up as above to control 1 flood light

  • btharmy
    13 years ago

    Until you know where ALL of the conductors go it will be hard to say. If the red is hot, where does the black conductor go that does not go to the motion sensing light. And, why is the white wire to the light connected to the same screw terminal as the energized red wire on the switch on the right? If your drawing is correct, with the energized red conductor on one side and neutral conductor on the other side, if you turn on the bottom switch on the right, you will create a dead short and trip the breaker.

  • brickeyee
    13 years ago

    "Remodeling part of the house and moving electrical when we came across this gem ..
    4 switches all controlling 1 flood light .."

    When installed correctly this takes two 3-way switches and two 4-way switches.
    The 3-way switches are at each 'end' of the travelers, while the 4-way switches are 'between' the 3-ways on the travelers.

    You can actually control a single light from as many places as desired by adding more 4-way switches between the 3-way switches.

    A 3 way switch is just a single pole double throw internally.

    A 4-way switch is a double pole double throw with a cross over built in.

    They are named for the number of screws on the switch (three screws on a three way (one common and two for the travelers) and four screws on a 4-way (2 separate commons and two travelers).
    The travelers are on all four of the screws.

    I have always been amused by watching many electrical engineers try to control a device from multiple locations and struggling to do it efficiently.
    No relays are required, just a combination of two 3-way switches and as many additional 4-way switches as desired.

  • beachfront71
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Actually found out the WHITE wire is the HOT not the RED..
    Any suggestions..just a 3 way switch needed?

  • bus_driver
    13 years ago

    The white that seems to be hot may be a traveler.

  • ontariojer
    13 years ago

    I'm getting from this diagram that all this is in the same box? T or F?