[adrien2]

Hi
I need to tap into the power at the first 3-way switch. I have a power supply at the switch but I donot have a neutral wire. See attachment. If I was to replace the cable from light to switch with a 3 wire cable and connect the wire as follows:


light white to power white and incoming white from the single pole switch

power black to 3-way switch red (instead of the white) and single pole switch

light black to the 3-way switch (same)

This is my first electrical project and would appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance for your help.
Thanks

 

[PaliBob]

Your question is mis-stated, it appears to me that you are asking whether or not a 4-Way switch can be added to a 3-way circuit.

4-Way switches are 2 pole switches.
Normal On/Off switches are single pole SPST
while 3-Way switches are siingle pole SPDT

Please post a larger image schematic. I can't read it.

Here is a very recent similat Thread:
http://www.diychatroom.com/f18/help-3way-4way-lights-45017/

 

[adrien2]

This picture is what I have currently. I want to tap into the power source at the first 3way switch in a 4way switch circuit to power a new light. But I need a neutral to as well as a power source to connect to a single pole switch that will operate a seperate light. - thanks

 

[adrien2]

Sorry, I'm unable to attach a big picture. However, I was just trying to giving a general picture of my layout where the power feeds into the lights and the lights is connected to the first switch.

 

[theatretch85]

If I read your OP correctly, it sounds like you have it all figured out. Only change I would make is, supply power from the source to the first switch box on the black wire, and return it to the light on the red wire. Also, make sure in this situation that you re-identify the white wire attached to the 3 way switch configuration as a hot wire with either a piece of tape or marker.

In that you will have a neutral white wire present in this switch box in addition to a white wire being used as a hot wire, i'd use a sharpie or permanent marker to identify several inches of that white wire either black, blue or red.

Permanent re-identification is actually required by code, but a lot of people just use electrical tape instead.

 

[theatretch85]

Sorry, I'm unable to attach a big picture. However, I was just trying to giving a general picture of my layout where the power feeds into the lights and the lights is connected to the first switch.

Haha, I am able to read it/see it just fine. It's good to have the visual picture of the current layout, certaintly helps to understand what your are talking about better.

 

[AllanJ]

At the first switch box ...

New 3 wire cable white is neutral and does not connect to any switch terminal. Connect it to the white wire of the new cable going to the additional light fixture

New 3 wire cable black connects to common wire going on to the second switch box and also to new single pole switch.

New 3 wire cable red connects to common terminal of 3 way switch.

At the light box ...

New 3 wire cable white connects to light fixture white and incoming power cable white (all neutrals).

New 3 wire cable red connects to light fixture black.

New 3 wire cable black connects to power cable black only.