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Tripping Breakers with 3 & 4-way Switches

04:18PM | 07/08/01

Member Since: 10/03/00
15 lifetime posts

Tripping Breakers with 3 & 4-way Switches

I have just installed 2 3-way swithes with one 4-Way in the middle with the light fixture coming off the last 3-way and the power going into the first 3way according to every diagram I can find.

When I put the breaker to "on" the light is on. As soon as I flip one of the switches (any of them) the breaker trips. The hot wire is connected to the common as well as the light to the common at the end.

I have connected the breaker to a different string of lights (1-way switches) and it works fine.

BobF

03:31AM | 07/09/01

Member Since: 10/19/98
223 lifetime posts

Your comment "The hot wire is connected to the common as well as the light to the common at the end" worries me. Connecting the hot wire to the common is a self-made short.

No offense intended, but leave the breaker off and pay a pro to wire this up for you. If you truly did connect the ground and hot wire together, you truly have absolutely no idea of what you are doing. That is a high risk to you and your family.

gmpirate

08:50AM | 07/09/01

Member Since: 10/03/00
15 lifetime posts

Actually i didn't word it very well. What I meant was the "hot wirea to the common screws"

Apparently one of the wire was not seated in a nut all the way. All is well now.