Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

[chuckz]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

Paul,<br />Don't make me get out my slide rule and slap you with it

 

[redone]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

its called induction, you have 1 wire with voltage running parrelel to each other, the wire with voltage induces a small voltage into the wire that should not have power . when you install a incondesent bulb the voltage will go away

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

i like the alien theory

 

[dhammann]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

It is mutual inductance. With the 4-way circuit you have many feet of tracer wires running parallel to the energized conductor which is acting like an antenna....nothing to be concerned about. Leakage at the switch is unlikely unless it is in an extremely dirty or humid envirnment or the switch is old or has switched enough heavy loads to create a carbon bridge. Open a beer and forget about it.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

It's either this or aliens with ray guns screwing with you

Someone should run this by SBN. <br /><br />HOPE YOU'RE FEELING BETTER WHEN YOU READ THIS!!!!<br /><br />Later,

 

[Mark42]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

I knew it all along. Just wanted to see if you people did. <br /><br />Actually, I find this quite facinating, but a bit past my basic practical application knowledge of house, boat and auto wiring. <br /><br />Thanks to everyone for throwing in on this condition. Good to know that it is normal and I'm not going to start a slow smolder fire somewhere.<br /><br />Actually, my initial thought was aliens. Glad you folks came up with something plausible.....<br /><br /><br />BTW, I installed eleven Halo cans, five 3-way switches, two 3-way dimmers, one 4 way switch, two 2-way switches, countless wirenuts 200ft of 14-3 wire, 200ft of 14-2 wire and not one bad or mis-wired circuit or blown breaker. And all done to code including tagging color change on 3 way circuits when appropriate. I am frustrated that the only one I can show it all to is my wife and she looks at it, looks at me and says "I love your *ss". That translates to " I have no idea what I'm looking at, but you are wonderful for doing all this work." Sigh. Soon it will all be covered up and no one will ever see it again.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

good man/good job...an you know you made her hot..

 

[jlshields]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

Mark, do I understand correctly that you have the line coming in and the load to the light hooked to the 4 way? Your feed should be on one 3 way and light should be off the other 3 way. The 4 way is for the travellers only.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

The wires just enter and exit the box with the 4 way, but to not directly connect to it. The feed and load are connected to the 3-ways, just not in the same box.<br /><br />Like this, except put the line in one of the 4-way boxes and take off a load for the light from the same box and you'll have my diagram:<br /><br /><br />

 

[jlshields]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

You've got it wired right. Just install your fixtures and enjoy them.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: Weird reading on electric 4 way circuit???

It does not make sense that the meter would see 17 volts with the fixture connected and 0 or .17 volts with the fixture removed. It ought to be the reverse if this was caused by leakage in the switches.<br /><br />Fluorescent tubes can do strange things when subjected to magnetic fields in motion (ie, radio waves). It does appear that the neon tube was acting as an antenna to me.