Question for electrical engineers Think Question for electrical engineers Think - Talk of The Villages Florida

Question for electrical engineers Think

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 08-02-2014, 03:07 PM
karostay's Avatar
karostay karostay is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Conn/Maine /
Posts: 2,794
Thanks: 134
Thanked 1,349 Times in 521 Posts
Default Question for electrical engineers Think

In a 10 story building the ceiling above the 10th story has one large florescent light.
Each floor has an interior balcony
With out using any low voltage switches just 110 volts
How would you turn the light either on or off from each balcony ?
__________________
Don't take life Too Serious ..It isn't permanent
  #2  
Old 08-02-2014, 03:18 PM
KeepingItReal's Avatar
KeepingItReal KeepingItReal is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 914
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by karostay View Post
In a 10 story building the ceiling above the 10th story has one large florescent light.
Each floor has an interior balcony
With out using any low voltage switches just 110 volts
How would you turn the light either on or off from each balcony ?
Not an engineer but I do know electricity and electronics.....

Not limited to 10 floors

How to Wire a 4 Way Switch
You may have mastered wiring a 3 way switch but do you know how to wire a 4 way switch? Well...it's not too bad...especially if you understand 3-way switches. Four-way switches are used to control power to a light from three or more different locations. You must purchase switches labeled as 4-way switches rather than 3-way or normal light switches. 4-way switches can be quickly identified by the 4 screw terminals (in addition to the green/gnd screw terminal). Two of of terminals are brass and labeled "input", the other two are black and labeled "output". It is very important to pay attention to these as shown in the 4-way switch diagram.
When wiring a 4 way switch circuit as shown below, you will use two 3-way switches and one 4-way switch. If you wanted to add a fourth switch to the circuit you would need another 4-way switch wired in the middle in the same way as the first 4-way switch. You might ask, how can I wire a 4 way switch with regular light switches, or all 3 way switches, or all 4 ways switches? The answer is you can't. You must have a 3 way (3 terminal) switch on each end of the series and then a 4-way (4 terminal) switch in the center. If you don't have the right switches you need to get the right switches rather than trying for hours to somehow make it work. I only say that because I've seen people try to figure out ways to make it work, using the wrong switches, and they end up with switches that have to be in certain positions for other switches to work and it's a huge mess to straighten out.

- See easy to follow diagram and more at: How to Wire a 4 Way Switch

More easy wiring diagrams http://www.buildmyowncabin.com/elect...-switches.html
__________________
Better Days Are Ahead

Last edited by KeepingItReal; 08-02-2014 at 06:08 PM.
  #3  
Old 08-02-2014, 03:21 PM
l2ridehd's Avatar
l2ridehd l2ridehd is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bridgeport At Miona Shores
Posts: 3,603
Thanks: 1
Thanked 353 Times in 122 Posts
Send a message via AIM to l2ridehd
Default

A three way switch on floor one, a 4 way switch on floors 2 through 9, and a 3 way on 10. Bring the feed into the first floor 3 way and feed the light from the 10th floor 3 way. Because you are running the electric about 100 feet, probably should be 12-2 feed on a 20 amp circuit with 12 -3 running from switch one to two, to three, etc, up to switch 10 and than 12-2 to the light. I can diagram it for you if needed.
__________________
Life is to short to drink cheap wine.
  #4  
Old 08-02-2014, 03:41 PM
mtdjed mtdjed is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,564
Thanks: 1
Thanked 1,262 Times in 446 Posts
Default

"The Clapper"
  #5  
Old 08-02-2014, 03:49 PM
blueash's Avatar
blueash blueash is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,391
Thanks: 253
Thanked 3,498 Times in 941 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtdjed View Post
"The Clapper"
And we have a winner !!

Clap on

Clap off
  #6  
Old 08-02-2014, 05:31 PM
karostay's Avatar
karostay karostay is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Conn/Maine /
Posts: 2,794
Thanks: 134
Thanked 1,349 Times in 521 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtdjed View Post
"The Clapper"
Your close Pull Chain 10 floors long
__________________
Don't take life Too Serious ..It isn't permanent
  #7  
Old 09-16-2014, 10:29 AM
MikeV's Avatar
MikeV MikeV is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Village of Charlotte
Posts: 1,379
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtdjed View Post
"The Clapper"
Good one!
__________________
New Jersey, Texas, Mississippi, Delaware, Mississippi, Viet Nam, New York, Guam, New York, Massachusetts, New York, The Villages.
  #8  
Old 09-16-2014, 11:17 AM
FLSun FLSun is offline
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 58
Thanks: 5
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Either on or off? Did you mean to state both on and off? Precise language might be important.
  #9  
Old 09-16-2014, 11:23 AM
HiHoSteveO HiHoSteveO is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 344
Thanks: 51
Thanked 86 Times in 40 Posts
Default Use the switch

The answer to the question is "use the light switch"
Closed Thread


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:07 PM.