Jump to content
C4 Forums | Control4

CONTROL4 Dimmers work as 3 way switch?


rf5000

Recommended Posts

Guys,

When installing Control4 Dimmers to control a light, do they work in conjunction with another normal switch as three way? For instance, if I have a set of lights that are turned off in two locations, can one be a regular switch and one be a Control4 dimmer?

Link to comment
Share on other sites


No.

If you were to put a 'regular' (physical) switch in for one of the legs in a 3-way installation, if that switch were open (off), no power would get to the dimmer, and thus to the light.

3-way circuits in a Control4 installation consist of a dimmer controlling the load, and the other location is a 2-button keypad (which looks like a dimmer). The Control4 system can connect these two devices in the project, and operating the 2-button keypad causes the dimmer to be controlled.

RyanE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't understand. My 3 ways are wired with the power coming to the first switch, then to the second switch, then to the light. If the Control4 dimmer was installed in the first location where the power comes in, would it not always have power? And, the Control4 dimmer could not detect if the "satellite" switch was on or off?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^That is partially true. But the big difference is a typical 3-way switch has two "outputs" and a C4 load controller has just one. Traditional 3-way wiring has both a hot switched and a traveler. The C4 device has only a hot switched (red wire).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a 3-way installation, *either* switch needs to be able to operate the load.

If you install the physical switch after the dimmer, and turn that switch off, the dimmer cannot turn it on.

Again, no you can't use a 'standard physical' 3-way switch with a Control4 dimmer in any meaningful way.

RyanE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There isn't a single diagram.

3-ways can be wired different ways:

1) Power and the load both come into the same box.

2) Power comes into one box, load comes into the other box.

3) Power goes to the light, then the 'switch leg' comes down to one box, over to other.

Basically, you just need to wire the power Neutral and Hot to both boxes, for the dimmer and the keypad, and locate the dimmer in the box that has the *load*.

RyanE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

google for physical 3way diagram.

The idea is pretty much straight forward, in 3-way physical switch, there is a bridge (traveler) wire. This wire's designed to run through every switches (3 switches) in the circuit.

to make C4 switches to work with 3-way physical switches. YOU NEED 2X C4 2-button keypads, and 1x C4 switch.

1st box: you wire the C4 switch as color code, green, white, red, black, (cab the traveler wire seperate)

2nd box: all you need is black/white/ground for the first C4 2-button keypads. cab those traveler serate)

3rd box: do the same thing to 2nd box.

FINALLY, you need to go to COMPOSER PRO bind, the keypads to the switch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, and if it's wired #3, 'switch leg', I don't know how you'd go about wiring it. You'd likely have to run a neutral from the light to the box, which is difficult.

RyanE

Running a neutral from the light to the box is only difficult if you don't have conduit. If you have conduit this couldn't be easier. All you need is a $30 fish tape, thhn wire, and about 30 min of work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Running a neutral from the light to the box is only difficult if you don't have conduit. If you have conduit this couldn't be easier. All you need is a $30 fish tape, thhn wire, and about 30 min of work.

While this is true, it's also irrelevant for most residential construction in the US.

Of course, in NYC or Hawaii, or anywhere else you have conduit, go for it.

:)

RyanE

P.S. I'd save the $30, get some kite string, a cotton ball, some light rope, and a vacuum cleaner. Suck the kite string through attached to the cotton ball, then pull the rope through using the kite string, then pull the THHN through with the rope.

Takes a little more time, but a lot less time than going to the store and buying a $30 fish tape.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Color of LED is anything other than green? It's either on embernet zigbee and needs to be updated, or it thinks it's on a mesh but it isn't. You'll have to get it to leave the mesh and re-connect/identify.

If it's green, try deleting the the light, re-add and id again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 years later...

Hello everyone, 

I have Control4 dimmer and 6- keypad. One box has line with 3 way regular switch and other box has other 3 way switch with load. Which box should I install dimmer and keypad. Also I have Red, white, yellow, green and black cable on both. How to connect them?

Thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.