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#51547 05/01/05 09:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 24
A
Member
Why do we call a 3 way switch a 3 way and not a 2 way. I cant tell you how many times a customer has asked me this question and Im tired of not having an answer for them other than "thats just what they call em".

#51548 05/01/05 09:34 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 599
J
JBD Offline
Member
Way means wires. A three-way switch has three terminals, A four-way switch has four terminals.

I am not old enough to know why.

#51549 05/01/05 11:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
B
Member
I always tell them "This switch has a mate" or "Can you control this light from more than one switch?" etc. I try not to use trade terminology it only confuses the customers. I call receps "plugs", everyone understands that.

#51550 05/02/05 06:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 332
S
Member
I thought they did it just to confuse the homeowners and make electrical work more "mysterious". Therefore leading to more job security for us electricians [Linked Image]

#51551 05/02/05 06:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 444
S
Member
As soon as we straighten out the 3way terminology, somebody tell me :

Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?

#51552 05/03/05 09:16 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 176
P
Member
I think a plumber came up with the name!
LOL j/k

#51553 05/03/05 01:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
As some of you already know, over here in England a 3-way switch is called a 2-way. A 4-way is known as an "intermediate" switch.

In general electronics work we always use ways to refer to the number of positions, i.e. a 4-way rotary switch is one which connects the common to any of four terminals.

#51554 05/08/05 08:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 32
G
Member
Grape nuts..... you open up the box.... no grapes.... no nuts...... what is the deal ???

#51555 05/09/05 10:26 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 693
L
Member
Don't feel bad. The pineapple is neither a pine nor an apple; it's a berry. Also, the peanut is neither a pea nor a nut; it's a bean.


Larry Fine
Fine Electric Co.
fineelectricco.com
#51556 05/09/05 10:52 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,374
R
Moderator
I thought a peanut was a legume.


Ryan Jackson,
Salt Lake City
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