I need to get hold of a 1 gang, 4 pole, 3 way light switch in (satin) chrome. The 2 ways I've been buying from Homebase (Decor range) have been fine up until now, but they don't do 3 way in that range :mad:

Had a look on the internet but can't seem to find any :confused: (There's plenty of "standard" white switches about)

What does a 3-way switch actually do?

Or do you mean a plate with, say, 3 switches on it?

Alcazar

A 3 way is used as an intermediate on a regular 2 way circuit so you can switch the light in 3 (or more) places.

It takes the 2 wires (plus earth) from a 2 way circuit and basically swaps them over, hence 4 terminals, 2 in, 2 out and the earth is seperate.

I've only ever seen white ones, but I've never really looked that hard.....

Found one at TLC (http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM3710BC.html) called an intermediate - is that what you're after ?

Also with black insert (http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM3710BCB.html)

I'm not quite sure what you want to do. If you plan for switching one light or group of lights from 3 separate switches in 3 different places, then you need 2 2-way switches and one intermediate. The intermediate is the problem - usually available only as one gang in white moulded but can be found in MK grid systems. It has four terminals which could be what you mean by four pole.

See MK Electric's site http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/products/freeproducts.asp
Albany Plus K4671 MCO shows how to get the intermediate version.

Again, it's hard to understand what you're actually after.

But if I explain the lingo you may be able to help us help you.

Gangs:
Gangs explain the number of switches on the actual switch plate.
So a 1 gang has 1 switch, a 2 gang has 2 switches, ad a 3 gang has.....yep, you guessed it, 3.

Poles:
Poles are how many contacts are made and broken with each movent of the switch.
So a single pole switch breaks 1 set of contacts.
A Double pole switch breaks 2 sets of contacts at the same time,
and a tripple pole (Usually used for fan isolators) breaks 3 sets of contacts.

Ways:
There are 3 different types of standard switch.
1 way - Makes and breaks one set of contacts (Also known as a single pole switch)
2 way - Links a common terminal with another terminal in one position, then links the common terminal with a completely different terminal in the other position.
So with the switch in the up position, 'Common' and 'L1' are linked,
and with the switch in the downward position 'Common' and 'L2' are linked.
These can also be used as a 1 way by using only the common and the L1 terminals.
Intermediate - this takes 2 incoming wires, and 2 outgoing wires, and when switched, swaps the 2 it links.
So in the upward position it links L1---L3 and L2---L4
And in the downward position it links L1---L4 and L2---L3

Also
A company called 'Heritage' will make you whatever switch you want. I use Harding electrical, which is a part of the Edmunson group.
They're Heritage stockists.

use a grid switch set up
by using this you can pick the type of switches used and the type of cover plate you want

Thanks everyone for all your help. Eventually found what I needed in a local electrical shop.