[Spridgets] WWWWWWWOT - electrical house wiring!

[chuck]

<bigrant>
What is with this standards thing in the Amurican electrical code??

We've had a switch at the top of the stairs that periodically
seemed to have a "flat spot." It's a 4-way switch in between
two 3-way switches all controlling one hall light.

So I pulled the old switch. Two red wires on the top. Two
white wires on the bottom. Connected the wires to the
new 4-way switch. Two red wires on the top. Two
white wires on the bottom.

Not good.  Played swap the wires for a while, then
 hit upon Two red wires on the left. Two
white wires on the right. Bloody 90 degrees out
from the original.

Eureka, it works! Geronimo. Excelsior, you fat head!

WHY IS THAT?

</bigrant>