I'm new to house wiring (not to electronics) so please forgive me if I'm using the wrong terms.
I am replacing three switches (with zwave) in my basement. A pair of 3 way switches and one four way switch. 1x DZS15-1LZ and 2x VP0SR-1LZ for reference.
I found the line (hot) switch of the 3 way switches and installed the "smart" switch there. No problem. I am placing the "dumb" helper switches in the load 3 way and middle 4 way.
My problem is that my understanding of the "load 3 way" requires the use of two runs of 12-2/3 cable. One run that serves as your traveler wires and another run that serves as your hot and neutral for the load. My 3 way switch only seems to have one run of 12/3 wiring - this is not what I would have expected to see.
My 4 way box does not have the traditional 2 runs of 12/3 cable, it actually has two runs of 12/2 and two runs of 12/3.
There are additional switches in the same electrical box as the load 3 way but they are on a separate circuit and I'm hesitant to cross connect anything between them.
So my question - what's going on? Am I out of luck? Is there any debugging I can do? Can I still install these switches?
4 Way switch:
3 Way switch (hot side). There is an extra run of 12/2 which taps into this hot and provides constant power to my garage light switch outside (controls an entirely separate set of lights).