2 way switching help

[General Barney]

Hello All...
A little help appreciated for an upcoming job...

New fitted wardrobes to be installed.

There is strip lights above the wardrobe, which the fitters say they just plug them in, there is also some sort of other light that also gets plugged in.

So I am faced with 2 different lights, both plugged in at ground level.
The customer wants to power these on and off from a light switch next to the bed,
the wiring for this is fairly straight forward, the head scratching part is,

They also want 2 way switching for this on 2 different switches, by the room entrance, so to be clear, 2 switches bedroom door, 2 switches by bed, to turn off 2 different lights plugged in under bed....

Can anybody simplify this for me please? Thanks in advance

 

[stem]

Hi General, and welcome to the forum.

I would connect them as per the diagram below. [The colours I used relate to the function of the wires, rather than the wire colours available.]



It's not usual for light fittings that are hardwired in to the lighting circuit with wall mounted switches to be then connected by a plug and socket, however, if the clients insist on it, this type of socket should be used. It is especially designed for lighting circuits to prevent non lighting appliances being connected to the lighting circuit.

 

[winston1]

It is especially designed for lighting circuits to prevent non lighting appliances being connected to the lighting circuit.

It is not specially designed for lighting circuits at all. It is an earlier design of UK socket system (still used in South Africa and India) that has largely been superseded in the UK, that some repurpose for remote switched lights.

 

[stem]

Thanks Mr. pedantic, you know very well what I meant. I'm sure the OP will find that very helpful.

I seem to remember from my college days that they were first introduced in the UK for lights, when they were the only electrical appliance available, and that the bigger versions came along later when the toaster etc., was invented. However, if I'm wrong I'm sure you will correct me.

 

[Iggifer]

My grans house still has round pin sockets throughout. Not a single 1363 anywhere to my knowledge.

 

[JohnD]

the 5A (small) plug and socket are not designed specifically for lights, but they are designed for loads of 5A or less, which includes most lights, but also radios.

Large lights, such as theatre lanterns, still use 15A round pin plugs.

There is also a tiny 2A plug, hardly ever seen.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The customer wants....

"Customer"?

You've referred to the wardrobe fitters, so that's not you.

What is your role?

Why aren't they using an electrician to do this?

 

[aptsys]

What is your role? It sounds like you're planning to do the installation for a customer in which case, how will you test to ensure the circuit has been installed correctly?

 

[General Barney]

I will turn the circuit back on and hope for the best, whilst wearing my rubber underpants
I have already told the customer that they can only turn these switches on and off with the aid of a stick or preferably a rubber dildo

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What is your role? It sounds like you're planning to do the installation for a customer in which case, how will you test to ensure the circuit has been installed correctly?

He appears to have been hoping that nobody will notice that he is not actually an electrician. Including his poor customer, no doubt.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ah - this explains it.

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/new-bath-leaking.493987/

He's a plumber.

 

[mwatsonxx]

You really should be employing an electrician to safely do the work. The problem with wiring is that things can work but still be potentially dangerous due to non-compliance with the regs.

As an example, a 13A plug has three connections which offer six different combinations, only one combination is correct. The others will variously still "work" and range from potential fatality and fire to guaranteed fatality and fire.