Bedside light wiring

[Gartylad]

A long time user of this forum for help and advise, but now have a question..

I need help with a wiring diagram for two bed side lights, thinking this will need relays.

To explain:
Bedside lights either side of the bed (side A and side B), both have a light switch below.

Switch A operates Light A (on/off)
Switch B operates Light B (on/off)

I also want a master switch on entry to the room, to turn both lights on or off (2 way)

Switch M operates Light A&B (on/off)

If Switch A is on, and Switch B if off, them Switch M can either switch both on or both off. Allowing later independent use of Switches A or B. (This is what I’m after, hope it makes sense!)

I know in a standard two way circuit Switch M would alternate between A&B , not providing the correct control.

I’m sure others may have this setup but I’ve been unable to find an example online.

Help

 

[EFLImpudence]

I think that would be awkward the way you have described it.

Enter room, switch on both lights, get in to bed, read (or other), reach to switch off both lights if partner has fallen asleep.


Are the bedside lights there already or is it all new?

Also, with bedside lights, I think it fair to say that most people would prefer to have switches A & B (at both sides of the bed) working lights A & B each on a two way set-up (to save stretching across the bed to operate the other side) -

plus a third switch each side to operate the main room light on a three-way system with the switch by the door.

Still want what you described?

 

[EFLImpudence]

There are all sorts of remote systems nowadays.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Also -

I know in a standard two way circuit Switch M would alternate between A&B , not providing the correct control.

Switch M would not do that. It would alternate between - A off and on OR B off and on.

 

[securespark]

What I would do is have switches in all 3 positions for 3 lights: each bedside light and the main ceiling light would be switchable from either side of the bed or the doorway.

 

[flameport]

If you really want the arrangement described, then retractive switches and impulse relays could be used for it.

More usual and vastly simpler would be A and B as 1G switches at each bed, and a 2G switch at the door for A&B. Each is just a standard 2 way circuit.
or 2G switch at all 3 locations, one of which is an intermediate.

 

[securespark]

We don't have bedside lights but we do have a nightlight for loo visits.

The doorway switch has a switch for the main light and the nightlight.
Either side of the bed has switches for the nightlight and the main light.

The switch nearest the door has the feed to the nightlight.
The bedside switch farthest from the door has the feed to the main light.
In the middle is the other bedside switch.

So I ran two three core and earth cables between the door switch and the middle switch and then on with two 3C&E to the switch farthest from the door.

Each cable carried the strappers for one of the lights plus another conductor, one cable carrying live, the other neutral, to feed USB sockets in the switch back box and the main light N connection.

 

[Gartylad]

To confirm: only one switch is required each side of the bed. No requirement to operate the other side of the bed or main room light

 

[Gartylad]

If you really want the arrangement described, then retractive switches and impulse relays could be used for it.

More usual and vastly simpler would be A and B as 1G switches at each bed, and a 2G switch at the door for A&B. Each is just a standard 2 way circuit.
or 2G switch at all 3 locations, one of which is an intermediate.

In your simpler option, if light A is on and light B is off, wouldn’t operating switch M just swap lights to B on and A off?

Switch M needs be to force both lights to on or off, but later still having individual control at A and B.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

By far the easiest these days is 2 smart lightbulbs and an Echo Dot or similar. Alexa, does the job. Relays will get rather complex without a small plc involved (Raspberry or similar)

 

[flameport]

In your simpler option, if light A is on and light B is off, wouldn’t operating switch M just swap lights to B on and A off?

There is no switch 'M'.
It's a 2 gang switch. One for A and one for B.

 

[SUNRAY]

By far the easiest these days is 2 smart lightbulbs and an Echo Dot or similar. Alexa, does the job. Relays will get rather complex without a small plc involved (Raspberry or similar)

Oh my goodnes why on earth would anyone think about adding a computer to relay control for such a trivial system?

 

[davelx]

Why would anyone want to do it other than as flameport describes? Its more flexible than the OP's functional spec and by far the simplest solution as it uses standard 2way switching that is commonly understood.

 

[SUNRAY]

Flameport has the simplest solution (with 2 M's), I can put forward circuits using relays and retractive switches if that's how you'd like to go but I'd say there are better ways with electronic modules these days.

 

[Gartylad]

Flameport has the simplest solution (with 2 M's), I can put forward circuits using relays and retractive switches if that's how you'd like to go but I'd say there are better ways with electronic modules these days.

In Flameport’s advice it would be simpler to use a 2G (2 M’s) but this is not what I’m after. (I will be using a 3G light switch by the door to operate other lights in the room, only one switch would be available as an M)

Happy to use electronic modules or relays to get this working. Started this before the plasterboard, so installation will not be a problem

Sunray, if you could provide a wiring diagram that would be great!!