Help please! I’m fed up of sitting in the dark

[Carlz109]

Help please! We decided to change our white switch to a chrome one but didn’t remember how we undid it now we’re stuck here with no lights. Why are there so many brown wires? There are 5 brown wires, two grey and two black

 

[pete01]

Is one a two way the other a one way?

If so check the other two way switch, hopefully it has brown black grey if so then connect the loose brown Black grey the same in the new switch.

That's a start.

 

[Carlz109]

I have three switches in the lounge one is one way and this one and the other should be two way, this switch operates my spot lights and main light one gang for each I can only switch my spotlights off and on from here and my main light I can switch off from three switches, all the lights are off as when we wired this it was turning the kitchen light on and off

 

[Wayners]

Get an electrician

 

[Carlz109]

I didn’t think of that! Silly me. Shall I get the one that loves being called out at 8:41pm?

 

[Wayners]

Ha.
I'm being sensible, honest....
If you don't know what your doing and can't identify which wires go where with a tester, id recommend a electrician. That's a tuff one to advise on. Needs a tester. Do you have one?

 

[Jurassicspark]

Forgot to take a piccie?

 

[camerart]

I didn’t think of that! Silly me. Shall I get the one that loves being called out at 8:41pm?

Hi C,
I'm sure you'll find one that you can call out at any time, but you may pay more
C.

 

[securespark]

I didn’t think of that! Silly me. Shall I get the one that loves being called out at 8:41pm?

Sarcasm always works....

As you were undoing all the wires, how did you think you were going to get them all back in the correct places without making a note of where they were on the old switch?

 

[SUNRAY]

Ok so let's have a little more information but In all honesty I suspect Wayner may have given the apropriate advice

Please confirm that both of these switches work as 2 way?

Was there a short link between 2 terminals?

The terminals in the back, one is full with with earth wires?
the other with blue wires? How many ( hope 3)?

I won't be around until this evening but that many brown wires seems very sensible in the circumstances.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Was there a short link between 2 terminals?

 

[RandomGrinch]

The terminals in the back, one is full with with earth wires?
the other with blue wires? How many ( hope 3)?

I was trying to go through the logic but gave up!
There is a loose brown link wire at the bottom of the image.
I see 5 blue wires in the neutral loop terminal and 6 earth wires in the earth terminal.
I suspect there are at least 6 cables, with possibly two Brown wires joining in another separate terminal block...

 

[EFLImpudence]

The terminals in the back, one is full with with earth wires?
the other with blue wires? How many ( hope 3)?

Five.

 

[RandomGrinch]

6 earth wires in the earth terminal.
I suspect there are at least 6 cables

Possibly, even 7 earth wires/cables...

Edit:
Seven cables make sense to me...
Two triple and earth - brown, black & grey.
Five twin and earth - brown and blue

For a total of:
Two grey wires
Two black wires
Five blue wires in loop terminal
Seven green/yellow wires in earth terminal
Five brown wires + two connected in separate terminal block.

...and the loose brown link wire.

@Carlz109 , could we have a picture of the rear of your old switch please?

 

[RandomGrinch]

this switch operates my spot lights and main light one gang for each I can only switch my spotlights off and on from here and my main light I can switch off from three switches,

Considering these statements, their seems to be a 3 way switching circuit on one switch, and a 1 way circuit connected to "spotlights".

Probably wrong and one of many possibilities, but if the existing switch is a 2 gang intermediate, this seems to be a logical arrangement...

(Neutrals and Earth's excluded for clarity)