Help with 2 way weird wiring

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Hi.
I have an issue.
I have lights going to my attic, with a switch at the top of attic stairs and one at the bottom. There are 2 lights as it goes around a corner.

Bottom light switch:
Red in common, sharing sleeving with black that isn't connected to anything (but seems to show a light glow when I turn the light on, with the electric screwdriver)
Red in L1, sharing grey sleeving with red in L2. If the similar wires in the top switch either one of them, has current running through it then both of these seem to show up a feint light on electric screwdriver)

Top light switch
Red in common, sharing sleeving with a black wire that seems to be connected to another black wire (in different sleeving but having an unconnected 'red')
Red in L1, sharing grey sleeving with red in L2


Now, to turn this into a one way switch (ideally at the bottom of the stairs) is what I want to do.


I have worked out:
Top light switch red in common : this is permanently live, nothing changes this.

Bottom light switch : red in common seems to be going to the lights themselves as the lights won't turn on without a live feed into this.

The light rose has a black, and red wire going into it and a daisy chained one to the other light fitting.


How on earth am I supposed to turn this into a one way switch?


The complicating factor is I need a spare wire at the bottom switch to be made into neutral so I can connect a smart light switch.


Any ideas?
 
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Top switch
 

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Downstairs switch wires.
Black that is exposed is under that red tape.
 

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Looks like you've got...

Feed in in one switch
Two reds between the two lights (strappers)
And feed to lights in the other switch.

You can do as you are asking but it's all a bit of a bodge to be honest, it needs reconnecting neatly.
 
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Looks like you've got...

Feed in in one switch
Two reds between the two lights (strappers)
And feed to lights in the other switch.

You can do as you are asking but it's all a bit of a bodge to be honest, it needs reconnecting neatly.
Thanks for that.
The problem is that I can't get into the wall to run new wires without ripping it all apart..the stud wall is braced so it's not like there's a single channel I can use to get the wiring across
 
You'll be able to turn it into a one way with the wires you already have.
 
There are chopped off earth wires and there is some sort of joint behind the box.

The whole lot needs terminating correctly as per the regulations before anything else happens.

The sort of electricians who do that are absolute cowboys and I would seriously consider having all your wiring inspected for safety.
 
If you can work out which switch has the feed in put that in com then use one of the strappers as the switch wire L1, then join that with the feed to the light in the other switch.

Obviously it needs a tidy up with the earths connected etc.
 
If you want the bottom switch to be the one-way, then simply remove one of the strappers, from the two terminals marked L1 or L2. Pop the removed wire, into a connector, to insulate it. If the switch works the wrong way, then simply refix it the other way up.

At the switch at the top, join all three wires in the switch, into either one terminal of the switch, or even better, join them together in a connector, and fit a blanking plate.
 

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