Light fitting and switch problem

[weehoose]

My hallway has 2 light switches. They are both 2 gang. One gang powers a wall light, the other gang should power a ceiling light. At the other end of the hall the other switch should power the ceiling light and the other gang an outside light.

Since I've moved into the house the ceiling light has never worked and there doesn't seem to be any power going too it. This is a couple of pictures of the wiring in the switches so hopefully someone could say if they see a problem. Can switches develop faults? If there was a problem with the ceiling fitting then would power still get to it. I think I'm going to have to get an electrician in but having a general idea about the problem would be good to know.

 

[ETAF]

is this 2 photos of the same switch ?

 

[ericmark]

So left switch is on/off, and right switch two-way, but after that you need to test, since I see no neutral wire, it would seem the house is wired ceiling rose to ceiling rose, with droppers to the switch, and since only one wire in the S1 and S2 of the two-way switch the one shown is the slave.

So power goes to the light, then from light to switch one, then switch one to switch two, and you are showing switch two.

But you need some sort of meter or tester to go any further.

 

[weehoose]

is this 2 photos of the same switch ?

No, the first picture is the switch that does wall light + ceiling light. 2nd picture is the switch for exterior light + ceiling light.

 

[ETAF]

Oh , OK, the wall paper pattern/tears looked the same , thanks for the clarification

 

[RandomGrinch]

No, the first picture is the switch that does wall light + ceiling light. 2nd picture is the switch for exterior light + ceiling light.

I'm afraid both posted pictures are of the same switch

 

[weehoose]

Apologies, just noticed that too . This is the second switch but I can't pull it out as much as the other one.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Can switches develop faults?

Yes, switches can develop faults, but your ceiling light is on a two way lighting circuit. If one switch had suffered the most common type of switch fault, it would be likely that the other switch would still operate the light.

the ceiling light has never worked and there doesn't seem to be any power going too it

You say that there doesnt seem to be any power getting to it, but have you been able to test that?
Could you post a picture of the wiring going to the ceiling light?

 

[weehoose]

Here is the ceiling light. I've only tested it using a light up voltage detector.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Here is the ceiling light. I've only tested it using a light up voltage detector.

Is the ceiling light switch, the left hand one on the post #1 pic and the right hand one on the post #7 pic?

 

[weehoose]

Is the ceiling light switch, the left hand one on the post #1 pic and the right hand one on the post #7 pic?

Yes that's correct.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Yes that's correct.

Then I'm afraid we are missing something from these pictures.
There appears to be a cable with red, blue and yellow wires into each ceiling light switch.
In a typical two way lighting circuit, this cable would link together the two switches; there would then be an additional cable running from one switch to the ceiling rose and loop wiring.
This extra cable isn't visible.
Alternatively, the cables could link into a junction box somewhere, and given the photo of your ceiling light, an additional junction box seems likely.
is there any way to get into the ceiling void to investigate?

 

[weehoose]

Unfortunately I can't get into the ceiling void at the moment. I would need to cut a hole in the plasterboard in the ceiling. Could it be as simple as a lose wire in the junction box? I think the previous owners were keen DIYers but nothing seems to have been done too great.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Could it be as simple as a lose wire in the junction box?

It could be, but as I said earlier, with only a red, blue and yellow wire into both ceiling switches, we seem to be missing something!
I'm happy to defer to others opinions, but to me it looks as if further investigation is required!

 

[Jurassicspark]

Have you got access to a multimeter?

You would first check for voltage on one of the COM terminal on one of the switches. Then proceed to check either L1 or L2 to rule out if the switch is faulty.

You do have a junction box based on the amount of wires in the ceiling light.

Here is the ceiling light. I've only tested it using a light up voltage detector.

Doesn't prove if the voltage isn't present.

Have you tried another light?