Old complicated switch to new touch one !

[MarioZZ]

Hi there !! I'm looking for some help! I was trying to change the old double light switch to a touch switch !! can someone help me with this because seems to me too complicated !! the problem here is one switch does my bathroom light, the second one operates with 2 bulbs in my hall on the second floor and the first floor in both ways !! so this thing stopped me because I'm not sure if the new device will work in the same way !!??
below you can see how the old switch is connected and the second image with both old and new switch !! I hope some electricians will draw a simple scheme where and which wire to connect to the new switch !?!

 

[terryplumb]

Looks like your new switch may need a neutral ,which you don't have at your existing switch location.
Check the spec of the new switch ,it may tell you the switch will work without a neutral ,even though it has a neutral terminal.

 

[MarioZZ]

omg !! I thought red wires are Live and black are neutral !!! what a heck now I'm totally confused !! there is another wire green/yellow screwed on the metal case inside, which I assume is ground !! nothing else !!
below is the instruction !!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Are there any wires in connector blocks in the back box?

 

[MarioZZ]

there is another wire screwed on the metal case inside, which I assume is ground !! nothing else !!

 

[JohnW2]

there is another wire screwed on the metal case inside, which I assume is ground !! nothing else !!

You have a problem, then. It is clear that your new switch won't work without a neutral, and there is no neutral available at your switch.

There are only two real solutions I can think of. Either you need to find an alternative to your new switch which does not need a neutral (I think some may exist), or else you need an electrician to see if he/she can 'find' an appropriate neutral (of the correct circuit) to run to the switch position.

Knd Regards, John

 

[SUNRAY]

omg !! I thought red wires are Live and black are neutral !!! what a heck now I'm totally confused !! there is another wire green/yellow screwed on the metal case inside, which I assume is ground !! nothing else !!
below is the instruction !!
View attachment 234470

You have enough wires to do the job but alterations will be have to be made. Can you get to the wiring where it goes to, like in the loft?

 

[JohnW2]

You have enough wires to do the job but alterations will be have to be made. Can you get to the wiring where it goes to, like in the loft?

Numerically, that's obviously correct (4 conductors and 4 terminals). However, electrically speaking, it would presumably only work (without even more, probably more difficult, 'alterations') if both the lights being controlled are on the same circuit (same L and N).

Kind Regards, John

 

[SUNRAY]

Numerically, that's obviously correct (4 conductors and 4 terminals). However, electrically speaking, it would presumably only work (without even more, probably more difficult, 'alterations') if both the lights being controlled are on the same circuit (same L and N).

Kind Regards, John

Well we know they're on the same live but at the moment we don't know if they are T&E or singles and junction boxes or borrowed neutrals. There is a slight chance (Very slight) it may just be a case of moving wires in a rose but I doubt it.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Can we have a picture of the wires in the back box?

 

[JohnW2]

Well we know they're on the same live ...

We do. I should have written "same neutral as well as same line/live)".

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

It is possible (anything is at the moment) that it is two normal switch drop cables (not line loop) and someone has linked the two lines - because a previous (three-gang?) switch had one.

 

[SUNRAY]

It is possible (anything is at the moment) that it is two normal switch drop cables (not line loop) and someone has linked the two lines - because a previous (three-gang?) switch had one.

Yep, that's exactly the sort of thing I'd be praying for.

 

[MarioZZ]

yea !! when first time opened the box I knew is not going to be easy ****!!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Firstly, please tell us if the two lights are on the same circuit. That is - do they both stop working when one breaker is switched off (or one fuse is removed)?

IF that is the case, then remove the link wire and tell us if both lights still work.