One gang to 2 gang switch

[iainbmclean]

Hi,

Looking for some assistance folks!

I'm wiring a wall light into a 2 gang switch which was initially a 1 gang, I've identified the com wire and wired it and the neutral switch for the original light into L1, I assumed all I'd have to do is bridge the 2 coma and place the new live wire for teh wall light into L1, and theneutral into a block!

I'm getting power to the original light but not the new light!!

Any thoughts?

 

[flameport]

What is the neutral for the new light connected to?

 

[iainbmclean]

I've reconnected the old single gang switch, which when I connected the live, light initially it came on but wouldn't go off, now I'm getting nothing!!

Don't know if there is a issue with either the cable I will fitted or the light unit itself!

Or maybe I'm just completely lost!

 

[iainbmclean]

Attached are the original switch, and the new wiring which I've fed into the wall and connected to the new light!

Help as I'm going insane with what I thought should be an easy switch! No pun intended!!

 

[EFLImpudence]

I've identified the com wire and wired it and the neutral switch for the original light into L1,

That doesn't make sense.

 

[iainbmclean]

That doesn't make sense.

Sorry I've wired the live into the com and then I've wired the neutral black into L1 so have the initial light working again properly

 

[flameport]

The black wire isn't a neutral.
It's the switched live.

 

[iainbmclean]

So I'm right in what I say about it being in L1, sorry I'm using the wrong terms it's been a long long day!

Am I right in my wiring from the com to com as currently getting nothing from second com connection!

 

[AndyPRK]

yes, its normal to link com to com.

The trouble is the neutrals are in the ceiling in your house. And for a new light to work, you need to get access to a neutal in the ceiling

 

[iainbmclean]

So is there no way I can wire this light from the wiring currently in the switch, even if I ran the 2 of them off the one switch or would I need it to be connected to the ceiling as that's in another room....don't ask!!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Nope, not possible with what you have.

https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting-Circuit-layouts

Neutral is the name given to the conductor(wire) which completes the circuit from the load(light) back to the supply.
It is not a name for any black or blue wire.
Wires can be anything we want them to be. They do not know what colour they are.

 

[terryplumb]

I think your a bit confused ,so lets try to clarify a few things. The original cable has two conductors ,one brings the live supply and goes in the com terminal ,the other conductor ,( going into L1) takes the switched live to its light fitting ,where there has to be a neutral but the neutral does not come from the switch. So as well as getting a switched live to your new light you also need to get a neutral to it from another point on the circuit that you pick the live up from.

 

[iainbmclean]

Unfortunately there is no way for me to get a neutral to it, so games a bogey I'm afraid!!

Thanks for all the assistance, I'm still trying to get to terms with all the terminology etc.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ian - it's not just "terminology" which you need to get to terms with, it's basic electrical theory.

• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting

• http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=electrical+circuits+101

• http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/House_Wiring_for_Beginners

• http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/House_Wiring_for_Beginners#Lighting

• http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=uk+house+wiring+(basics+OR+101)

• http://kevinboone.net/electricity.html

• http://web.archive.org/web/20080213151445/http://www.kevinboone.com/domesticinstallations.html

• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:books

• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:index

Switches make and break connections between the conductors wired to their terminals.

If you did have a neutral there, and the switch connected it to live, what would happen?