Problem with light switches not working properly

[RobCardiff]

Hello. I have a single ceiling light in my loft bedroom. There is a switch in the room and a switch at the bottom of the stairs. Both of the switches will turn the light off and on, but only if the other switch is in a certain position.

i.e. if the room switch is on, the stair switch will turn the light off and on. If the room switch is off, the stair switch won't work. But it also does this the other way round. I cannot get both switches to turn the light on and off independently.

I have changed both switches and made sure all connections are good, including in the light. I have also tried different combinations of L1 and L2 connections. Both switches are 2-way switches.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[EFLImpudence]

To save a lot of writing, pictures of the wiring at both switches, please.

Just copy and paste - or drag - pictures.

 

[RobCardiff]

I can take photos but both switches just have two wires, one for the common and one for the L terminal. The light fitting also only has two cables. Should there me more?

 

[muffking]

I'm guessing the spark ran out of 3C&E

On the plus side, your ceiling light is wired ok.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes. a least three wires in each switch

It seems that is just how it is wired. There is a switch in the loft but the landing switch must be on.

 

[RobCardiff]

Yes. a least three wires in each switch

It seems that is just how it is wired. There is a switch in the loft but the landing switch must be on.

Yeah, it did occur to me that perhaps it was just never wired properly in the first place. The guy I bought the house from did a lot of his own electrics. I'm gonna have to get it all rewired at some point.

Thanks for the help.

 

[muffking]

Had a builder last week say "I've plastered in two twin & earths as I had no 3C&E and just need you to fit the lights & switches". Turned out to be 2.5mm. He literally only had one roll of 2.5 for everything, including 3 cables for each pendant. Oh joy!

 

[muffking]

Yeah, it did occur to me that perhaps it was just never wired properly in the first place. The guy I bought the house from did a lot of his own electrics. I'm gonna have to get it all rewired at some point.

Thanks for the help.

Is it possible to run a new cable between the switches? That would solve it.

 

[RobCardiff]

Is it possible to run a new cable between the switches? That would solve it.

I could possibly do that with a bit of messing around. How would the wiring connections be done? I'm no electrician but I can follow instructions

 

[muffking]

The proper way would be to run some 1mm Three Core & Earth between the 2 switches (cable code 6243). We can walk you through the wiring, although I'll Google a diagram for you.
Probably best to post pics of the wiring at your switches though as I would like to see a switch wire going in to one of the switches (we can probably tell just by looking at the pics).

 

[muffking]

Ignore the cable marked B as you said you only have 2 in your light fitting, so you're not feeding out to the next light.

 

[RobCardiff]

Ignore the cable marked B as you said you only have 2 in your light fitting, so you're not feeding out to the next light.

Thanks very much. I'll take some photos of the switches when it's light enough. Cheers.

 

[SUNRAY]

Had a builder last week say "I've plastered in two twin & earths as I had no 3C&E and just need you to fit the lights & switches". Turned out to be 2.5mm. He literally only had one roll of 2.5 for everything, including 3 cables for each pendant. Oh joy!

Wait for it..........
Where's Winston?

Too thick and a spare wire.

 

[muffking]

Wait for it..........
Where's Winston?

Too thick and a spare wire.

Yeah I know, how dare they
The 3rd cable for the pendant was the loop out. Cramming multiple cables into a pendant is tight at the best of times, but when they're done in 2.5mm....
Slowed me right down. If he does it again then I'm gonna push them up into ceiling void with a Wago box and bring a single 1mm T&E down for the light. Then charge him double

 

[RobCardiff]

The proper way would be to run some 1mm Three Core & Earth between the 2 switches (cable code 6243). We can walk you through the wiring, although I'll Google a diagram for you.
Probably best to post pics of the wiring at your switches though as I would like to see a switch wire going in to one of the switches (we can probably tell just by looking at the pics).

If I wanted to get rid of the light switch on the stairs and just use the room switch, how would I do that?