Switch wiring.

[steve68]

Hi all. Could anyone answer a quick question for me. I am replacing an upstairs landing 2 way switch and deciphering which wires go where. (One switch controls landing light. The other controls bathroom light). I also have a 2 way switch in hallway. (One controls hall light and the other controls landing light). My question is, why is their a 2 inch wire attached to both coms in hall light? Just curious because each gang controls a different light. The upstairs one doesn't have one. Just wondering if that is causing the problem I'm having in that I can turn the landing light on from both switches but if you turn on from one you can't turn off from the other. They worked fine till I replaced switch. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[EFLImpudence]

To supply power to the 'other' switch.
What would happen if you removed the link?

It doesn't have to be two inches.



As for your problem - you have wired it incorrectly.

 

[ricicle]

Did you note how the switch was connected before?
Can you post some pics?

 

[ericmark]

In the main link goes com on non two way switch to L1 on two way it is now considered poor practice because it causes RF interference and with landing light means you can't split the floors into two circuits.

If you look at the wiring diagram

one wire of the second switch is connected to line and what people use to do was borrow the line from an adjacent switch.

The problem is this borrowed line and result in a borrowed neutral which is rather dangerous and in homes today it has caused problems with RCD tripping.

The easy way out is to use RF switches for the two way but it depends if your lights are split into two circuits or not.

 

[steve68]

Unable to post a pic I'm afraid. The red and black between both switches go into L1 and Com respectively. Think the problem lies with the way I'm wiring the wires that go off to the light. Not sure which terminals those wires should be in. Made a mental note as I was taking old one off and then my phone rang and distracted me. Lesson learned.

 

[EFLImpudence]

In the main link goes com on non two way switch to L1 on two way it is now considered poor practice because it causes RF interference and with landing light means you can't split the floors into two circuits.

If you look at the wiring diagram

one wire of the second switch is connected to line and what people use to do was borrow the line from an adjacent switch.

The problem is this borrowed line and result in a borrowed neutral which is rather dangerous and in homes today it has caused problems with RCD tripping.

The easy way out is to use RF switches for the two way but it depends if your lights are split into two circuits or not.

He's just made a mistake fitting a new switch.

Why is your world so complicated?

 

[EFLImpudence]

The red and black between both switches go into L1 and Com respectively.

It really is not possible to tell from here which wire is which so to give advice may be unwise.

From what you describe your landing light is wired as the first diagram here:
//www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Two-way-lighting

This, though, is complicated by the presence of the other switch and not knowing which wire is which.

 

[steve68]

Many thanks for the replies. I will try a bit of trial and error and hopefully sort it.

 

[JohnW2]

Many thanks for the replies. I will try a bit of trial and error and hopefully sort it.

Trial and error is really not a very satisfactory (or necessarily safe) approach. If you don't have the ability, knowledge or means of dealing with the problem logically, you would really be best advised to engage the services of someone who does.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I will try a bit of trial and error and hopefully sort it.

NO!

Electrical-wiring-by-guesswork is a foolish thing to do.

Just connecting things up at random, hoping to hit on a working combination by luck is a bad plan.

The only safe and sensible way to do electrical work is on the basis of actually understanding and knowing what you are doing, not guesswork, not trial and error, and not by blindly following instructions to put-this-wire-in-that-hole without knowing why.

There really is only Plan A or Plan B:

PLAN A:

• Learn how lighting circuits are wired.
  • //www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting
    
    
  • http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=uk+lighting+wiring+(basics+OR+101)
    
    
  • //www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:books
    
    
  • //www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:index[/list][*] You'll probably need to get a multimeter and learn how to use it.
  • Identify which conductors are which at the switches and the light positions.
  • Check for circuit continuity, switches working etc.
  • Connect everything up properly.
  PLAN B:
  • Get an electrician.

 

[securespark]

Unable to post a pic I'm afraid. The red and black between both switches go into L1 and Com respectively. Think the problem lies with the way I'm wiring the wires that go off to the light. Not sure which terminals those wires should be in. Made a mental note as I was taking old one off and then my phone rang and distracted me. Lesson learned.

From what you have said, the COM links across to the other COM at the downstairs switch, the "red and black between both switches" goes to L1 and L2 on both switches and the single at the upstairs switch position is the switch wire to the landing light and this goes to COM.

Remember to sleeve and terminate all earth wires to the boxes if they have an earth terminal and to the switch plates as well if they have one.

Sleeve any line conductors with red sleeving.

 

[steve68]

From what you have said, the COM links across to the other COM at the downstairs switch, the "red and black between both switches" goes to L1 and L2 on both switches and the single at the upstairs switch position is the switch wire to the landing light and this goes to COM.

Many thanks securespark. That worked and all back to normal. I checked the downstairs switch and red and black were in L1 and L2 and not L1 and COM as I originally posted. Sorry for late reply but have only read it today and just done it. Thanks again.