two gang switch

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:36 pm

We are trying to replace an old two gang switch with a new one. My partner took off the old switch without noting which wire went where and we are now unsure how to wire it in.

Our lighting circuit is of the type which loops between the switches.

Can anyone tell us how to wire it in?

Thanks

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:53 pm

how many cables do you have at the switch, what is it controlling and are any of the cables connected together in a connector block. If you can tell me this will be able to help you further

Nick

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:00 pm

Ok four cables coming into switch box. All earths joined together.

3 neutrals joined together.

light switch is controlling one light on landing and one light above stairs.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:03 pm

Right so in terms of cores to connect that were previously connected you have 4 reds and one black am i correct in this assumption? are either of the switches a 2way switch to another position or just one way on both

Nick

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:04 pm

Yes that is correct.

Both switches are one way

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:10 pm

RIght, one of the lives will be a live in to the switch from mains or anther fed switch, one more of the reds should be live out to the next switch, one red should be live to one of the lights and the other red should be the other live to the light, so the 4th black should be a neutral i would think, if unsure leave it out of the switch for now until you know. so to connect the switch you should have the lives in the commons of both switches and a link between them to maintian the live in the circuit and the two live switch wires will go to either L1 or L2 of the corresponding switch depending on make of switch, whichever they use for one way switching.

Nick

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:13 pm

Why Oh Why do people takes wires out of things without noting what goes where!

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:16 pm

So the lives going to the lights should be in L1 and L2. and the lives ciming from/going to next switch should be in either common with another wire joining the two commons.

Is that right?

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:19 pm

Hinton, very good question!!!

My patrner has already felt the force of my wrath for being so stupid.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:24 pm

whichever the switch uses as its one way either L1 or L2 not one in each or one switch will seem to be upside down. If you take each switch as an individual switch then whatever you do on one side do the same on the other. It might be a bit of trial and error until the right combination is found. DOes your partner (the one who has felt your wrath LOL) remeber whether there was a wire linking the two sides together or not? i am fairly confident about the connections, its just that black core that concerns me. It has not got any red tape on it has it?. Just one thing, did you say this switch controls a light upstairs as well as one down ?/ as this may affect my original diagnosis

Nick

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:36 pm

Don't think there was a wire connecting the two commons. Could they connect within the switch?

The black core doesn't have red tape on it.

Both lights are upstairs not on different levels. Just one switch controls one light and the other switch controls the ohter light. Theses are the only switches for these lights so definitely not two way.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:40 pm

RIght well if you dont think there was a link then i can only think that the cable with the red and black in it is a switch live and permanent live for one side of the switch so put red in common and black in the one way terminal. Out of the other three reds , one will be live in one live out and the other switched live for the light. Try that and see what happens. If the breaker trips when the red and black switch is turned on then it could be that the black has come out of the neutral block and the connections are as per my previous post.

Nick

trixymalixy · Post by **trixymalixy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:43 pm

The neutrals weren't connected in a block, just twisted together so possibly the other black has just come loose.

Will just have to give it a try and see if it works.

thanks for all your help.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:46 pm

The other way to help is to look at the light fitting end and see if each one has just a black and ared cable, if so then it is likeley that the black has popped out of the connecter block in which case its my first way to connect them.

Any problems get back to me here and willl do my best to sort out . Theneutrals MUST be connected together in a connector block, not just twisted together as that is very dangerous.

Nick