Get lights working independently

[Marvel]

Hi Guys,

I have a Living room and dining room that’s knocked into one.

Now since I’ve moved in the two lights have been operated by one double gang switch. I can either have both lights off or one on at a time.

I would like them to work independently ie both on, both off or just one on and the other off.

I’ll attach a pic of how it’s wired. (It’s a mock up on a spare)

8434E02B-F2C9-45EA-AF9C-F77B309D7674.jpeg (292.37 KiB) Viewed 2159 times

Please could someone help me ?

[Someone-Else]

It depends how the other end is wired, but normally there is no need for the small (Blue) link wire.

[Marvel]

Thanks for the reply someone-else.

I’ve removed the link wire and now I have one light working and the other does nothing.

[Someone-Else]

There is no definitive way of wiring lights, so it will have to be a case of swap and see.
The reason I said remove the link is because you already have two wires for each switch (That is "normal")
If you had 3 wires, two switches and two lights then the link would be required, but it would be at the other end (Bearing in mind you would only have one brown wire)

As I said, without a multi meter and knowing how to use it this is going to take some time.

Can you mark each of the "long" wires e.g.

One band
Two bands
Three bands
No bands

Leave out the link and take a picture, then say how many lights are working.

You also said this is a "mock up" can make 100% sure the mock up is the same as the actual switch, and also take a picture of the working switch connections.

Oh, just to add, have you had any alterations done (apart from taking a wall down)

[Marvel]

Yep I’m sure the mock up is correct someone-else.

There’s been no other modifications that I know apart from the knocking through of the rooms.

Here is a picture of the switch with the wires in

3FF99499-39DF-4993-8125-A87437868D29.jpeg (164.67 KiB) Viewed 2126 times

D89A6EAC-3F74-45D6-8D18-A0769824769A.jpeg (185.31 KiB) Viewed 2126 times

I’ve had to replace the back box as one of the screw points was knackered. Here is a pic of the new back box and the wires banded like you asked for mate.

344B8F48-6E17-4F7E-901B-71CE001CADED.png (1.79 MiB) Viewed 2126 times

Thanks for the help

[Someone-Else]

Its that short link that really bothers me.

Do you have a spare wago connector, or a single (or more) connector block?

Assuming you have
Each time switch the mains off before you do anything

Connect 1 to 2

connect 3 to 0

Connect 3 to 3

connect 3 to 1

Do each of the above one at a time, what happens?

[Marvel]

Did that pal and the results are:

1 to 2 = front room on
3 to 0 = both off
3 to 2 = back room on
3 to 1 = both off

[OnlyMe]

It depends how the other end is wired, but normally there is no need for the small (Blue) link wire.

Just a small observation but the link wire is in the wrong place. With the link wire where it is then you might as well just shove all the cables into one piece of strip connector.

[Marvel]

I’m thinking the link wire needs to bridge the com terminals.

Does that seem correct ?

[OnlyMe]

Did that pal and the results are:

1 to 2 = front room on
3 to 0 = both off
3 to 2 = back room on
3 to 1 = both off

modified.jpg (173.49 KiB) Viewed 2110 times

Isolate 0

[Someone-Else]

Guys, thanks, but yes I know the link wire is in the "wrong place" that is what I don't understand. If it uses all 4 wires there is no need for a link wire at all.

I am trying to figure out remotely what wire does what.

[Someone-Else]

Marvel, it will not do any harm to do as OnlyMe suggests.

Using the below information

1 to 2 = front room on
3 to 0 = both off
3 to 2 = back room on
3 to 1 = both off

1 must be for the front room
3 must be for the back room
2 is live
0 is "spare"

Lights work when 2 is involved, so 2 must be live
When 2 connected to 3 back room works, so 3 must be back room
When 2 is connected to 1 front room works, so 1 must be front room

[Someone-Else]

Marvel, put wire 2 into common. (Doesn't matter which one)

Put wire 1 in "1 way" terminal of left switch

Put wire 3 in "1 way" terminal of right switch

Put a new link wire between each common (Leaving wire 2 where it is)

Put a single choc bloc (not just tape) on wire 0 (or take the blue wire out from the wago)

Marvel, next time you do anything like this, mark the cables (as you did earlier) and take a picture, check the picture is in focus, then do what you want to do.

The idea of marking the wires is to make it easier to see which one goes where, or as I was doing asking for them to be connected in a specific order, to figure out what does what.

[Marvel]

Yep I took the blue wire out of the wago to isolate 0.

Thanks for the help guys, I’m well happy it’s working just how I want it.

[OnlyMe]

Marvel, it will not do any harm to do as OnlyMe suggests.

Using the below information

1 to 2 = front room on
3 to 0 = both off
3 to 2 = back room on
3 to 1 = both off

1 must be for the front room
3 must be for the back room
2 is live
0 is "spare"

Lights work when 2 is involved, so 2 must be live
When 2 connected to 3 back room works, so 3 must be back room
When 2 is connected to 1 front room works, so 1 must be front room

Thanks for correcting me and getting cable 3 into the one way position

I do have a theory why the lights are wired like this. I think one of the twin and earths was/is a strapper that takes it's permanent live from cable 2 (albeit incorrectly wired).