Wiring Nightmare !!

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:23 pm

Hi Guys I really hope someone can help me with this one as it is driving me nuts !! I am trying to fix a problem caused by my Ex's dad when he changed over some lighting switches. ( I did post before on this but have only just got to see the problem so apologies for posting again but its a bit clearer now!)

Right there are four switches

Switch 1 - Single Gang Upstairs Landing
This is used to control downstairs hall light

Switch 2 - Single Gang Upstairs Landing (seperate switch to switch 1)
This is used to control upstairs Landing Light

Switch 3 - Double Gang - Downstairs by Lounge
1st Gang controls downstairs hall light
2nd Gang contorls Upstairs landing Light

Switch 4 - Double Gang - Downstairs by Frint Door
1st Gang used to control light outside front porch
2nd Gang used to control downstairs hall light

At the moment its hit and miss what switch does what and I really don't have a clue how to put it back the way it was So would really appricate some adice if possible please.

I appriciate the above explanation is not suffient to solve the problem but I do have a diagram of how it is currently wired that I can email over to anyone who wants to have a look. I have tried to upload it but its in a word doc so it won't let me.

I really would appriciate any help at all

Thanks Guys

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:53 pm

Cut'n'paste your diagram into Paint and save as a jpg then upload that.

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:48 pm

Thanks for the inof I will try that

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:39 pm

Hopefully the diagram is below !!

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Thu May 17, 2007 7:45 pm

switch one wants to be an intermediate switch imo.

two and three seem ok to me

cant work out for the life of me whats going on in four

why are the cables shared between switches

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:12 am

Hi Tim Thanks for your reply. I think switch 1 used to be an intermeadiate switch but apparantly my ex was told by a spark in B&Q it was ok to wire the new switch as shown above (she took the old switch into the store with her)

I'm not 100% sure on if that is ok or not?

As to the rest of them i have not got a clue either !!

Should I change Switch one back?

Thanks

Paul

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:45 pm

switch one is the middle switch in the circuit so yes it needs to be an intermediate switch.

as for switch four

is the outside lobby light a two way circuit,

if so then wire four as three but with the link between the reds

and if the advice given in B&Q was from one of those tw*ts in an orange pinny, they are not tradesmen. A guy I know went for a job at B&Q they asked what his field of experitise was and he lied so he was therefore the expert in that field, the fact that he knew nothing about it was irrelevant. I have heard utter rubbish being dished out to people but these tw*ts and yes it makes me angry

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:56 pm

Thanks again tim for your replies.

I completley agree with you about the TW*TS from B&Q

Although I am a bit "dim" here as well !!

The Outside Lobby light is controlled by only one gang of switch four - so I'm assuming it it not two way (does that make sense?)

I will source her a new imtermeadiate switch one but just checking on the wiring for that I assume the "blues go into the bottom teminals and yellows into the top or visa versa?

Thanks again

Paul

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:12 pm

Paul has e-mailed me the document in word format and it is much easier to see. It can be seen here- Word format

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri May 18, 2007 8:52 pm

I just took a quick look and agree with Tim you need an intermediate switch in position 1.

Wire this up as follows-

There are two L1 and two L2 terminals-

L1 yellow from first light switch
L1 Blue from first light switch

L2 yellow from second light switch
L2 Blue from second light switch

Like this, but you are using red and blue-

on the third picture-2nd gang controlling upstairs hall Light, I would swap the blue and yellow wires so that the yellow is in L1 and the Blue is in L2- this will then match the 2nd Upstairs Light switch – Single Gang controlling upstairs hall Light.

I don't have a clue what is going on in picture 4 that is beyond me

Perhaps one of the sparks will know

:

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:24 pm

i cant help but think you have got the diagram wrong for switch four

I am confused as to why a 1 way light is using 3 core cable

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat May 19, 2007 8:12 am

switch 1 as has been said before needs to be an intermediate, switch 2, and 3 look to be Ok in my oppinion , switch four needs more investigation with a multimeter to find out whats going on. They have used a 3 core to the switch for a one way light by the looks of it as it is using a red for a permanent feed from the other switch . Where abouts are you based Pacman? maybe one of us lives near to you and might be able to have a look for you ? If you need help identifying it more with a multi meter then let me know.

Nick

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:27 am

HI Guys many thanks for the responses I really appriciate it.

Nick I would be grateful for some advice on using the multimeter please.

For light 4.
I have just spoken to my ex and as you look at the switch "face on" what used to happen was gang 1 (on the left) switches the outside light on and off and gang 2 (on the right) works the downstairs hall light.

She lives in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire although I live in Somerset ! so not readily available to look at it. I am going down next week so hopefully will be able to sort it out for her

Ultimatehandyman, I'm a bit confused as to the diagram you posted for the intermeadiate switch should i wire that as shown?

Thanks again guys

Paul

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat May 19, 2007 4:31 pm

Hi, the digram UHM has shown is just one way of wiring an intermediate, in your case, the reds are in the choc block not the yellows, it is all down to how people wire things up. It gives you an insuight as to the way they wire , so in your case, red is common yellow is normally L1 and blue is L2 .With regards to your 2 gang switch drawing, i think you are best off by turning the circuit off, putting all the cables in their own block of connector and then whe you turn the power on , find out by testing on the voltage section to earth , which cores become live. It is then a case of just trying a few links of cable between the temporary blocks to see what light comes on when. Just make sure you turn off the powere every time you try a different combination.By the looks of it there is a junction box in the wiring somewhere .

If you want me to talk you through it in even more detail then PM me

Nick

Pacman52 · Post by **Pacman52** » Fri May 25, 2007 3:37 pm

Hi Sparkydude, I sent you a PM the other day did you get it ?

Thanks

Paul