Troublesome Stairway lights and switches

Daj · Post by **Daj** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 2:12 pm

Hello All,

I have a two gang switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. The one at the bottom controls both the top and bottom lights.

The one at the top controls just the light at the top.

On removing the faceplate I found wierd stuff!

Hopefully if all goes well I've managed to attach a diagram.

One gang of the upstairs switch is totally empty. Where should the wires be in order to make the upstairs and downstairs lights work from the upstaires and downstairs switches?

Thanks

Daj

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:16 pm

This is confusing

The light switch at the bottom is a two gang- you can operate the upstairs switch from one of the switches and the downstairs light from the other switch- is this correct?

You want to be able to operate the downstairs light from the spare switch that is on the same plate as the upstairs switch upstairs switch- is this correct?

Daj · Post by **Daj** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:31 pm

ultimatehandyman wrote:This is confusing

Sorry, I thought I was doing so well including a diagram and all

ultimatehandyman wrote:The light switch at the bottom is a two gang- you can operate the upstairs switch from one of the switches and the downstairs light from the other switch- is this correct?

Yes

ultimatehandyman wrote:You want to be able to operate the downstairs light from the spare switch that is on the same plate as the upstairs switch upstairs switch- is this correct?

Yes

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:43 pm

Sorted

The diagram is excellent and makes it easy for me to see what you need to do.

I hope you realise that you need to chase out the walls etc. for the cable!

You need to get a length of three core and earth cable and run it from the downstairs switch that operates the downstairs light and then run the cable to the spare switch upstairs and then connect it like this-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/two_way_lighting.htm

If you are unsure of anything please post back

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:21 pm

Just been thinking about this

If you didn't mind the upstairs light and downstairs light coming on at the same time you could probably wire the downstairs light into the two way arrangement and then you could have both lights switched on or off from either upstairs or downstairs.

This will save you running the extra wire, but you will not be able to operate the lights individually.

If this is what you want to do post back. we will have to wait for one of the sparks to confirm that it is ok to do this

Daj · Post by **Daj** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:46 pm

Option number two please for the time being.

The hallway does need replastering but that's a bit further off in the schedule!

Thanks for your help so far!

Daj

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:46 pm

We will have to wait for one of the sparks to say whether or not it is ok to do this as you would be mixing the upstairs and downstairs lighting circuits!

Rich-Ando · Post by **Rich-Ando** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:37 pm

i can see why UHM was confused at first sight of your post, i was too

your picture is superb! the terminology is what threw us.
downstairs you have a 2-gang switch and upstairs you have a 2-way switch but either way, a nice explanatory post

if you intend to use the feed from the downstairs and the neutral from the upstairs circuit then, i'm sorry but no, you shouldn't do that. the reason being is that you can turn the fuse off for upstairs and then find a live landing light fed from downstairs.

out of curiosity, why do you want this arrangement anyway? in 24 years of this game i have never been asked to do that yet. normally you turn the hall light off as you go upstairs to bed. if you are coming downstairs at night you would have already turned the landing light on from upstairs.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:41 pm

I thought as much, always best to check first.

Looks like you are stuck with the first option then!

Daj · Post by **Daj** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:01 pm

Thanks Both for your help.

To be honest, I thought it was one of those situations where someone in the past had taken the faceplates off and didn't connect them back properly and so got what they could to work and then left it alone.

The light in the hallway upstairs can be a bit intrusive for those still in bed when you get up for a midnight pee (even though its a really low wattage bulb)

I thought if the bottom light worked from the top switch I could switch it on and off without causing too much grief for the Mrs and the babe.

Hey ho, I'll keep a torch and a bucket by the bed!

Thanks again both

Daj

Wood Magnet · Post by **Wood Magnet** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:53 pm

Hey ho, I'll keep a torch and a bucket by the bed!

I thought everybody did that!