Wiring a light switch. How hard can it be?

[Norgles]

I am usually pretty handy and can work most things out but this one has me stumped. The lounge has two independent sets of lights that are controlled by 2 x double light switches (One on each side of the lounge). I am changing the light switches and I have changed one and all is good. The second one however I am struggling to get working. As you can see in the picture below the layout and terms used on the new one are different.



I have wired as follows

1 = COM
2 = L1
3 = L2

But when I wire it up, it either trips the power or does not work depending which common wire I run to which switch.. The new light switch is a Jim Lawrence. Any help from someone smarter than me would be amazing. Thanks!

[CharlesElliott]

Does the other one have the same connections as this one? As this looks like an intermediate switch which should only be needed if you have more than two way switching. If you just have two sets of switches controlling the lights, then I'm not sure if this is the right type of switch.

[Norgles]

Thanks for the quick reply. The other one is 1or 2 way Jim Lawrence Dimmer Switch that is wired as follows

[CharlesElliott]

The switch with 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 is an intermediate switch which is needed when you have three (or more) points controlling the same light. If you just have two then you have the wrong type of switch. The connections on your second switch should look the same as the first one.

[Norgles]

Thanks for helping with this Charles, it is much appreciated. The 4 on the switch is blanked out (Sorry I should have said and not just coloured it in). The actual switch is this one:

https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/products/product-li...

They do an intermediate module for it at an extra cost. I have just checked my order and I just ordered the normal 2 way one with the extra module.

Any ideas?

[CharlesElliott]

In that case, I would say 1 is common and 2 and 3 are L1 and L2.

There are a few ways of doing 2 way wiring and it is hard to know how yours was done originally, without understanding where is wire is coming from / going to.

[119]

Sorry but £75 for a light switch?

[dhutch]

CharlesElliott said:

In that case, I would say 1 is common and 2 and 3 are L1 and L2.

That would be my guess.

But 30 secs with a millimetre, or 2mins with a battery powered something a bit of wire, would easily prove it out for you.

[Sheepshanks]

Is the drawing showing the commons linked?

Doesn't make any obvious sense if both yellows are also used. But as others have said, domestic lighting wiring can be done in strange ways.

[Zoon]

119 said:

Sorry but £75 for a light switch?

But made by Jim Lawrence!

[Fallingup]

Zoon said:

But made by Jim Lawrence!

Not a Chinese name so must be fake.

[Norgles]

Sheepshanks said:

Is the drawing showing the commons linked?

Doesn't make any obvious sense if both yellows are also used. But as others have said, domestic lighting wiring can be done in strange ways.

No the black line is not a wire, the back of the switch shows them as linked with a moulded line on the plastic. Will dig out the multi meter and see if I can figure it out.

[Easternlight]

Zoon said:

119 said:

Sorry but £75 for a light switch?

But made by Jim Lawrence!

Who?

[Zoon]

Easternlight said:

Zoon said:

119 said:

Sorry but £75 for a light switch?

But made by Jim Lawrence!

Who?

I have no idea

[raceboy]

Zoon said:

119 said:

Sorry but £75 for a light switch?

But made by Jim Lawrence!

For £75 I'd expect Jim to come round and wire it up for me.