Landing light switch wiring advice
Discussion
So for the last however many years, the landing light switches have been driving me mad.
Downstairs switch flipped up: Upstairs switch turns light both on and off
Downstairs switch flipped down: Upstairs switch does nothing
Upstairs switch up: downstairs turns light off in up position
Upstairs switch down: downstairs switch does nothing
I'm assuming something is wrong with the way the switches are wired, but I have no idea what. I have drawn a highly technical diagram to illustrate how the switches are wired (there are earth wires as well, but i've left them out):
Any suggestions on what may be wrong from anyone that knows what they are on about would be most welcome!
Downstairs switch flipped up: Upstairs switch turns light both on and off
Downstairs switch flipped down: Upstairs switch does nothing
Upstairs switch up: downstairs turns light off in up position
Upstairs switch down: downstairs switch does nothing
I'm assuming something is wrong with the way the switches are wired, but I have no idea what. I have drawn a highly technical diagram to illustrate how the switches are wired (there are earth wires as well, but i've left them out):
Any suggestions on what may be wrong from anyone that knows what they are on about would be most welcome!
LordLoveLength said:
Are you sure that there are 4 cables (3 twins and one triple) all connected to the same switch? How many lights are connected? just one?
It looks really odd.
Yes, definitely 4 cables, as you say - 3 twins and 1 triple. There is only one light operating the switch. However, it's in a loft conversion so I am guessing the other wires are somehow connected to the loop.It looks really odd.
LordLoveLength said:
yes. although you might want to do it at the bottom end as I'd guess the top one is very tight with all those wires in it.
Altering the bottom switch won't work, the issue is in the top one.tuscan66 said:
ok to me it looks like simple error the red and yellow thats in the common need to go into L2 and the red thats in L2 goes into the common (top switch )
The red that is in the common needs to stay there, just the yellow to move to L2 on the upstairs switch so that there are two cables in L2 but only one in the common.(My OCD would then make me swap the yellow and blue over so that yellow went to L1 and the blue did L2, and possible use of red tape)
Op google two way light conversion if you want an example of how it should be wired.
Edited by Brite spark on Wednesday 14th May 18:59
Brite spark said:
The red that is in the common needs to stay there, just the yellow to move to L2 on the upstairs switch so that there are two cables in L2 but only one in the common.
(My OCD would then make me swap the yellow and blue over so that yellow went to L1 and the blue did L2, and possible use of red tape)
Op google two way light conversion if you want an example of how it should be wired.
HAVE to disagree if you leave the red in place then the top switch will turn the light on and the lower will do nothing!! need to move the red as said lol have a look(My OCD would then make me swap the yellow and blue over so that yellow went to L1 and the blue did L2, and possible use of red tape)
Op google two way light conversion if you want an example of how it should be wired.
Edited by Brite spark on Wednesday 14th May 18:59
tuscan66 said:
Brite spark said:
The red that is in the common needs to stay there, just the yellow to move to L2 on the upstairs switch so that there are two cables in L2 but only one in the common.
(My OCD would then make me swap the yellow and blue over so that yellow went to L1 and the blue did L2, and possible use of red tape)
Op google two way light conversion if you want an example of how it should be wired.
HAVE to disagree if you leave the red in place then the top switch will turn the light on and the lower will do nothing!! need to move the red as said lol have a look(My OCD would then make me swap the yellow and blue over so that yellow went to L1 and the blue did L2, and possible use of red tape)
Op google two way light conversion if you want an example of how it should be wired.
Edited by Brite spark on Wednesday 14th May 18:59
No more confused than when I started 
Swapping the Red and Yellow from common to L2 and the Red from L2 to Common has sorted it!
Many thanks to all that have replied.. this was one of those annoying little things that I've been meaning to sort for ages. Now just need to crack on with the rest of the list!
Swapping the Red and Yellow from common to L2 and the Red from L2 to Common has sorted it!
Many thanks to all that have replied.. this was one of those annoying little things that I've been meaning to sort for ages. Now just need to crack on with the rest of the list!
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