Hello! I wonder if anyone could help me - whilst I'm building new walls and ceilings, I am moving and updating light switch locations - mostly adding intermediate switches to existing 2-way setups. I've done 3 or 4 now with no hiccups, using this method. When I went to update the last one - it's thrown me - I can't see any circuit diagrams that look like this set-up, and when I did what I thought would work - I popped the MCB when closing the main circuit breaker.
There is a diagram at the bottom - it's quite hard to explain using text!
There are two separate light bulbs in this circuit (which I want to keep), and both bulb cables are wired into different junction boxes.
Also, I currently have two 2-way light switches, which are connected via a junction box - from which another web of junction boxes are connected... from which the two lighting cables come. (this network of junction boxes also seems to link up to the other lights on the ground floor).
My first thought was that the cable going to the switches was the circuit cable which I could just wire according to the diagram I showed above. To test the theory I wired it up to a one way switch, turned the mains back on, but then when I closed the 1-way switch, it popped the MCB for the ground floor lighting circuit.
I have put a diagram of what I mean at the bottom of the post.
- does anyone recognise this type of circuit?
- what do I need to do to add my intermediate switch?
- is it normal/safe to have this many junction boxes?
Ideally - I would like to de-complicate this particular switch set-up it and make it like the diagram in the Wiki - but the network of junction boxes is just too complex for me to safely detangle. It's difficult to map out fully as quite a few cables disappear through holes in joists and I've not yet lifted those floors yet.
There is a diagram at the bottom - it's quite hard to explain using text!
There are two separate light bulbs in this circuit (which I want to keep), and both bulb cables are wired into different junction boxes.
Also, I currently have two 2-way light switches, which are connected via a junction box - from which another web of junction boxes are connected... from which the two lighting cables come. (this network of junction boxes also seems to link up to the other lights on the ground floor).
My first thought was that the cable going to the switches was the circuit cable which I could just wire according to the diagram I showed above. To test the theory I wired it up to a one way switch, turned the mains back on, but then when I closed the 1-way switch, it popped the MCB for the ground floor lighting circuit.
I have put a diagram of what I mean at the bottom of the post.
- does anyone recognise this type of circuit?
- what do I need to do to add my intermediate switch?
- is it normal/safe to have this many junction boxes?
Ideally - I would like to de-complicate this particular switch set-up it and make it like the diagram in the Wiki - but the network of junction boxes is just too complex for me to safely detangle. It's difficult to map out fully as quite a few cables disappear through holes in joists and I've not yet lifted those floors yet.