2 gang 2 way wiring help needed

[cnagra]

Hi,

I have 1 light downstairs, and another upstairs. At the moment, every swith in the hall way turn on all the lights.

I want to replace these with a double switch, so I can seperate the downstairs light with the upstairs light.

I have tried for a few hours to get it working, the closest I have got is the downstairs light being constantly on, and the upstairs light turning off and on.

I have supplied some images of what wires are coming out of the wall, and the double switch that I have

Any help is much appreciated...

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• cnagra
• 8 Oct 2012
• 1

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• cnagra
• 8 Oct 2012
• 1

 

[cnagra]

Im not sure if this helps, but the downstairs light has the following wires coming out of the ceiling..

red
yellow with red sleeves
blue
green and yellow

 

[RF Lighting]

Was the old switch an intermediate switch?

 

[cnagra]

yes, it has intermediate written on the back.

 

[sparkwright]

You should send photos of the wiring at every light and every switch in the hall and landing, and label each one.

Also, do you have access above the landing ceiling?

It may be easy-ish to achieve what you want, but installing new cables is very likely.

 

[cnagra]

ok..

Switch 1) is by the front door. I do not want to change this, the middle switch turns on both the up and downstair lights...

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• cnagra
• 8 Oct 2012
• 1

Switch 2) is at the bottom of the stairs, this is one of the switches I want to change so it can switch the up and downstairs lights seperately.

Switch 3) is at the top of the stairs, again this is one of the switches I want to change so it can switch the up and downstairs lights seperately.

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• cnagra
• 8 Oct 2012
• 1

(both switch 2 and 3 are wired exactly the same)

Switch 4) is outside my bedroom, and I do not want to change it.

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• cnagra
• 8 Oct 2012
• 1

So to summarise, only switch 2 and 3 need changing.

 

[sparkwright]

At switch 1, you say the middle switch does the hall and landing.

Are you certain it's not the lefthand one?

 

[RF Lighting]

Yep the middle switch can't do these lights. Unless of course you've already been tinkering here....?

 

[cnagra]

You are both correct. It is the left switch that is controlling the hallway lights. Both upstairs and downstairs.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

PLAN A:

• Learn how lighting circuits are wired and how switches work.//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting
• Get a multimeter and learn how to use it.
• Identify which conductors are which at the switches.
• Install new cabling as necessary to provide control over individual lights.
• Connect them all up properly.

PLAN B:

• Get an electrician.

 

[cnagra]

Plan B seems like the best route..