3 gang 2 way switch help

[oxy]

I need help rewiring a 3 gang 2 way light switch

just got a new 3 gang 2 way switch from homebase and its nothing like the old one

there is 2 cables running into the old box as per below

top has 4 holes bottom has five holes

top is confgiured as ----------- botom is configured as

com L1 L2 com------------------ L1 L2 com L1 L2

cable 1- red top com left - blue L1 bottom left - yellow L2 bottom left

cable 2 - red com bottom linked to com top right - blue L2 top left - yellow L1 bottom

the new bow is completely different

top has 4 holes bottom has 5 holes

top is -----------------------------------bottom is
2way- 2way -com- 2way ----------1way-com-1way-com-1way

ive tried coping the wiring but the upstairs switch pops the fuse
I did take a couple of pics to show you the wring and the new box

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• oxy
• 13 Dec 2009
• 1

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• oxy
• 13 Dec 2009
• 1

 

[sparkwright]

study the back of both switches and you will see they are divided into three sections. each section is for each individual switch. each switch has three terminals.
each section has terminals 1, 2 and common.

com = com
L1 = 1 way
L2 = 2 way

i see the new switch has its com terminal in a different place to the old one. as long as you can determine how the back of the switch is divided into three separate switches just follow the above legend, and copy the connections. it should be very easy.

 

[sparkwright]

PS is that a wooden back box you have there?




have you earth wires in your wiring?

the box should be non-combustible.

 

[Lectrician]

Pics below. I have split the rear of the switch into the three switches.

Using this you should be able to see where to put everything. The COM terminals are in different places.

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• Lectrician
• 13 Dec 2009
• 2

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• Lectrician
• 13 Dec 2009
• 2

 

[oxy]

PS is that a wooden back box you have there?




have you earth wires in your wiring?

the box should be non-combustible.

um yes it is wooden , I was surprised as hell when I unscrewed it
I bought a metal box to replace it

and also there is no earth there I guess im going to have to get a sparky in to sort it all out

I bought this house 4 years ago and am in the process modernizing it
that was the first wooden box I came across

 

[Steve]

No earth is fine, as long as you only use plastic accessories and fittings. But it does indicate your installation may be of a certain age.

 

[Lectrician]

No earth is fine, as long as you only use plastic accessories and fittings. But it does indicate your installation may be of a certain age.

If he changes to a metal back box? In the 60's when metal boxes first came out, you used to have plastic/rubbery lugs.

 

[oxy]

i will pick up a plastic one then

thanks for all your help

 

[Lectrician]

i will pick up a plastic one then

thanks for all your help

You willl struggle to find a flush fitting plastic box for solid walls (chased in). They are available, but the DIY stores and wholesalers do not usually carry any.

 

[oxy]

where can i get one of these boxes ?