light switch wireing

[stuartd3177]

hi can some1 please help im changin my light switchs in front room the old 1 has l1 l2 l1 l2 an 2 com
the new ones have l1 l2 l1 l2 but no com
i tryed to change them an put l1 l2 in on both but dint work can some1 tell me where im going wrong please

 

[wingcoax]

It sounds as if you have bought one-way switches when you need two-way. the old ones had three terminals each and the new ones only have two.

 

[stuartd3177]

hi sorry the new 1 has l1 l2 l1 l2 it is a double gang sorry i dint put it right

 

[Johnmelad502]

Deleted

 

[Taylortwocities]

stuartd3177

I am sorry, we aren't quite up to text speak.

Trying to help you is a lot easier if you could use some punctuation.

If you aren't sure, try this: try saying what you are typing,
and then start a new line everytime you have to draw a breath.
(you'll get a new line if you press the enter key).

OK, back to your little issue -

Please take a photo of your new switch and your old switch and post it on here. You'll find how to do it under "forum rules".

PS I trust you haven't already taken the old switch off? Or if you did, I hope you made a note of where all the wires went...

 

[stuartd3177]

hi i am really sorry
this is the picture of the new light switch
its same as the old one but has no com

Untitled

• stuartd3177
• 3 Dec 2009
• 1

 

[Taylortwocities]

So what are the connections to the old switch?
The switch you have bought may be OK as long as there are no two way circuits.

 

[stuartd3177]

right one wire is black am goes to l1 other is red an goes to l2 an a red 1 to com
thats 1 gang an other one is same

 

[bongos]

right one wire is black am goes to l1 other is red an goes to l2 an a red 1 to com
thats 1 gang an other one is same

That doesn't make much sense - try reading it!

 

[Steve]

right one wire is black am goes to l1 other is red an goes to l2 an a red 1 to com
thats 1 gang an other one is same

You need a 2-way switch then. It sounds like one of the gangs is controlled from another location as well as this switch. A 2-way switch will have capacity for this.

But as you are fitting dimmers, make sure the dimmer doesn't need a slave or retractive switch at the other end.

When looking at your new switch, it DOES have a COM, but its labelled L1. And L1 is labelled L2. Confused? You're not the only one. Com can have a few different notations. C, ~, ~ with a line through it, L, Common, Live to name but a few.

 

[stuartd3177]

so if i put the com wire into the L1 and L1 wire into L2 were do i put the L2 wire?

 

[Steve]

so if i put the com wire into the L1 and L1 wire into L2 were do i put the L2 wire?

You need a 2-way switch then.

You aren't helping yourself here. You have bought a 1-way 2-gang switch. You need a 2-way 2-gang switch.

 

[stuartd3177]

right thanks so they both need to be this
thank you so much for your help

 

[stuartd3177]

i am really sorry about this
in my living room i have two lights an two double light switches
the new light switchs i got as told by steve are 1 way two gang switches
but can be used as a 1 way 1 gang switch
so it says on box
could i use them like this an how would i wire them up
i hope you know what i mean really sorry if you don't

 

[Steve]

You have two lights, each are controlled by two switches yes? So four switches in total.

You CANNOT use this switch if this is the case. Each switch needs three terminals, as your old switches had.

Do you know the brand and model number of these switches? Or a photo of the box?