Two light switches

[legend200578]

Hi,
I currently have 2 seperate light switches side by side. One for the front room and one for the stairs.
I want to install one double switch and make the hole good.
Can i wire 2 seperate light circuits into one switch?
thanks
Matt

 

[pjcomp]

You can put them into a two-gang switch, or do you want to turn on both lights at the same time with a single switch? If they really are on different circuits (ie each one goes to a different circuit breaker/fuse) then that's not a good idea. If they're actually two lights on the same circuit, then yes you can but make a note somewhere of what you've done so someone in the future will understand what's going on.

PJ

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes you can - a double switch is just two single switches on the same faceplate, or inside a single moulding.

2 x 1-gang 1-way switches have a total of 4 terminals, 1 x 2-gang 1-way has 4, and so on.

Even if only one of the switches is a 2-way you must get a 2-gang 2-way. If you do, pay attention to the markings as sometimes one side is "upside down". There's info on that in the Wiki.

Make sure the power is off, and make a good note of what goes where before disconnecting anything - taking photos (which you check are OK) before you disconnect would be a good move.

If the new switch is to be metal, check first that the circuit(s) have an earth.