Where do 2-way switch wires go? New ikea 4 old fluor

[natalleyem]

Hi, we are at desperation point having spent most of last night wiring and rewiring the kitchen light fitting...

We did have a Fluor tube fitment which we took down - as the switch cables were not tagged we checked behind the 2 wall switches and have deduced the switch cables only have a Live(red) and Earth(G/Y) cable each!

We also have a further 3 cables each with a Live?(red), earth(G/Y) and a neutral(black).

We connected all G/Y together - the is no earth terminal in new fitting
We connected all Black toegther - and joined to neutral terminal
We connected 3 red from bigger cables together - joined to live terminal
We connected 2 red from switch cables together

Lights worked!!! But switches didn't!!! So...

We connected the 2 red switch cables to live terminal also...

Lights worked!!! Still not switch action!!!

Also tried switch lives connected to terminal and other lives just connected to each other... NO LIGHTS!

Can you please help? Where do we go from here? as it appears switch cables have no black wires in?

Suggestions greatly welcomed, Many thanks
Natalie

 

[Belle427]

you need to identify the cable that feeds down to the switch,it probably contains 2 red wires,id hazard a guess that in your setup you need to connect one of them to the live terminal of the strip light and the other one to the bigger red cables in a connector block,you also mention swithes,can you elaborate on how many you have

 

[natalleyem]

Many thanks for your reply... have had another look!

Sorry no one of the cables contains 2 red wires. please see wire distribution in each individual cable as listed in my original mail if this helps any?

We are replacing the fluor strip (taken down) with a new ikea halogen set light (only has Live & neutral terminals) not otherway round - sorry if I confused the issue.

Yes we have identified the 2 cables that lead down to the 2 wall switches (took them off to see cables in, these wall switches also contain a seperate black wire and red wire to the switch itself) - but the cables going back up to light fitting are the ones that only have a red and Y/G wire in they do not have a neutral or black wire.

Sorry, I am a little confused... do you mean one of the other 3 remaining cables should lead to either or both of the switches as well?

Thanks again. Natalie

 

[bernardgreen]

Are there two switches that control this light ?

And if so is there a cable with black and red AND a separate single red at each switch ?

If so then connect the reds in the ceiling together in a terminal block with only ONE of the single reds from the switches. That block is the live feed (or loop ) This will be permanently live. The single red takes live down to the switches.

Connect the other single red to the LIVE on the lamp fitting. This brings a switched live from the switches to the lamp.

Connect the blacks together and connect the neutral on the lamp fitting to these.

 

[stevesey]

In the switches is the red/black cable attached to the 1 and 2 terminals of the switches and the red only cable to the Common (com). This would make a 2 way switching arrangement with the two red only wires representing a (logical) switch at the light fitting. This is not how it's normally done, but is electrically equivalent to the normal option of using 3 core cable between the switches and a single drop to one of the switches (the the FAQ for a description of this).

If this is the case in you first combination you wired the light to the mains and the two ends of the switch arrangement to themselves - hence lights stayed on. And in the second you again wired the light to the mains and the switch arrangement to themselves and live as well - hence no switching.

To do this properly you need a 4th terminal (other than the Live, Netural and Earth on the lamp) - did the original light have 4 terminals? Connect the larger three red wires to the 4th terminal with one of the reds from the switches and then connect the other red from the switches to the live on the lamp. If the lamp hasn't got a spare (empty) terminal to do this you'll need some choc block or a junction box.

All this only holds true if the switches are wired as per my first para, otherwise ignore.

Edit: looks like bernard beat me to it.