Two lights, one switch

Joined
28 Aug 2010
Messages
97
Reaction score
0
Location
Kent
Country
United Kingdom
I have a ceiling light and two wall lights connected to one switch. I want to switch them on and off individually. I probably need a double switch. How do I do this please?
 
Sponsored Links
It will depend on how the lights and the switch is wired.
There are many, many ways to do this.

If you are lucky, it MAY be possible by reconfigutring the wiring at the switch and fitting a 2 gang switch.

As a first step, please turn off the power, unscrew the light switch and take a picture or two of the wiring behind the switch.

How to upload pictures can be found HERE
 
It will depend on how the lights and the switch is wired.
There are many, many ways to do this.

If you are lucky, it MAY be possible by reconfigutring the wiring at the switch and fitting a 2 gang switch.

As a first step, please turn off the power, unscrew the light switch and take a picture or two of the wiring behind the switch.

How to upload pictures can be found HERE
 
Sponsored Links
I am unable to upload the photos. I don't know why as I have done it before.[/img]
 
Can you tell us what cables you have in the switch and how they are terminated?
Also at the ceiling light?
It is likely that a link between the fitting at the ceiling light and wall lights has been made.
So you would need to disconnect that, then you will need a switch drop for the wall lights, a supply for phase, neutral and earth.
But we need more informative information!
 
I am unable to upload the photos. I don't know why as I have done it before.[/img]

From your posts it looks like you are trying to use the "IMG" button. That is not how you upload photos.
Follow the instructions HERE do not try anything else. It's easy enough.
 
I am unable to upload the photos. I don't know why as I have done it before.[/img]

From your posts it looks like you are trying to use the "IMG" button. That is not how you upload photos.
Follow the instructions HERE do not try anything else. It's easy enough.

The connection seems to be in the switch socket. as we disconnected the cable that operates the ceiling light so at the moment the switch just operates the wall lights but we want the ceiling light back again to operate independently of the wall lights.
 
Do have pictures of cables at ceiling light, wall light and access to the cables within the ceiling. ie lifting floorborads, as the age of the wiring would make me assume you will have junction box connections in ceiling/floor void.
It could be that the existing cables that are not terminated within back box of switch, did serve the wall lights and has been altered/modified, for one switch function.
You really need some test equipment to confirm whether the tapped off cables are live and if continuity can be confirmed for these cables within the ceiling/floor void and a compliant connection can be made.
Our posts overlapped!
So you have disconnected cables?
Where all pairs connected (red & black) at common and L1?
Easiest way, is to get a two gang switch, connect the wall lights on one gang and ceiling on second gang.
are both wall lights, (do you have two sets of wall light) currently coming on?
 
The connection seems to be in the switch socket.
What's a "switch socket"?


as we disconnected the cable that operates the ceiling light
There are 2 cables disconnected.


we want the ceiling light back again to operate independently of the wall lights.
In the Wiki you'll find everything you need to understand how lighting circuits work, how switches are wired etc.

And you must come to understand it. Doing electrical work without a full and genuine understanding is highly inadvisable, you should not blindly follow instructions to put-this-wire-in-that-hole without understanding why, and how it all works.

Please, before making any attempts to fiddle with things, learn about what you want to fiddle with.
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top