• Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.

Wiring up 2 way light switch

Joined
14 Feb 2016
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Country
United Kingdom
Just swapping for a waterproof switch it’s a two way in the garage,old wiring not marked up three reds 2x2.5 and a 1mm or 1.5.
To the old switch marked 1,2 and 3 the 1mm or 1.5mm was in terminal 3,one 2.5mm was in 2 and the other in 1,both lower terminals marked out and top one in.
New one has common ,L1 and L2 as shown.
The one 1mm or 1.5mm is live permanently which the new switch says to put in L1 ?
Switched live load to L2 and common to common between the switches.
What’s the best way to find the switched live load?.
IMG_3970.jpeg
IMG_3971.jpeg
 
1739972349618.png

Ble black lines indicate the equivalent terminals.
I believe you have a 3 core (and possibly earth) cable of 1 or 1.5mm² of red, yellow and blue with red sleeves. From your description I believe you have the red and yellow reversed.

You may not be able to use the neon in the way you expect.

A photo of the wiring in the other switch will verify all to us. Then we can advise further.
 
View attachment 373546
Ble black lines indicate the equivalent terminals.
I believe you have a 3 core (and possibly earth) cable of 1 or 1.5mm² of red, yellow and blue with red sleeves. From your description I believe you have the red and yellow reversed.

You may not be able to use the neon in the way you expect.

A photo of the wiring in the other switch will verify all to us. Then we can advise further.
Thanks other end.
The left switch turn the upstairs light on right side one of the two that turns garage lights on off.
With the switch on I have 240 on both bottom terminals and nothing on the top common one,with the switch on at the other end of the garage I have 240 on all three terminals
IMG_3973.jpeg
 
Can the neon light be disconnected as it’s showing red when light are off but switch is on
IMG_3975.jpeg
IMG_3974.jpeg
 
The lights are switching on and off at both switches,should there be 240 on all terminals when this one is off and the other has been switched on?.
 
Was yellow connected to common on the old switch? ANSWER THIS FIRST.

I would say on YOUR 2 way switching set-up, you have COM at the top, and the bottom terminals consist of switch live and permanent live. Logic may suggest red is permanent live, and blue is switched live, and yellow is common.
 
Was yellow connected to common on the old switch? ANSWER THIS FIRST.

I would say on YOUR 2 way switching set-up, you have COM at the top, and the bottom terminals consist of switch live and permanent live. Logic may suggest red is permanent live, and blue is switched live, and yellow is common.
This was the original wiring,the one with the yellow on was in terminal 1 marked IN.
The 1mm cable is permanently live.
IMG_3969.jpeg
IMG_3969.jpeg
 
Last edited:
This was the original wiring,the one with the yellow on was in terminal 1 marked IN.
The 1mm cable is permanently live.
View attachment 373554View attachment 373554
Ok. The yellow is in the correct terminal.
To clarify, it's all 1.0mm2 T+E wiring, The red sleeves over the yellow and blue make it appear larger wiring, but it isn't.
So red is perm live, blue is switched live.
There should never be a case where all three terminals are live at the same time, so I suspect the neon light wires are in the wrong terminals.

If you don't need the neon, easier just to disconnect it.
Does the switching not work correctly with the neon wires connected?
 
The yellow common wire isn't strictly speaking a permanent live, it just bridges the switch wires as either switch is operated.
 
Ok. The yellow is in the correct terminal.
To clarify, it's all 1.0mm2 T+E wiring, The red sleeves over the yellow and blue make it appear larger wiring, but it isn't.
So red is perm live, blue is switched live.
There should never be a case where all three terminals are live at the same time, so I suspect the neon light wires are in the wrong terminals.

If you don't need the neon, easier just to disconnect it.
Does the switching not work correctly with the neon wires connected?
Really appreciate the help.
It seems to work ok whichever way round the L1 and L2 are connected.
If the light has been switched on at the other switch the neon lights up on this one as pictured above.
From what you are saying the yellow common is correct and the switched live should be in L2 with the red in L1.
Again Thanks
 
On 2 way switches, it makes no difference if L1 and L2 are swapped around - it just means one of the switches will appear to work 'the other way up' than it did before. Getting the correct wire in the common terminal is the important factor, and you have done that correctly.
Does everything work satisfactorily, with the possible exception of the neon?
 
Thanks
Everything works as it should,can be switched on and off at either end,the neon just connects between L2 and common,I’ll disconnect this as it can be confusing.
On 2 way switches, it makes no difference if L1 and L2 are swapped around - it just means one of the switches will appear to work 'the other way up' than it did before. Getting the correct wire in the common terminal is the important factor, and you have done that correctly.
Does everything work satisfactorily, with the possible exception of the neon?
 
Thanks SW for taking it on while I've been busy, I left you to it to avoid confusion.

If you connect the neon to L1 and L2 it will be lit when the light is off which could be handy if the swtch may be in a dark place.
 
Thanks SW for taking it on while I've been busy, I left you to it to avoid confusion.

If you connect the neon to L1 and L2 it will be lit when the light is off which could be handy if the swtch may be in a dark place.
Thanks for the information.
 
On 2 way switches, it makes no difference if L1 and L2 are swapped around - it just means one of the switches will appear to work 'the other way up' than it did before. Getting the correct wire in the common terminal is the important factor, and you have done that correctly.
Does everything work satisfactorily, with the possible exception of the neon?
Still having the 240v on all terminals when the switch is on,lights on at this end,when switch is off I have 240 on the common and L1.
Switch at the other end is exactly the same when lights are on at that end 240v on all three terminals,switch off and 240v on common and live,nothing on switched live.
Is that correct?
Thinking about it all three must be live at the switch at one point,permanent live will send 240 to common terminal and when light switched on switched live will put 240 to common and both will have 240 on plus permanent live will be live also ?
 
Last edited:

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

 
Back
Top