downstairs switch stops upstairs switch from working???

joninprague · 8 May 2014

Hi all,

I have had a quick search on here but cant seem to find the answer. we have a typical ex council 3 bed semi that still has the original wiring. (black, brown looking cables no earth)

So we recently decorated and decided to change the light switches to more modern ones.

well long story short.. now when i use the switch in the hallway for the upstairs landing light. i can either switch it off and on, but when its in the on position the upstairs switch doesnt work at all. but if the switch downstairs is off then the upstairs switch works perfectly.

the switch for the hallway downstairs works perfectly.....

So I paid an electrician to come round yesterday and even he couldnt figure it out????

Anyone have any tips??? feels like it should be a simple answer but the electrician could find out why its happening??????

Thanks for reading this

unclebob1 · 8 May 2014

the new light switches - did you wire them up for two way? ie did you wire them like for like compared to the old switches?

Sounds like you have misswired the common

AndyPRK · 8 May 2014

yeah maybe the red wires are reversed.

Be good to see some pics of the wiring at the back of the switch first though to confirm, before it is made worse

joninprague · 8 May 2014

I have attached a couple of pics of the wiring as it is now. Hope that helps. I can't ell now if it is like for like on je old switches as the sparky yesterday moved them around.

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swampy2 · 8 May 2014

Hard to see from your pics how they are connected, can you take pic of switch turned further round so we can see connections?.

you need a rewire, old vir`s at the 2gang switch and old singles at 1gang.

joninprague · 8 May 2014

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Hope these are clearer

JohnW2 · 8 May 2014

joninprague said:
So I paid an electrician to come round yesterday and even he couldnt figure it out???? Anyone have any tips??? feels like it should be a simple answer but the electrician could find out why its happening??????

Yes, I'm sure there's a simple answer, and it's almost certainly that you have incorrectly wired the new switches. It should not take much of an electrician to 'figure it out'!

However, as has been observed, I fear that the light switching (which can probably be sorted out easily, by someone competent) may be the least of the worries about your electrical installation - at least some of the wiring is probably well beyond its 'sell by' date.

Kind Regards, John

joninprague · 8 May 2014

Thanks John, I thought I got a competent electrician yesterday but no joy?? I used check a trade to find him as well so not just a friend or anything.

Still charged as well even though he couldnt fix it. but I guess its his time I paid for

EFLImpudence · 8 May 2014

joninprague said:
but I guess its his time I paid for

Well, yes but it wasn't worth anything.

How can anyone just walk away saying they don't know and can't fix?

swampy2 · 8 May 2014

Can you upload pics of the wires coming from their respective cables at the 2gang switch.

Is upstairs 2way & hall downstairs 1way?,

5 wires at 2gang switch

1 (min) perm live
2 strappers(2way)
1 switch wire
1 switch wire or perm live

The sparky you paid, you should send him your bill for getting it fixed.

JohnW2 · 8 May 2014

EFLImpudence said:
joninprague said:

but I guess its his time I paid for

Click to expand...

Well, yes but it wasn't worth anything. How can anyone just walk away saying they don't know and can't fix?

I suppose if that's the best he could do, it was the best he could do - but to actually charge for one's inability to do what one had been engaged to do is ... what can I say? ... a bit rich

Kind Regards, John

JohnW2 · 8 May 2014

joninprague said:
Thanks John, I thought I got a competent electrician yesterday but no joy??

The problem is that, although you did your best to get a competent electrician, you clearly didn't! However, he really had a lot of nerve to charge you for being incompetent!

Kind Regards, John

AndyPRK · 8 May 2014

did he say you needed a rewire ?

joninprague · 8 May 2014

AndyPRK said:
did he say you needed a rewire ?

funny he did mention that. its on the list for summer this year when we are away...... we did know it when we moved in. Strange thing was he didnt use a multi meter or anything basically just swapped the wires around. tried it... then swapped them over again! Even I could manage that

ericmark · 8 May 2014

Two things I note.
1) Black wire in junction block.
2) Single wires in switch.
So it would seem wired power to switch and then from switch to light which is not the normal method.

Normally power goes to light and from light to switch.

I will admit once you lose the original wiring it's hard to trace wires is conduit it is a pain staking job. Sorry duty calls I'll try again latter.

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downstairs switch stops upstairs switch from working???

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