Light Switch

cress · 21 Apr 2017

Hi all,
Bought a light switch today and just wanted to swap it like for like.
But the internals are different which has thrown me

The old switch has a:
Common (red wire)
Way 1 (black wire)
Way 2 (red wire)
Earth wire connected to backbplate

The new switch has L1 L2 L3 L4.

The switch is replacing a 1 gang switch on the landing. There is also a 2 gang switch at the bottom of the stairs 1 of which also controls the landing. This one offers no advice on how to rewire the upstairs new one

ban-all-sheds · 21 Apr 2017

https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Intermediate - skip to the end:
Using 2-way and 3-way switches as 1-way or 2-way

cress · 21 Apr 2017

Ok, so if I am right I will put the Common red wire in L1
The L1 black wire in L3
And L2 red wire in L4

May I ask what are the likely consequences of wiring them incorrectly?

Doggit · 21 Apr 2017

You've got an intermediate switch, which is for going in the middle of a 3 switch system. Take it back to the shop, and get a 2 way switch instead.

Brilliant diagram BAS.

ban-all-sheds · 21 Apr 2017

An intermediate can be used as a 2-way with no problems at all - just leave one terminal empty. I guess if a 2-way is a lot cheaper then returning it would be an idea, but it would probably fall under the heading NWI-CBA.

ban-all-sheds · 21 Apr 2017

cress said:
May I ask what are the likely consequences of wiring them incorrectly?

It won't work.

But as you described, it will. If you feel that it's "upside down" (if you're anal about whether both switches have to be the same (i.e. both up or both down) when the light is off), swap L3 & L4.

cress · 21 Apr 2017

Thanks for your replies and time

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Light Switch

cress

ban-all-sheds

cress

Doggit

ban-all-sheds

ban-all-sheds

cress

DIYnot Local

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