2 way light switch problem HELP

linearamp · 30 May 2017

Hi all
i have a broken 2 way light switch which i believe is quite a old switch .one of the switches is not letting me turn off the light .

i have bought a new switch of which the terminals are in different positions ,also confused regarding the positive link wire between the 2 commons.

Is it possible for anyone to explain as to which wire goes from which terminal from the old switch to the new one ?.

One switch does the upstairs light ,the other which is the broken one is the hall light.
I have attached 2 pics of the existing wiring and new switch

thank you in advance

new light switch

linearamp
30 May 2017

old light switch

linearamp
30 May 2017

JohnD · 30 May 2017

Did it ever work?

When did it stop?

Looking at the connections in your old switch, it can't work as two two-way switches.

sparkwright · 30 May 2017

Looks fine to me.

It's a 2 GANG switch.

One switch is one way only - probably the hall.
The other switch is two way - probably the landing.

The old switch is old MK, which means L2 is used for one way operation.

So, for simplicity,

old com = new com
old L1 = new 2
old L2 = new 1

EFLImpudence · 30 May 2017

Yes, it can -

Your old switch has one inverted and the new one has both the same way up.
Just transfer the wires : Com-Com, L1-1, L2-2.

terryplumb · 30 May 2017

poor old linearamp. you must be totally bewildered now. johnd reckons it could never have worked and sparks. and EFL are contradicting each other . I haven't laughed so much since my old boss fell down the stairs and broke his left leg and right arm.

linearamp · 30 May 2017

JohnD said:
Did it ever work? Yes

When did it stop? Today

Looking at the connections in your old switch, it can't work as two two-way switches.

i should of explained that 1 of the switches is 2 way ( the landing light ) the other is only 1 way which is the hall .The switch that is upstairs is a single gang and only switches the landing light on and off

linearamp · 30 May 2017

terryplumb said:
poor old linearamp. you must be totally bewildered now. johnd reckons it could never have worked and sparks. and EFL are contradicting each other . I haven't laughed so much since my old boss fell down the stairs and broke his left leg and right arm.

Well i am bewildered as getting more confused as to which i should go with .So which is the correct way
..thank you for the replies though

sparkwright · 30 May 2017

terryplumb said:
poor old linearamp. you must be totally bewildered now. johnd reckons it could never have worked and sparks. and EFL are contradicting each other . I haven't laughed so much since my old boss fell down the stairs and broke his left leg and right arm.

That's cos EFLI hasn't taken into account that the older MK stuff uses L2 for one way operation.

For his new hall switch he would use com and L1 so the switch works the right way up.

sparkwright · 30 May 2017

sparkwright said:
Looks fine to me.

It's a 2 GANG switch.

One switch is one way only - probably the hall.
The other switch is two way - probably the landing.

The old switch is old MK, which means L2 is used for one way operation.

So, for simplicity,

old com = new com
old L1 = new 2
old L2 = new 1

This is what you want.

However, if you find the LANDING switch could be in a situation where you can't have top and bottom switches in 'off' position when the light is off, simply swap the 1 and 2 round.

If that makes sense.

terryplumb · 30 May 2017

linearamp ,have you got it now ? sparkw has got the right info ,forget the rest . come back on if you can't follow it .

JohnD · 30 May 2017

JohnD said:
Looking at the connections in your old switch, it can't work as two two-way switches.

the old left hand one can't work as a 2-way switch. It hasn't got enough wires.

linearamp said:
i should of explained that 1 of the switches is 2 way ( the landing light ) the other is only 1 way which is the hall .The switch that is upstairs is a single gang and only switches the landing light on and off

Yes, that makes sense.

EFLImpudence · 30 May 2017

JohnD said:
the old left hand one can't work as a 2-way switch. It hasn't got enough wires.

It has for the (old) conventional method.

linearamp · 31 May 2017

sparkwright said:
Looks fine to me.

It's a 2 GANG switch.

One switch is one way only - probably the hall.
The other switch is two way - probably the landing.

The old switch is old MK, which means L2 is used for one way operation.

So, for simplicity,

old com = new com
old L1 = new 2
old L2 = new 1

So looking at the replies (thank you very much) im going give the above a go this evening .Thanks to Sparkwright ..will reply back here later this evening to let you know how its gone ..

Thanks again to all

333rocky333 · 31 May 2017

Yes its old mk go with sparkwright

Efli way will work but one of the switches (the 1 way one) will work inverted, ie up for on and down for off

EFLImpudence · 1 Jun 2017

Yes, my mistake.

The original switch, of course, actually is upside down.

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2 way light switch problem HELP

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