Hello,
I moved into a new house at the beginning of the year and am slowly knocking down odd jobs 1 by 1.
In the hallway there is a light and double light switch at the bottom of the stairs and the same again at the top of the stairs.
When I moved in, only the left side of the downstairs switch worked and it operated the downstairs light, and only one half of the upstairs switch worked and operated the upstairs light. I assumed (based on evidence of bad DIY skills elsewhere in the house) that this is how they were intended to operate and it was just another bad job.
With this in mind I went out this morning to purchase a dimmer to replace the upstairs switch, in the hope to make my 4 year old’s life easier (and mine) in the middle of the night when he’s shouting for someone to turn the light on. Have just been leaving the light on, but though a dimmer light would be an improvement in the situation until he’s a bit taller and can reach the light switch himself.
I have just started the job and it seems I have assumed wrong.
Removing the spare switch upstairs has revealed lots of additional wires (see pic) including a loose black one.
Removing the switch downstairs revealed wiring in place for a double switch, albeit the black wire for the upstairs light had become disconnected. I’ve put that back in and down both sides of the downstairs switch function.
I have 2 questions....
1. Is the state of the upstairs light safe, and what should I do with all the spare wires?
2. I understand it’s difficult / confusing to install a dimmer on a 2 way switching system - is there anything I can do other than write that idea off?
cheers
Ben
I moved into a new house at the beginning of the year and am slowly knocking down odd jobs 1 by 1.
In the hallway there is a light and double light switch at the bottom of the stairs and the same again at the top of the stairs.
When I moved in, only the left side of the downstairs switch worked and it operated the downstairs light, and only one half of the upstairs switch worked and operated the upstairs light. I assumed (based on evidence of bad DIY skills elsewhere in the house) that this is how they were intended to operate and it was just another bad job.
With this in mind I went out this morning to purchase a dimmer to replace the upstairs switch, in the hope to make my 4 year old’s life easier (and mine) in the middle of the night when he’s shouting for someone to turn the light on. Have just been leaving the light on, but though a dimmer light would be an improvement in the situation until he’s a bit taller and can reach the light switch himself.
I have just started the job and it seems I have assumed wrong.
Removing the spare switch upstairs has revealed lots of additional wires (see pic) including a loose black one.
Removing the switch downstairs revealed wiring in place for a double switch, albeit the black wire for the upstairs light had become disconnected. I’ve put that back in and down both sides of the downstairs switch function.
I have 2 questions....
1. Is the state of the upstairs light safe, and what should I do with all the spare wires?
2. I understand it’s difficult / confusing to install a dimmer on a 2 way switching system - is there anything I can do other than write that idea off?
cheers
Ben
