Intermediate switching - feeding the light from intermediate?

cjp2k · 29 Apr 2021

Hello, we have moved into a new house, which has a 2 way landing setup, unfortunately the main bedroom is about 5 meters from the landing light switch and means crossing the top of the stairs.

I was considering changing the upstairs 2 way switch with an intermediate

Running 3 core + earth to a 2 way switch next to the main bedroom, joining the commons in the old 2way (now intermediate).

However the light would be fed from the intermediate and not the end 2 way would this work and be classed as within regs?

Taylortwocities · 29 Apr 2021

You cannot feed the light from any of the switches unless there is a neutral feed in the switch box. That would be most unlikely.

Is there one? Post photo of switch(es) if you are not certain.

EFLImpudence · 29 Apr 2021

Surely it already has a neutral as it is an existing set up.

How is the circuit wired?

Post a picture of the upstairs switch wiring. Just copy and paste pictures.

Taylortwocities · 29 Apr 2021

EFLImpudence said:
Surely it already has a neutral as it is an existing set up.

Ah, I see. There is no additional light,l (duh)..
just need the line and switched line connected at the intermediate rather than at one of the two way switches at the ends.

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t do that. Have done so myself when adding an additional switch to a landing light when a loft was converted to an additional bedroom.

bernardgreen · 29 Apr 2021

Black should be sleeved with Brown to show it as a Live
Grey from Neutral should be sleeved with Blue to show it as a Neutral
Grey from switch should be sleeved with Brown to show it as a Switched Live.

333rocky333 · 29 Apr 2021

Nice drawing, but i would have thought that the Live and Switchline would more likely be found across the two strapper lines in the same switch

1619718762260-1890969482

333rocky333
29 Apr 2021

JohnW2 · 29 Apr 2021

333rocky333 said:
Nice drawing, but i would have thought that the Live and Switchline would more likely be found across the two strapper lines

Can you explain that in a way that my dim brain can understand? Thanks.

Kind Regards, John

333rocky333 · 29 Apr 2021

JohnW2 said:
Can you explain that in a way that my dim brain can understand? Thanks.

Kind Regards, John

In domestic singles is rare so maybe a Twin and earth from the light down to one switch, and no neutral.

The live and switchline connected to L1 and L2 and a Three core cable between the 2 switches

He can then extend a new 3 core to his third switch and still keep L an Sl across the 2 strappers in his new intermediate, just as they likely are in the 2 way switch he is removing, the only joint will be to carry the link through for the Commons

333rocky333 · 29 Apr 2021

1619718762260-1890969482

333rocky333
29 Apr 2021

cjp2k · 29 Apr 2021

Please see photo as requested

Feed was possibly the wrong term ..I was meaning the switched live, no neutral in this switch but the non 2 way lights do have neutral... new build house

EFLImpudence · 29 Apr 2021

Don't mix up the Browns

cjp2k · 29 Apr 2021

That's great I had a quote to get this done and have been told that the intermediate must be the middle switch when walking upstairs, which will involve numerous junction boxes in the loft

My plan Is downstairs 2 way
Top of stairs 2 way ... new switch...
To the left at end of landing Intermediate which is the current 2 way switch

EFLImpudence · 30 Apr 2021

Well, it has to be in the middle of the wiring, if not in the physical locations.

SUNRAY · 1 May 2021

cjp2k said:
That's great I had a quote to get this done and have been told that the intermediate must be the middle switch when walking upstairs, which will involve numerous junction boxes in the loft

My plan Is downstairs 2 way
Top of stairs 2 way ... new switch...
To the left at end of landing Intermediate which is the current 2 way switch

Sounds fine to me.

Some 'electricians' are simply fixated on the way the college taught it and cannot see that the L & SL can be applied anywhere along those 2 wires.

I've installed this arrangent, where the 3C&E's originate at the ceiling rose and the reason was the customer had asked for advice what to first fix when doing some building work and had been told to run a 3C&E between the switch positions. However he ran one cable between the 2 new switch positions, expecting seperate hall light and landing light switches. The building work had necessitated moving the downstairs switch so even the switch drop went to the wrong place. By sheer luck there was enough slack in the new cable to cut and terminate in the new downstairs light position and running the link between the 2 lights was very easy due to the chalet style building:

Moving on a few years the customer had removed the switches during decoration and one of the last things was fitting fresh new switches but he hadn't taken note of how they were wired, so called in an electrician. Sadly he didn't understand it either and complaining there were too many wires at one rose and not enough at the other rose and switches, chased out the freshly painted walls ripped out and rewired completely.

cjp2k · 1 May 2021

All wired up and working, yesterday dropped the cables and clipped to the side of the joists in the loft

This morning trip to CEF to get matching switches, all wired up sleeved etc.

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Intermediate switching - feeding the light from intermediate?

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