Rewiring a switch

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can offer me advice on the following issue.

Ok first the history. When we moved in our kitchen had a three way switch fitted but only 2 lights one in the ceiling and one under the units so at the time I thought the third one was reduntant. On having a new kitchen fitted we had the switch changed to a new 2 way one again having a ceiling light and a set of halogens under the units. Now it wasn't until i found we had a big halogen garden light outside that I went searching for the switch. Upon removing the 2 way switch in the kitchen I found there was a spare live wire that the electrician had blocked off. When i wired this into one of the switches I found the outside light worked fine. So, I have bought a three way switch to operate the two kitchen lights and the outside garden light.

Please see this link to access both pictures I have drawn of the exsisting double switch (with connections drawn) and the new triple switch.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/7379813


I hope the drawings make sense. In the exsisting switch there is a small piece of brown wire that just goes between the two Com ports.

My Question is how do the wire the new triple switch in incorporating the single live wire that is in there that operates the outside Halogen lamp. At the moment all wires are connected as shown in the exsisting switch pic apart from a single red wire.

Normally if I change switches it is quite easy and like for like kind of thing but I thought I'd ask members here for advice who more and likely find this thing a walk in the park.

Many Thanks

Russell.

On the first switch your supply goes to common and L1 is the switch live. This is the same for the next switch, with the supply coming from the common off the first switch. So what you have to do is duplicate this for the third switch. I.e. bring the supply from the common of the second switch to the common of the third switch and connect the switch-wire (the single red wire) to L1.
HTH

Thanks for the rapid reply I only posted 15 mins ago!!!

I don't know if I understand you fully but do you mean this.

Place the red cable that goes into common in the first switch into L (top left of new switch) then connect wires between the L's i.e. Top left to middle bottom to top right in the new switch. The same thing that was done in the old switch with a single brown wire. Then it's simply a case of connecting the three remaining wires to each switch.

Sorry it's not technical but I think that's what you mean.

Regards

Russell.

Each switch has a common (C or ~) and L1 and L2(used for two-way switching). The supply in your existing arrangement goes to the common in your first switch. This is then taken by a short piece of wire to the common in your second switch. The switch wire will be on L1 of your first switch and again on your second switch. Now repeat the same for your third switch as I have already stated.

Hi,

Thanks for all the help all working fine now.

R.