1 switch controlling all spot lights, another only 4

[benjiman]

Hi,

Have tried searching on the forum, but can't find what I'm looking for. Maybe not searching for the right thing!

Anyways I want to have 8 spots lights in my living room controlled by one switch. So one switch will turn all 8 on.

Then I want to have another switch which will turn only 4 of them on.

I know how to get them wired so that 1 switch will turn all 8 on, but not sure how I can control it so another switch will only turn 4 of them on.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

 

[ericmark]

Double pole switch for the 8 and then another switch in parallel to one of the poles.

 

[bernardgreen]

 

[OwainDIYer]

You need to split them into 2 sections of 4.

The 8-lamp switch needs to be a double pole switch, one pole switching each section. This will prevent power from the 4-lamp switch back feeding into the other section.

 

[bernardgreen]

Using a change over switch means a standard two gang two way switch plate can be used for both switches

 

[JohnW2]

Using a change over switch means a standard two gang two way switch plate can be used for both switches

True, and that would be convenient.

One possible confusion for users with either your or OwainDIYer's approach is that, whilst all lights would be on when the 'all-8' switch was 'on', regardless of the position of the other switch, what happened when one switched off the 'all-8' switch would depend on the position of the other one AFAICS, the only straightforward way of avoiding that would involve a 2p2w centre-off switch (hence "8 on"/"all off"/"4 on"), the likes of which I don't think is available as an electrical accessory!

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Plan B

Unless the room is enormous, give some serious thought as to whether using lights which are so bad at lighting it up that you need 8 of them is in any way sensible.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Using a change over switch means a standard two gang two way switch plate can be used for both switches

If a 2-gang switch was OK, then surely having each gang control 4 lights in the normal way would also be OK?

If a 2-gang switch was OK, what sort of person would cavil at having to press both rockers to get all 8 on?

 

[OwainDIYer]

Using a change over switch means a standard two gang two way switch plate can be used for both switches

If a 2-gang switch was OK, then surely having each gang control 4 lights in the normal way would also be OK?

If a 2-gang switch was OK, what sort of person would cavil at having to press both rockers to get all 8 on?

And would allow straightforward 2-way switching...

In some circumstances it may be better to split the lights 5-3 allowing a choice of 3, 5 or 8 lights on - a choice of 3 light levels instead of 2.

 

[benjiman]

Thanks for the replies and discussion chaps.

Have decided to keep it simple and have 1 more lighting options by having 4 of the lights that I want on one switch, the other 4 on another. If I want all 8 on I can press both switches, and if I want the other 2 combinations I can switch those separately.

Cheers!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

lighting.png

What does that show, electrically?

Also, if the walls etc are to scale, and that fireplace is not the size of a stately home one big enough to roast an ox in you do not need 8 lights which work to light a space that size.