2 gang light switch problem & earthing back box query?

[solorize]

Hi,

F.Y.I
One of the wall lights is on the same wall as the switch, but the other wall light is
on the opposite wall.

I have relooked at the ceiling rose, as can be seen below.

From the looks of things the yellow wire is acting as a 'switched live' sharing the same
cable (the white one on the left in the above image), as the ceiling light.

Then once it gets into the ceiling rose, it is split out and then feeds power to blackish grey cable
(on the right),for the wall light on the opposite wall. Would you concur?

Therefore, it may be that the yellow wire in the switch is not making proper contact and
maybe the reason for the opposite wall light not coming on.


Also, in my original diagram I had not shown the earth from the white cable, but on
further examination, I think the earth wires have been paired up in two green sleeves,
so I have added the missing earth to my diagram below.

 

[terryplumb]

Exactly as you think wiring wise. But I asked you to check both switched lives were in contact at the switch and thought you had checked that ?

 

[SUNRAY]

I believe this is what you have:

Your fault could be anywhere on the yellow wire or the red wire in the ceiling rose or the wall light fitting itself.

I suspect this is how the room was originally wired:

and fortuitously the original T&E was long enough for the 2 wall lights, or there may be junction boxes somewhere to extend one.

 

[SUNRAY]

With your new switch will be new fixing screws, use one of those to terminate the earth wire currently connected to the face plate on the spare fixed lug on top or bottom of existing back box if the lugs are still present [sometimes they get removed to make more space].

 

[solorize]

Hi Terry,

I re-checked the connections this afternoon, and the yellow wire had not secured properly
when I re-seated them yesterday when looking at the switch wiring.

When I took both the red and yellow wire out, the red wire had a longer exposed
section and the yellow's exposed section was a fair bit shorter. Which meant that when I
tightened the retaining screw only the red was securing.

I have now stripped the yellow wire back and now it fits and holds both wires
securely and all the lights are now back working.

Now I just have to wait for the new switch to come and then I can put that
one in, and hopefully get it working also.

Sunray;
Thanks for your diagram it does indeed look like it is wired that way.
Now I have a much better understanding of how the switch and all the
lights are wired.

Also, there are only the two sided lugs for the face plate to screw to,
there are no others in the back box.

Hopefully, when the new switch arrives it will have an earth on it so I can
just wire it up as per the original switch setup.

Thanks both for your help and advise, much appreciated