2 Lights , 2 two way switches an idiots guide

[landrews]

Hi - I am rewiring an old house and need some advise. I have an upstairs landing light and due to the house layout, I m adding a downstairs light. All the wiring is being replaced. I have both lights in the upstairs feed ring/circuit. I have channelled the new switch positions upstairs and down. Note no sockets or swtches have yet been connected. I have 2 way switches. I have cabled each switch to its light (Cable for feed , cable for switch)as if normal one way. So to make these 2 way so they can be operated from up or down I believe I use 3 core & E between the two switches? Can you confirm the conections. I have looked at the posts and diagrams but can only see 2 way and 1 light. If I have missed it sorry can you point me to it. Thanks for your help. Loz

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Hi - I am rewiring an old house and need some advise.

I advise you to:

a) find out a lot more about it, as I absolutely guarantee that not only are there things that you don't know, but whole areas where you don't know that you don't know. As an absolute minimum you should get the first 3 books on this list: http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=75416#75416 but you can make an immediate start by reading the Electricians Guide on-line here: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/1.1.htm

b) find out about Part P. You should be aware of the legal requirements surrounding a rewire.

c) consider how you will test the new circuits before putting them into service.

I have an upstairs landing light and due to the house layout, I m adding a downstairs light. All the wiring is being replaced. I have both lights in the upstairs feed ring/circuit. I have channelled the new switch positions upstairs and down. Note no sockets or swtches have yet been connected. I have 2 way switches.

How many switches? If you want to operate the lights independently then you need two 2-gang 2-way switches. (or four single-gang 2-way switches, but that would be daft).

I have cabled each switch to its light (Cable for feed , cable for switch)as if normal one way. So to make these 2 way so they can be operated from up or down I believe I use 3 core & E between the two switches? Can you confirm the conections. I have looked at the posts and diagrams but can only see 2 way and 1 light. If I have missed it sorry can you point me to it. Thanks for your help. Loz

You interconnect the respective sides of each 2-gang switch as per the diagram for the single-gang case, i.e. two runs of 3C+E between each switch location.

 

[breezer]

"socket" to him ban-all-sheds