2 lights in same room, 2 way switch

[Redr4ven]

So, the old switch had only two terminals?

That means one terminal for permanent live and one for the wire(s) that will become live when the switch is closed.

There are no neutrals in that switch, unless the blacks were connected into a separate terminal block to the switch.

What was the reason you wanted to change the 1 gang switch to a 2 gang switch?

No there were 3 terminals in the old switch one was not used, red and black from 1 cable in the com port and red a black from the other cable on the L1 port.

The 2 lights used to be seperated by a wall before i moved in, the wall was removed and the previous owner hooked the 2 lights into 1 switch, I want to be able to use one light or the other or both depending on my needs lol

 

[Redr4ven]

//www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting if this does not help post a drawing of how you have connected the 2 switches to the 2 cables

Hope this makes sense,

Is there only one live feed into that switch?

Was the reason you wanted to change the 1 gang switch to a 2 gang switch to separate the switching of the lights?

You sure it wasn't both reds in one terminal and both blacks in the other?

I'm not saying you should do this, but have you already tried putting one red into each common terminal and each black into the corresponding L1 terminal?

Not sure about the live feeds, I only electrocuted myself once lol

yes

absolutely positive

I dont think so but I will have to wait till tomorrow to try again.


the other half wired it like this

Currently Light A switches on and off fine, Light B turns on but only when Light A is on (but it turns Light A off at the same time)
And yes this is just guess work, thats why I'm on here asking

PS the small purple line should be green lol

 

[securespark]

You need to connect the reds to the Commons, without a link.

At the moment the live feed in Light A's cable is running across to light B's switch wire (and turning it on) through the common link your other half fitted.

 

[EFLImpudence]

The 2 lights used to be seperated by a wall before i moved in, the wall was removed and the previous owner hooked the 2 lights into 1 switch, I want to be able to use one light or the other or both depending on my needs lol

Then presumably, as I have hinted, there used to be two switches which is what you want now.

You have two lights, two switches and two cables. D'oh!

 

[securespark]

But what is puzzling me is why, if there are 2 T&E switch drops amalgamated into one enclosure, the two cores from each cable were jointed together.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Just as well connect them together, don't you think?

 

[securespark]

What you suggest sounds logical, Captain, however, Red is saying that each cable had its red and black connected together, ie red from cable A and black from cable A connected to one side of the switch and red from cable B and black from cable B connected to the other side of the switch. This just does not make sense:

The original switch had both the live and neutral cables from one light connected to the com port and the live and neutral from the other light connected to the L1 port

I thought maybe it was connected like this:

You sure it wasn't both reds in one terminal and both blacks in the other?

But Red was sure it was not:

absolutely positive

 

[EFLImpudence]

however, Red is saying that each cable had its red and black connected together, ie red from cable A and black from cable A connected to one side of the switch and red from cable B and black from cable B connected to the other side of the switch. This just does not make sense:

Oh yes, I see that is true.

I was thinking that was one of the options he tried which did not work.
It obviously doesn't work when connected like that, so...

 

[EFLImpudence]

View attachment 108822

Currently Light A switches on and off fine, Light B turns on but only when Light A is on (but it turns Light A off at the same time)

I can make no sense of that happening.

Are the lights at full brightness when what you say happens?

 

[securespark]

If you draw it out, light B will not turn on when light A is on, unless the switches are connected up differently to your diagram.

With the RH switch (RH as we look at the diagram), connecting C and L1 of that switch sends a live to light B's black or red depending upon the LH switch position.

If both cables' reds are permanent line, the other position of the LH switch only serves to connect these two lines together.

Conversely, with the LH switch connecting C and L1 of that switch sends a live to light A's black. Reversing the position of the LH switch connects the two blacks together.

EFLI, I am thinking we will only see dim lamps (series) if the switch wires and neutrals are mixed up (at the rose).

Having said that, my brain is hurting a lot. I'm going to retire to a cool, dark room.

Come and get me when Christmas is over.