2 Way Switch and redundant live

[camel307]

My current property has an integral garage, which has plaster boarded ceilings. Currently, you can only turn a light on/off if your are standing at the end of the garage containing the desired light.

Therefore, I would like to incorporate a 2 way switch option.

Therefore my plan is to link a 2 gang switch (switch 1) by their commons and then running cables from L1 of switch 1, to L1 of switch 2 and L2 of switch 1 to L2 of switch 2.

However, this leaves me with a spare live. This was the live cable that previously fed the light at the far end of the garage.

I would be most comfortable if this cable was removed/disconnected entirely but I do not want to pull up floorboards.

What is the best solution f

 

[EFLImpudence]

Therefore my plan is to link a 2 gang switch (switch 1) by their commons and then running cables from L1 of switch 1, to L1 of switch 2 and L2 of switch 1 to L2 of switch 2.

Won't you have to put the existing two wires, which are connected to the switch, in L1 and L2 as well.

However, this leaves me with a spare live.

Does it?

This was the live cable that previously fed the light at the far end of the garage.

What will feed the light now?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What is the best solution

Reading this:

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting

 

[securespark]

If you have a one gang one way switch at either end of the garage, each operating one light, all you have to do is this:

Run a 3 core from the front switch to the back (giving you two way operation of the front light from the rear switch position once you have replaced the 1 gang switch with a 2 gang switch).

Run a 3 core from the rear switch to the front (giving you two way operation of the rear light from the front switch position once you have replaced the 1 gang switch with a 2 gang switch).

 

[camel307]

Thanks for all the responses - all helpful.

However, each light currently has a pull switch supplied with its own live wire. By linking the back switch to the front switch I will be carrying power from the front switch to the back one.

Therefore, I think the bank live will no longer be required as the 2 way wires (from front siwtch to rear switch) will carry the live?

 

[EFLImpudence]

If I have understood correctly - although that sounds different than your first post ???


It won't be a two-way switching system.

It will just be a number of switches which can turn on the lights but you will not be able to turn them off at any of the other switches.

Either way it doesn't appear that you are doing it 'properly'

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm not sure I understand what you are thinking, but I am pretty sure that you don't really understand how 2-way switching works, so you need to read the Wiki article again.

If you want to control the two lights independently then you'll need to replace the switches with 2-gang 2-way ones as secure said. Or if you want to stick with pull-cord switches you'll need a total of 4 2-way ones.

If you want them to go on and off together, then you only need 2 single gang switches, but they both need to be 2-way ones, and you'll have to remove the switch cable from one of them and link the two lights together.

All this will make sense when you've learnt how lighting circuits and 2-way switching works, and until you have, and until you do genuinely understand it, you really should not fiddle with it.

 

[securespark]

Therefore, I think the bank live will no longer be required as the 2 way wires (from front siwtch to rear switch) will carry the live?

But they will be switchwires. You need a live feed. If you use these switchwires to feed another light, when they go dead (as they will in certain switch positions), so will your light that feeds off it.

You want them to be independent, don't you?

 

[camel307]

I think I have it.......

At first I was only going to have a two way on the light at the back of the garage but now I will make both lights 2 way.

Threw me off as you use the live for the back light to effectively power the front and vice versa.

Thanks for all your help guys!!!

 

[camel307]

Apologies all. I wasnt clear at all and was only thinking of 2 waying the rear light when in fact it is much better to have both as 2 ways.

This is why I had a 'spare' live.

All your comments helped to make my brain click and yes all very simple now!

Thanks again

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Threw me off as you use the live for the back light to effectively power the front and vice versa.

No you don't.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Apologies all. I wasnt clear at all and was only thinking of 2 waying the rear light when in fact it is much better to have both as 2 ways.

This is why I had a 'spare' live.

Why would you?

If you were going to make the rear light 2-way and leave the front alone you would install 2 2-way switches for the rear light and leave the switch for the front light alone.

You would not end up with a spare anything anywhere.

I'm still not sure you know how 2-way switching works...

 

[camel307]

Ban all sheds......

The switches work perfectly well.

Does this mean i know how 2 way switches work oh Lord of knowing evrything and being the greatest man on this earth?

Thanks (oh holy one)

 

[Johnmelad]

Ban all sheds......

The switches work perfectly well.

Does this mean i know how 2 way switches work oh Lord of knowing evrything and being the greatest man on this earth?

Thanks (oh holy one)