2 way switch to two spotlights

[knocksville]

Hey all,
Hope this is a simple question / answer.

I have foolishly removed a light fixing without recording what goes where. Ill try to explain.

light switch at top and bottom of stairs which control(ed) both lights.

Top light just has black, red and earth and has been replaced and works fine with both switches.

bottom light has 2red, 2 earth, 2 black and a yellow. Initially wired red-red, black-black etc leaving yellow out and light worked but does not switch on and off.

I know there has been a loop set up but cannot understand which is now live?!

is there a standard wiring setup?

thanks in advance and ill answer questions if i can.
PS:I do have a meter but not sure what id be doing with it so even a guide to that may help.

 

[Spark123]

What happens if you join the 2 reds together using a spare piece of block and to nothing else, then connect the yellow to the lamp live?
Is there not a blue wire there too? - often you see red, yellow, blue and earth in a 3c+e cable, or red and black (or red and red) in a 2c+e cable.

There isn't one standard way of doing this, there are a number of ways

 

[knocksville]

Spark123:

I'll try that when im home, i was worried i may do some damage if i randomly connected wires so i haven't tried any other combinations.

should the black and earth just be connected in standard way with this suggestion?

definitely no blue but i think it was a homer before i moved in so may be colours switched.

"NO STANDARD " lol.

ill update tomorrow as working late tonight or never if i kill myself

thanks for reply

 

[Spark123]

It just seems a little bit odd that you'd have a yellow wire there without the blue!
The earths must all be connected together and to the earth terminal.
Assuming the blacks are neutrals they need to remain together, but if one of the blacks is switch live then they don't and you would have ended up with a direct short across the supply - popping the fuse and possibly wrecking any switches/dimmers.
If the above suggestion does not work then you need to start tracing the cables, seeing where they go to and how they connect up.

 

[knocksville]

sorry you were right: thought the blue was black.

i have

red - black - earth on one input

and

blue - red - yellow - earth on other.

does this make more sense?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Certainly does:

 

[knocksville]

all done an working fine, thin k i was confused as the outside light works from the red-black-earth as well but from a separate switch? anyway everything now works as should do and no fires yet.

thanks very much