2 way switches??

[Madness1]

Hey all,

I have a problem! I am trying to replace a double switch in the hallway - On switch 1, A) does the bathroom, B) does the hall light. On switch 2, A) does the kitchen and, B) does the otherside of the same hall light.

Hope thats clear... I have taken off the bathroom switch (1), and noted the back is very different to the new one I've bought...

OLD SWITCH BACK: 3 panels, all with 1 single holes top/bottom.
NEW SWITCH BACK: 2 panels, with 1 hole at top, two at bottom.

Judging from the switches and sockets I have replaced, I imagine this set up is 1970's-ish...

Now, have I bought the wrong thing? Or can I wire this one?

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[Spark123]

Can you post a pic of the old switch? For 2 way to work (the hall light) there needs to be a common and 2 switch connections. Each terminal on the switch should be labelled.

 

[Madness1]

Thanks for the reply! Haven't got a camera for it I'm afriad.

Will try 2 discribe...

Old switch has 3 back panels:

Top holes of each are marked L1, l2, Common - a red wire goes into L1 and another into common. Common is joined to L2 by a single red flex connection.

Bottom holes are marked (left to right) Common, L1, L2. A blackwire goes into Common, and another into L2. There is no connector flex.



New switch has 2 panels, single hole top of each marked common, botom of each panel has 2 holes marked 1 way, 2 way.

I'm not sure with this one if I can use the new switch? or, if so how to wire it ?

Does my discription help?

A

 

[Spark123]

It is possible to use the new switch, just a case of transposing the wires across.
Your old switch will be arranged so the common at the top is part of the same switch as the L1 and L2 at the bottom, the common at the bottom is part of the same switch as L1 and L2 at the top.
Can you just confirm again where the wires go and to which light they belong?

 

[Madness1]

Thanks again for the reply...

That sounds right, from what you say...

Beginning to get there... confused with the red joining wire from common on one side to L2 on the other? My new switch doesn't have L1, l2 on it, only 1 way and 2 way on each of the 4 holes at the bottom!

?
A

 

[Spark123]

Yeah, the commons on the new switch are at the top and the 1 way and 2 way are basically the same as L1 and L2. It is just the loop wire which didn't sound correct to me.
Can you confirm it is in the L2 and Common both on the top? Does the light work correctly?

 

[Madness1]

Thats what's throwing me..! The 2 way switch doesn't work at the moment, so can only switch the hall light on from one side, maybe this connector is why!?

Seemed odd to take the common from one panel and conect it to the L2 of the other panel...

Will have a go at it - thanks 4 help!

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[Spark123]

Make sure you have a good record of what went where first. How I'd connect it would be the common linked to common with the red, the black from bottom L2 to RHS 1Way, the other red and black to the 1way and 2way on the LHS switch. But like I say, keep a good record so I can backtrack if it is wrong!

 

[Madness1]

Methodical note taker!!

Thanks 4 your help...

A

 

[Steve]

The best way to describe your old switch is that the terminals are arranged in TWO TRIANGLES!