Combine a 3 way and 2 way lighting circuit

[firsttimebuyerguy]

Good evening chaps (and chapesses?),
I've just moved in to a house and annoyingly the lights in the really long hallway are wired in two seperate "lots", I'd like to combine them so they can all be turned on at once, is this possible?

Below is what I think to be the way they are wired (let me know if it's crazily wrong and I'll poke around with my meter a bit more). I've numbered all the connections to make it easier for you to advise what needs to be moved/disconnected/bridged etc.

So, first of all, is this possible? If so, how? Secondly, is it legal for me to do this myself?

Ideally I'd like to change the double switch in the diagram for a single switch.

Thanks

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It is possible to have them function from the same switch/switches.
If the hall is very long are you wanting a switch at both ends of the hall and additional intermediate switches?
Is the installation a loop at ceiling rose one?
You will need to disconnect one of the live feeds to one of the lights.

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[EFLImpudence]

View media item 38376

You will need to disconnect the right-hand lamp from the circuit shown and connect it directly to the left-hand lamp.

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'd like to combine them so they can all be turned on at once, is this possible?

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

I've numbered all the connections to make it easier for you to advise what needs to be moved/disconnected/bridged etc.

You really shouldn't do it unless you can work out for yourself what's needed.

Doing electrical work on the basis of following instructions to connect this wire to that terminal without knowing why is to be strongly discouraged.

Secondly, is it legal for me to do this myself?

Provided you do it competently:

 

[Stoday]

Deleted by Stoday

 

[Stoday]

View media item 38381

You will need to disconnect the right-hand lamp from the circuit shown and connect it directly to the left-hand lamp.

That means the OP would have to run an extra core the length of his hallway to connect the two lamps. That may not be easy.

A way out would be to use the yellow core to connect the two lamps.

Disconnect yellow from terminal 2 and disconnect both blue lamp connections (leave yellow connected to T17) Now connect both lamps to yellow.

Disconnect live in from T4 and connect it to T3

 

[EFLImpudence]

Disconnect yellow from terminal 3 and disconnect both blue lamp connections (leave yellow connected to T17) Now connect both lamps to yellow.

Disconnect live in from T4 and connect it to T3

Very good - save a lot of bother.

 

[firsttimebuyerguy]

View media item 38381

You will need to disconnect the right-hand lamp from the circuit shown and connect it directly to the left-hand lamp.

That means the OP would have to run an extra core the length of his hallway to connect the two lamps. That may not be easy.

A way out would be to use the yellow core to connect the two lamps.

Disconnect yellow from terminal 2 and disconnect both blue lamp connections (leave yellow connected to T17) Now connect both lamps to yellow.

Disconnect live in from T4 and connect it to T3

Thanks for the advice everyone. So it seems this is possible, certainly something for me to look in to at some point - however after spending so much time in the hallway looking into this I've noticed how uneven the ceiling is, so may be inclined to make holes in the ceiling and re-run cabling, patch and re-skim the whole lot.

 

[slup]

If the lamps are dimmable and the yellow wire is available at both the intermediate switches, you could install 1 x Varilight Master and 3 x Varilight Slave units.

Just connect all three wires at all four locations and isolate one of the live supplies at the fitting.