Confused **Now with pics**

[Graham1426]

Help......

I have a light switch problem ! which go's like this i have a 3 way switch in my hall and a single switch in my garage.

I can switch my garage light on with the switch in the hall way but can't switch it off with the switch in the garage.

If i switch off the light from the hall switch i can switch the light on with the garage switch, but if i switch the light off from the garage i can't switch it back on from the hall switch.

Hope this makes sense.

Regards

Graham

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[riveralt]

Help......

I have a light switch problem ! which go's like this i have a 3 way switch in my hall and a single switch in my garage.

I can switch my garage light on with the switch in the hall way but can't switch it off with the switch in the garage.

If i switch off the light from the hall switch i can switch the light on with the garage switch, but if i switch the light off from the garage i can't switch it back on from the hall switch.

Hope this makes sense.

Regards
Graham

Has this suddenly happended?
Or have you changed a switch or altered the wiring in someway?
I take it you mean a 3 gang switch in the hallway and one gang switch in the garage.
It does sound as if you or someone else has rewired the switches incorrectly - did you make a note of the which conductor went were?
If not - photographs would help and you may need to obtain a multi meter and understand how to use it.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Try this link to WIKI
//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:two_way_lighting

As posted in previous post has the switch always operated like this or has there been some work done on the circuit? (ie switch change)
And picture often do help, so if the WIKI link does not help solve your problem, if you can upload some pictures of the cables and terminals within the switches, that may help us give you the correct guidance.

 

[Graham1426]

Thanks for the replies so far, I haven't had any rewiring or switches changed it just suddenly happened.

 

[sparkticus]

Most likely from the symptoms, one of your two-way light switches have failed on one contact (not switching common to either L1 - or L2)

There is a procedural way to find the faulty switch but frankly you might as well buy a two way switch (because you will need it anyway) and try it in both positions. - I assume you have an intermediate switch somewhere too? This switch will probably be OK.


OK, just noticed that you probably do not have an intermediate switch so forget that.

You may need to buy two switches - a three gang and a single gang. Both should be "two-way" If you do not want to do that then come back on here for the procedure to indentify the specific fault.

 

[Graham1426]

I have a spare single gang, not sure if it's a "two way" though. How can i tell ?

Cheers

 

[sparkticus]

I have a spare single gang, not sure if it's a "two way" though. How can i tell ?

Cheers

Look at the back of it.

You will see

Common - L1 - L2

or

L1 - L2 - L3


Make sure there are physical brass/metal connections in each because often they use a two-way switch form factor for a one-way switch but there will be no connector in the L2 or L3 depending on what variant you have.

 

[Graham1426]

Sparkticus

Thanks very much i will change the switch over at the weekend, hopefully that will cure my problem.

Graham

 

[Spark123]

You haven't been hammering nails / putting screws in anywhere have you?

 

[Graham1426]

No i haven't done anything like that, it has just simply stop working correctly.

 

[riveralt]

Just before you change the switch - with the power off - rapidly flick the switch several times - sometimes these things have a habit of sticking.

 

[sparkybird]

you may find that one of the conductors has popped out of the terminal - just pop it back in!

SB

 

[Graham1426]

Ok guys I will give it a go at the weekend and keep you posted. Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated.

 

[Graham1426]

Ok folks

I purchased a new 3 way switch to replace my faulty one, but the new one has different connections see pics

Old switch http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/graham1426/wire004.jpg

New switch http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/graham1426/wire002.jpg

Wiring http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s37/graham1426/wire003.jpg

Please advise on how to wire up my switch.

Regards

Graham