Domestic 3 way switching

[SUNRAY]

This little just job: Something wrong with the switch, stopped working properly

A very different and clean LAP 2way switch as part of a 3 way, the other 2 are cream Contactum 2ways.
Incorrect operation demonstrated.

Wired with all red T&E and 3C&E. I didn't bother taking pics as wouldn't be useful:

Orange circles are choc blocks, the wires had been twisted and looked undisturbed.

Total insistence it worked perfectly until the weekend when it started playing up.

 

[morqthana]

Total insistence it worked perfectly until the weekend when it started playing up.

Why do that? Don't people realise it makes them look like a lying idiot, rather than just an idiot?

Tenant or owner-occupier?

 

[endecotp]

If you walk around randomly toggling switches and observing whether the light state toggles, it will work correctly two thirds of the time:

- The right switch always works.
- The middle switch and the left switch both work when the other is up.

Most such switches are used with a particular routine, e.g. landing switch used only at bedtime, leaving some combinations rarely used.

There was someone posting here a few months ago who believed that the order in which he operated the switches influenced the state of the light. He disappeared before I could prove him wrong!

 

[pete01]

Why do that?

People get embarrassed

 

[ericmark]

My own landing light, seems to have its moods as to if it will work or not, the relay should be triggered with a change of state, it does not really matter if on or off, it is triggered with a change of state.

I rarely use the switches, 98% of the time I use voice control I think the problem is contact bounce, but I can see how one could be unaware of a fault for a very long time.

But as far as two-way or three-way lighting goes, two-way describes the switch not the system, it has two possible outputs, and a three-way the same, often used on enter lamps on rooms, enter, knock, busy etc. And with three switches is there any difference between a reversing switch and intermediate switch? Well I suppose if there is a centre off, then that could also be called a three-way switch.

 

[SUNRAY]

My own landing light, seems to have its moods as to if it will work or not, the relay should be triggered with a change of state, it does not really matter if on or off, it is triggered with a change of state.

I rarely use the switches, 98% of the time I use voice control I think the problem is contact bounce, but I can see how one could be unaware of a fault for a very long time.

But as far as two-way or three-way lighting goes, two-way describes the switch not the system, it has two possible outputs, and a three-way the same, often used on enter lamps on rooms, enter, knock, busy etc. And with three switches is there any difference between a reversing switch and intermediate switch? Well I suppose if there is a centre off, then that could also be called a three-way switch.

Yes I know what a 3 way switch is but like so many situations the consensus tends to corrupt correct terminology.

 

[SUNRAY]

If you walk around randomly toggling switches and observing whether the light state toggles, it will work correctly two thirds of the time:

- The right switch always works.
- The middle switch and the left switch both work when the other is up.

Most such switches are used with a particular routine, e.g. landing switch used only at bedtime, leaving some combinations rarely used.

There was someone posting here a few months ago who believed that the order in which he operated the switches influenced the state of the light. He disappeared before I could prove him wrong!

Yes we've often had such situations either through incorrect installation or later faults.

 

[SUNRAY]

Why do that? Don't people realise it makes them look like a lying idiot, rather than just an idiot?

Tenant or owner-occupier?

Owner occupier, When I explained the issue he walked to SF to get an identical looking but intermediate switch, the repair took about one minute.