Double Light Switch Conundrum

[Cat007077]

Hi, i need help! I’ve moved into a house. The living room has two light switches either end of the room.
1. A single one that switches both lights on at once.
2. A double one where the left hand switch switches both lights on and the right switch that appears to do nothing!

I was hoping that the double switch would give me control to switch either light on independently.

Could the double socket be wired wrong?

I’ve attached some images of it. Any advice would be most appreciated

Cath

 

[robinbanks]

"a single switch that switches both on at once" is something of a nonsense. It would be better to have two double switches at either end of the room, each switch of which can independently control one of the lights. Turning both lights on simultaneously then simply requires you to use two fingers, one on each switch in the double, and you have the flexibility to be able to turn on/off either of the two lights from either place in the room

Post a picture of the second switch (the single) so we can see what cores are available there

 

[Cat007077]

Thanks so much for your reply. Im
Out and about later

 

[Cat007077]

Here’s the second switch. It’s a single one and it turns both lights on and off.

Any advice is most welcome

Cath

 

[Cat007077]

Also, when o changed light switches in my old house only had a live, neutral and earth … why do I have 4 on this …. ‍

 

[Cat007077]

also the double has two cables coming in and the single one cable

 

[Cat007077]

Should I be able to turn of individual lights in the double? Is it wired incorrectly? ‍

 

[Cat007077]

Don’t know why it sending that sign should be a Emma shrugging her shoulders

 

[securespark]

Are the two lights that come on together ceiling lights? It may be that they were designed to come on together.

That 2 gang switch looks like a two way (for the lights you know about already) and the other looks like a one way (IE only one switch) for another light (or lights). It or they may no longer be in existence, although if this is the case, the wiring is often left buried and plastered over.

It or they could have been wall lights, or possibly sockets for table lamps.

These could be round pin or ordinary sockets, but they would only work with that second switch on.

If there were wall lights, you may spot areas of filler where they were.

The other possibility is that if the switch is on an outside wall, the second switch might be for an outside light, either on the wall or maybe a lamp post.

It might be that the lamp (bulb) has failed and that is why it appears to do nothing.

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

I'm surprised that someone has not mentioned the earth to the faceplate

 

[Cat007077]

both are ceiling lights … no sign of a wall light and it’s an inside wall.
As there are two cables in the double switch, would it be possible it is wired incorrectly? I thought the single switch turned them both on (as it has a single cable) and the double switch had two wires - I thought it could be one switch for each light and it has been wired incorrectly so two lights came in with one switch? Is the possible?
Thanks for your time and advice,
Cath

 

[EFLImpudence]

Did it used to be two rooms?

 

[Cat007077]

No … it has a vaulted ceiling . Defínete only one room.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Ok

As there are two cables in the double switch, would it be possible it is wired incorrectly?

No.

I thought the single switch turned them both on (as it has a single cable) and the double switch had two wires

No, that's how two-way switching is wired.

- I thought it could be one switch for each light and it has been wired incorrectly so two lights came in with one switch? Is the possible?

Not really - unless it has been rewired but it is correct.


As said, it is likely that the redundant switch used to do something you don't know about.

 

[securespark]

Are there any (single) sockets in that room that don't work?