double switch problem

[nemasys]

Hi All,

I have a hallway that has two light switches. The 1st one is a single switch and the 2nd is a double switch. I have purchased a single and a double switch from homebase to replace the old switches.

Single switch layout:
-----------------------

TOP:
-----
COMMON = Red

The Blue and the yellow are loose ( not connected ). There is a black and red connected by a joining device.

Double switch layout:
------------------

TOP:
-----
L2 = Blue
L1 = Yellow
COMMOM = Red

BOTTOM:
-----------
L1 = Black
COMMOM = Red

I know the BOTTOM section of the double switch controls the second light in the hallway as I have tested this.

The issue is, I have tried to swop out the old for the new and got confused, which is not hard for me to do. I then reverted back to the old wiring and now the one light works but the 1st does not. I think there might have been some loose wiring not sure.

The Blue and yellow are a bit confusing as I do not know what they represent. The single switch only had the COMMON connected to it when I unscrewed it. I do not know wether these 2 wires should be connected to the single as well.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

If you require more specific detail, please let me know what you would need.

Thanks
J

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Look in the For Reference topic for diagrams of 2-way light switching

 

[bothyhead]

The Blue and the yellow are loose ( not connected )

They shouldn't be loose, check your single switch and you'll probably see that it has both L1 and L2 terminals as well as a common. The terminal screws were probably not tight and the cables fell out when you took the switch plate off. It happend to me a few months a go.

You will also need to make sure that the new switch plates that you bought are suitable for two way switching. There should be 3 metal terminals in the single gang and 6 in the double gang.