Help needed switches

[Rob Fuller]

I've got a 2way switch downstairs that does the kitchen and dining room... and does the landing light as well... like a idiot I forgot to take pictures before I replaced the switch... no I'm totally lost as how to rewire it back up... one cable has red blue and yellow and one cable has just red and black... any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[AndyPRK]

You need a pic of the upstairs switch
See what colour is in com

this wire colour needs to be the same as the downstairs com terminal

 

[ETAF]

Edit - see question posted on 2nd switch
so will leave

kitchen and dining room... and does the landing light as well.

Thats 3 lights - but you only have 2 switches
so did one switch control 2 lights before ? - from the way you posted - the Kitchen & Dining room, was on ONE of the switches, just to confirm

Also do you have another switch some where , maybe upstairs that controls the landing light as well, which also switches on/off any of the lights - for the kitchen and dining room... and does the landing light

 

[Rob Fuller]

this is the upstairs switch....

 

[Rob Fuller]

My wording is terrible... the kitchen and dining room are the same room ....

 

[ericmark]

Standard two way is wired like this

so as said if you know colours on one switch, you can likely work out colours for other switch.

 

[ETAF]

does this help
showing the old wire colours - just post back colours and the code on terminals - COM/L1/L2/etc

http://www.lightwiring.co.uk/two-way-switching-3-wire-system-old-cable-colours/

They can use any of the colours - so may not be the same way
looks like the yellow maybe the `com in your case - BUT check

So the upstairs light has
Yellow COM
and then BLUE in L1 or L2 and also with a black wire from the 2nd cable
and then the RED in L2 or L1 and also a red wire from the 2nd cable

if so then on your NEW switch
you just need to use the same colours in the COM, L1 and L2

Then the 2nd cable will be for the other light - diningrm
and that would be just
com to L1 or L2
only issue will be the switch may work the other way round , so just change the L1 to L2 or if you used L2 then L2 to L1

sometimes new switches dont have the COM marked as COM
so post back what you have

 

[ericmark]

There is also the school boy method

the problem is you end up with a wire needing a connector block, neither method seems to line up with your pictures.

 

[AndyPRK]

Have you messed with the upstairs switch too ?

has it ever worked correctly?

 

[Rob Fuller]

Andy unfortunately yep as its been driving me crazy all day... think I'll secure the landing wires and give it a go tomorrow

 

[AndyPRK]

​

View attachment 244530 this is the upstairs switch....

Upstairs

So out of the grey sheath are a red and black wires. Put one in the top left and one in the top right. Doesn't matter which way round.

Then the 3 core &e cable red/yellow/blue.
Put red is the same top terminal as the other red.
Put yellow is the same top terminal as the black
Put blue in the bottom COM terminal.

Then downstairs, put the red into that empty top terminal.

The important thing is the the COM terminal has the same coloured wire both ends, and no additional wires.