Help Replacing 4 Gang Switch

[tonymc]

Hi,

What seemed to be a fairly straightforward exercise has turned into a bit of a nightmare!! I'm simply trying to replace one four gang light switch with another.

The original (brass) switch has two sets of termination blocks each with three terminals top and bottom. The terminals are identified as follows:

Top Left: L1
Top Centre: L2
Top Right: Com
Bottom Right: L2
Bottom Centre: L1
Bottom Left: Com

However, the replacement (chrome) switch has four separate sets of blocks, identified as 1 (in) and 2 & 3 (out).

I assume there is a correlation between terminals L1, L2 and Com and the new switch 1, 2 and 3, but I have tried connecting them in what I believed was the correct manner, but none of the lights controlled by the switch will work

I would be extremely grateful if anyone could advise me as to which of the "old" terminals correspond to the "new" terminals, and bag some brownie points with my wife for when she returns

Many thanks.

 

[jj4091]

Your description sounds more like a 2-gang 2-way switch than a 4 gang, cannot say for sure, a pic would have helped, but would guess that 1-in, can be read as common & 2 & 3 out are L1 & L2.

 

[plugwash]

normally the terminals relating to one switch form a triangle not a line.

 

[TicklyT]

It sounds like 1(in) corresponds to Com, and 2 and 3 correspond to L1 and L2.

On the old switch, The top L1 & L2, and the bottom Com are the connections for one switch, and the top Com and bottom L1 & L2 is the second switch. (repeat for second pair of switches)

If a switch works 'back to front', reverse the connections to to terminals 2 and 3.

 

[tonymc]

Many thanks - looks as if the problem is now solved.

Cheers everyone.