How to add a 2 way switch to a live feed

[tecknic11]

Good evening gentlemen,

I need help!!

I have a loft conversion and there is no light switch at the base of the stairs. I have to walk into the middle of a dark room to turn the light on. As you can imagine this isn't ideal. I set about to add a 2 way switch to the system at the base of the stairs after finding instructions on the internet, however when I removed the switch cover I noticed that the light switch is only switched using the live feed. The neutral and earth continue directly onto the light switch without being broken.

Can anyone advise how to wire in a secondary switch for the type of installation so that I can operate the light from either location?

I look forwad to your reply.

Thanks


Andy

 

[333rocky333]

If you have an existing 1way switch.

You would change that to a 2 way switch

Run a 3 core and earth from this to the new 2 way position and fit a 2way switch.

You should not need to alter the existing earth or neutral wires

 

[Taylortwocities]

tecknic11. you say its a neutral at the switch. How do you know that?

How many cables go to the switch?
How many wires on each?
Where are they connected to the switch?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[plugwash]

You don't need to make sense of the existing wiring to convert from one way to two way

move the wire(s) that is currently in com to L2.

connect the three insulated cores of a new run of 3&E between the old and new switch joining each point on the existing switch to the same point on the new switch. Remember to mark them with brown or red sleeving to indicate they are live.
connect the earth of the new cable to the existing earths at the existing switch and to an appropriate earth terminal (on the faceplate if metal, in the backbox otherwise) at the new switch.

The other wires in the existing switch are completely irrelevent to this job, leave them alone.

edit: oops fixed rather nasty typo

 

[333rocky333]

..

 

[tecknic11]

Thanks everyone,

Just to confirm I am reading this correctly. I need to move the existing live feed from Com to L2, then run 3 core and earth to the new switch and connect them like for like. e.g. Com to Com etc.

Is this correct?

 

[333rocky333]

Yes

But only 2 way switches have L1 L2 and Com

If your old switch was one way it may not have an L2 terminal
JUST common and L1 possibly so will also need replacing