Intermediate OR 2-way light switching with dimmer (Ed.)

[securespark]

Drawn it out now, makes sense. But something is obviously not right with the strappers. Or one of the switches is dicky.

 

[SUNRAY]

.... Or one of the switches is dicky.

That's my guess as

All has worked fine for over 10 years.

I'd suggest swapping the reds and black over to see if it makes a difference, might just be lucky

Drawn it out now, makes sense. But something is obviously not right with the strappers.

Never know there may be a join in there somewhere.

 

[FrodoOne]

View attachment 330074The two way system shown has one wire that passes through the intermediate switch back box but is not connected to the intermediate switch. The two red wires in the one connector seems wrong. However I don't know where the wires go at other end.

OK.
BUT
please review Post #18

 

[pmartin008]

Do people really have a problem with how it's wired?

If we ignore L2 on the intermediate and treat it as a connector block then it's simply a very conventionally wired conventional system.


PMartin: I don't know if it's possible to fill this table in.
Can you can please fill the 4 boxes wether the light is 'on' or 'off' for the 4 combinations of the switch positions. If the boxes can't be filled in then describe as 'up up off' etc for the 4 combinations.

​	​	TOP SWITCH​
​	​	UP​	DOWN​
BOTTOM SWITCH​	UP​	​	​
​	DOWN​	​

 

[pmartin008]

Thanks for the replies so far. I've entered feedback on the table supplied by Sunray.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Just wire it as I said in post #3.

 

[pmartin008]

Just wire it as I said in post #3.

If I'm reading the diagram correctly, are you saying blue and black both into L1 and leave L3 empty?

 

[SUNRAY]

Why the original "installer" used a (Relatively Expensive) "Intermediate/Crossover" switch,
in lieu of a SPDT switch
(which would have "done the job" for only a 2-Way [2-Location] switching situation)
is incomprehensible!

I imagine that as some point a 2 way switch with a loop terminal was used and this intermediate switch was used as a replacement and wired in the same format.

 

[EFLImpudence]

If I'm reading the diagram correctly, are you saying blue and black both into L1 and leave L3 empty?

Yes.

 

[SUNRAY]

View attachment 330112

Lovely thank you.
I'm still suspecting a faulty switch and as you have replaced thedimmer with a new switch I'll guess it's the intermediate.

Basically it uses 4 contacts and moving wires around may very well find the faulty contact.

Try swapping the reds and blacks over (as the internal contact at L2 in currently not used) which will work if it's L1 faulty
EFL option may resolve it, if it's L3 's contact faulty

 

[pmartin008]

Lovely thank you.
I'm still suspecting a faulty switch and as you have replaced thedimmer with a new switch I'll guess it's the intermediate.

Basically it uses 4 contacts and moving wires around may very well find the faulty contact.

Try swapping the reds and blacks over (as the internal contact at L2 in currently not used) which will work if it's L1 faulty
EFL option may resolve it, if it's L3 's contact faulty

Thanks again. Before I try those.2 options I thought I'd mention that I also bought a replacement intermediate switch (pic attached). It doesn't follow the L1, L2, L3, L4 layout of the current intermediate so I can't follow the same cable connections. Can it be used?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes it's just the same.

Write your own L1 to L4 on it.

 

[pmartin008]

Yes it's just the same.

Write your own L1 to L4 on it.

So I'd follow the same layout as the attached switch?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes.

 

[pmartin008]

I've tried all those steps and still no progress.

I installed a new intermediate switch on the landing (same wiring pattern) and the issue remained. Now both switches have been replaced.

I tried the blue and black into L1 and issue remained.

I tried swapping red and black over and had no light at all so have reversed to original wiring.