Hi,
Sorry for the long winded post but I'm trying to get my head around the following...
When I did up my kitchen a few years ago, I asked the sparky to install a separate light switch and light fitting in the pantry so that I could turn the light on independently.
Light fitting and switch were fitted in the pantry but this only functions if the main kitchen light is also on. (Pantry light can be switched off independently but not on without the main light being on).
As far as I can tell the main kitchen light switch and the pantry light switch have no cable which connects one to the other.
Instead, it looks like the pantry switch gets its live feed from a junction box from one of the downlighters in the ceiling.
I had planned on replacing the 2 gang 2 way switch in the kitchen with a 3 gang switch to control main, under cab and pantry indepentendly but seeing as there is no direct cable to the pantry light it looks like this option is a no go.
I want to know the easiest way of controlling the pantry light independently without having to have the main kitchen light on.
Below is an explanation of the existing cables and switches. Linking one switch with the other is not an option as the route is all fitted cabinetry (had it been plasterboard I'd have chased it out and put a new cable in).
Kitchen switch (2 gang 2 way):
Cables:
1. Under cabinet lights - Yellow switched live - Red live L1 (Right switch) - Blue to terminal block.
2. Main light (downlighters) - Red live COM (left switch) - Black to terminal block.
3. Hall light - Red live to COM (right switch) - Black to terminal block.
Pantry (1 gang)
Cables:
1. Brown to L1 - Blue to terminal block
2. Blue (switched live) to L2
3. Blue - terminal block to ceiling rose.
The light functions as follows:
Main kitchen light on + Pantry switch on = Pantry light on
Main kitchen light on + Pantry switch off = Pantry light off
Main kitchen light off = pantry light does not function.
I had thought about adding and extra switch in the pantry (a bit like a bathroom fan with an isolating switch and an pull cord) but in this case the main kitchen light needs to be on or the pantry doesn't get its live feed?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Sorry for the long winded post but I'm trying to get my head around the following...
When I did up my kitchen a few years ago, I asked the sparky to install a separate light switch and light fitting in the pantry so that I could turn the light on independently.
Light fitting and switch were fitted in the pantry but this only functions if the main kitchen light is also on. (Pantry light can be switched off independently but not on without the main light being on).
As far as I can tell the main kitchen light switch and the pantry light switch have no cable which connects one to the other.
Instead, it looks like the pantry switch gets its live feed from a junction box from one of the downlighters in the ceiling.
I had planned on replacing the 2 gang 2 way switch in the kitchen with a 3 gang switch to control main, under cab and pantry indepentendly but seeing as there is no direct cable to the pantry light it looks like this option is a no go.
I want to know the easiest way of controlling the pantry light independently without having to have the main kitchen light on.
Below is an explanation of the existing cables and switches. Linking one switch with the other is not an option as the route is all fitted cabinetry (had it been plasterboard I'd have chased it out and put a new cable in).
Kitchen switch (2 gang 2 way):
Cables:
1. Under cabinet lights - Yellow switched live - Red live L1 (Right switch) - Blue to terminal block.
2. Main light (downlighters) - Red live COM (left switch) - Black to terminal block.
3. Hall light - Red live to COM (right switch) - Black to terminal block.
Pantry (1 gang)
Cables:
1. Brown to L1 - Blue to terminal block
2. Blue (switched live) to L2
3. Blue - terminal block to ceiling rose.
The light functions as follows:
Main kitchen light on + Pantry switch on = Pantry light on
Main kitchen light on + Pantry switch off = Pantry light off
Main kitchen light off = pantry light does not function.
I had thought about adding and extra switch in the pantry (a bit like a bathroom fan with an isolating switch and an pull cord) but in this case the main kitchen light needs to be on or the pantry doesn't get its live feed?
Any help greatly appreciated.