Light switch mis-wiring help?

[gsmilingfish]

Hi there. I have had some painting done in my flat. I think the painter must have removed a light switch to paint and re-wired it incorrectly when he pit it back together.

I have a double light switch. One switch is a 2 way and this works as expected along with the other switch at the other end of the room. The second switch is the only control for the kitchen light. The way it has been left the kitchen light is always on. (It seems the decorator loosened the bulb to turn it off - nice one!)

The two way switch is the left one shown with the blue, yellow and red wires. The one way has the red and black wires.

Is it in any way obvious to those in the know what I need to do to sort this?

All advice gratefully received!

Gareth

 

[EFLImpudence]

Does the kitchen light not go off if you turn the switch 'on'.

That is - is it working upside down?



He has put the fixing screw in the wiring terminal.
It should be the same as the other switch.

 

[EFLImpudence]

 

[rsgaz]

The screw at the bottom right is in a wire hole, rather than the hole in the middle at the bottom!!

Did they open up the switch by mistake and lose a component from inside?

edit: EFLI posted about two seconds before me, I didn't just copy him!

 

[gsmilingfish]

So he has. Oh dear!

No the single light never goes out no matter how the switches are set.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Did they open up the switch by mistake and lose a component from inside?

edit: EFLI posted about two seconds before me, I didn't just copy him!

No one would have thought you did.

Good suggestion about opening the switch.
They may have done it by mistake by undoing the wrong screws.

 

[EFLImpudence]

No the single light never goes out no matter how the switches are set.

It may be possible to take the switch apart and repair but it's a bit fiddly if you haven't done it before.

Otherwise - it looks like a new switch will be required.

 

[gsmilingfish]

So this may need a new switch wired as it is? (Apart from the screw in the wire hole! )

 

[gsmilingfish]

Many thanks will grab another in the morning.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, wired as it is.

You need a "Two-gang, Two-way" switch.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Just remove the black wire from the switch. If the light goes out then the switch is knackered.

 

[securespark]

TTC
My thoughts exactly.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It may be possible to take the switch apart and repair but it's a bit fiddly if you haven't done it before.

And it's a bit fiddly if you have.

Surely firmly in the CBA category for a switch like that?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I like mending things.

If you CBA (Can BA) it doesn't take long - especially if it's not actually damaged.

 

[chappers]

I reckon he was going to take it off, but undid the wrong screw, broke the switch then had second thoughts, because the paint spatters on the switch would suggest that it was in place when he painted.