Light Switching

[richardibarnes]

Bare with me, this confuses me a bit when thinking nevermind writing!

A double switch downstairs in my property controls two lights, a reception room and the upstairs landing (the stairs go direct from this room). There is also a single switch upstairs that controls the landing light. Now the switch upstairs only works when the switch downstairs controlling the landing light, is switched to "on".

This is also a problem with another set of switches in my house controlling the same light.

Does anyone know if this is a common fault, easily rectified?

Many Thanks

Richard

 

[echoes]

Can you post a pic of how these switches are wired up?

Don't know how common it is, but I was round a friend's house last week, and he had the same problem - it was a wrongly wired switch and was fixed in 5 mins.

 

[sparkwright]

Wired up wrong, usually wrong wire in the 'common' terminal. The wire in the up switch common terminal should typically be the same colour as in the down switch common terminal.
Has one or both of these switches been replaced at one time?

 

[richardibarnes]

I have no idea if they have been replaced. Also I'm new to DIY so would you recommend getting an electrician in or as far as novice skills go is this 'do-able'

Thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting

 

[richardibarnes]

Thanks I'm sure i can follow the diagrams... If only i knew which ones to look at! Apologies, but like I said, I'm a total novice!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

• http://web.archive.org/web/20080213151445/http://www.kevinboone.com/electricity.html
  
  
• http://web.archive.org/web/20080213151445/http://www.kevinboone.com/domesticinstallations.html
  
  
• //www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:books
  
  
• //www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics

 

[Robgers]

Thanks I'm sure i can follow the diagrams... If only i knew which ones to look at! Apologies, but like I said, I'm a total novice!

Look at the one that says Two Way Lighting