Hi Guys,
I've decided to change some light switches as the old ones were all tatty and yellow from uv exposure. I've changed three 1 gang 1 way switches and it took me like 5 minutes (with two cables there is not much to mess up). I proudly went to the kitchen to change the 2 gang one and in that overconfidence-fuelled haze I removed the switch, detached most of the wires and then had that moment of realisation what the hell have I just done. There are 5 red wires there plus the one that is bridged between COMs. I've tried to rearrange them as they were before but it didn't work - even though the switch did turn on lights in the kitchen, all the other ceiling lights in the house were dead. I've tried to rearrange them few more times but results only became more peculiar each time I've tried (eg kitchen light switch started operating my living room lights). I understand basics when it comes to electricity, enough not to kill myself, but the way all the lights are connected with each other is above my understsnding. I can make photos if that will help but as I said earlier - 5 red wires, one bridging and not much else. On a side note - I have a volt stick and multimeter in my toolbox. I've already used the volt stick to determine that 3 red cables are live and 2 neutral.
There are 6 cable terminals in the switch - two L1's, two L2's and 2 COM's.
I hope somebody more experienced will be able to help!
I've decided to change some light switches as the old ones were all tatty and yellow from uv exposure. I've changed three 1 gang 1 way switches and it took me like 5 minutes (with two cables there is not much to mess up). I proudly went to the kitchen to change the 2 gang one and in that overconfidence-fuelled haze I removed the switch, detached most of the wires and then had that moment of realisation what the hell have I just done. There are 5 red wires there plus the one that is bridged between COMs. I've tried to rearrange them as they were before but it didn't work - even though the switch did turn on lights in the kitchen, all the other ceiling lights in the house were dead. I've tried to rearrange them few more times but results only became more peculiar each time I've tried (eg kitchen light switch started operating my living room lights). I understand basics when it comes to electricity, enough not to kill myself, but the way all the lights are connected with each other is above my understsnding. I can make photos if that will help but as I said earlier - 5 red wires, one bridging and not much else. On a side note - I have a volt stick and multimeter in my toolbox. I've already used the volt stick to determine that 3 red cables are live and 2 neutral.
There are 6 cable terminals in the switch - two L1's, two L2's and 2 COM's.
I hope somebody more experienced will be able to help!