Mixed up cables when changing 2 gang 1 way light switch.

[SFK]

Following on from Taylors message and stealing Sunrays diagram, here is a diagram of what the wiring should look like once you have identified the cables using Taylors test method.

MY GUESS (so use Taylors test method to check this) is that:
- Permanent Live In is one of the cables with the White tape on it, and the
- Live Out (to the other rooms in the house) is the other cable with the White Tape on it.

SFK

 

[Nesmy]

Taylortwocities and SFK - you guys are amazing. I love the way you explained it. I followed step by step what you have written and only lights in the living room started working again. I've read your instructions step by step 5 more times and then looked at SFK diagram several times. And it seems to be correct! That gave me confidence to look for the problem elsewhere. I've opened up all the switches I recently replaced and in one of the switches there is an extra cable just casually hanging out there. It was tucked in almost completely inside the wall. I'm pulling out my favourite tool (lol) and volt stick flashes and beeps. I presume it must have been loosely attached and when I pulled back the old switch it just sprung back and I missed it.

TL;DR I'm an idiot

Cheers everybody who saved me from a misery. I learned my lesson (hopefully). Onto replacing sockets now!

 

[SFK]

Taylor did it, not me (I only modified Sunrays drawing to match his description).

 

[Nesmy]

You both helped me. Your modified drawing ensured me I understood Taylor's written instructions.

Cheers.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Don’t applaud, throw money

 

[Nesmy]

I like your pragmatism!

 

[SUNRAY]

I like your pragmatism!

If you're throwing money...
I've been out of the loop for a few hours, glad you have it sorted.

 

[Taylortwocities]

You snooze, you lose!

 

[Nesmy]

Now I'm fighting with sockets... How could anybody squeeze 10 wires in a 1 gang socket is too much to comprehend. But my lights still work!

 

[SUNRAY]

Now I'm fighting with sockets... How could anybody squeeze 10 wires in a 1 gang socket is too much to comprehend. But my lights still work!

Yep they manage it don't they

 

[Nesmy]

I have to say I kinda admire people who do it for a living. I couldn't do it in a thousand years. I would end up setting some houses on fire as a result of frustration

 

[Echo the husky]

I dread to think what's in the wall behind the switch box. Singles poking through the wall is a bad sign, is that one earth wire there?

 

[SUNRAY]

I dread to think what's in the wall behind the switch box. Singles poking through the wall is a bad sign, is that one earth wire there?

I was working on the assumption they are run in the old conduit from original installation.

 

[Nesmy]

Yes there is one earth wire and I'm afraid there are single wires poking through. Why is this a bad sign? House was built in the early 60s. Consumer unit looks like it's from medieval times at least!

 

[Echo the husky]

I was working on the assumption they are run in the old conduit from original installation.

4 T+E cables, the blacks twisted together, taped over and shoved in the wall, and most of the CPCs cut out.

I didn't know it was wired in conduit.