outside light will not switch...bulb ok

[ianainz]

the outside light wont switch on.
double switch plug, all wires are red black or earth.
one red is slightly thicker, and is silver strands as opposed to copper.
three blacks twisted together into a block, earths to pattress box.
thick red is into L1 on one switch, another red is into common on same switch, one red into L1 on other switch, with aloop from common to common.
The inside(porch) light works and switches on and off....nothing at all on the switch to the outside light.

Can anyone help.
thanks.

 

[Spark123]

It sounds like the switch is wired correctly, however does switching the porch light on make it work?
It could just be a faulty fitting or a loose/corroded connection in it.
Could just be a knackered switch or a loose connection in the switch.
The silver coloured wires are tinned copper which means the cable is fairly old.
What type of lamp is it?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Swap the wires in L1 over - if the porch light stops working and the outside one starts then one half of the switch is b*gg*r*d.

If nothing changes then the fault lies in the cable to the outside light, or the light itself.

 

[ianainz]

thanks for the replies,
amazing how a bit of common sense helps.....
not the switch as swop over works on porch.....it must be either the cable, the light fitting(which is just a bulb under a plastic dome with rubber seals), or the connection to the light( I guess ) if the wires are all correct in the switch.