problem installing 2 way gang switch

[tanaka22]

im trying to install my new chrome plated switches however not sure where the wires go.
below is pics of old switch and new switch.

basically the switch is downstairs in the passage the left switch of it turns the upstairs light on.
the right switch of it turns downstairs light on.

upstairs only has 1 switch which turns upstairs on only.

Untitled

• tanaka22
• 29 Aug 2010
• 1

old buttons

Untitled

• tanaka22
• 29 Aug 2010
• 1

old switch

Untitled

• tanaka22
• 29 Aug 2010
• 1

new switch


any help would be greatfull

 

[OwainDIYer]

It's impossible to see from your first photo how the terminals are arranged, but it's quite common for 2-gang switches to be mounted with the terminals on one 'upside down' ie

COM | L1 L2
L1 L2 | COM


You need to identfy, for each gang of the switch, which wire goes to COM, L1 or L2, and transpose it to the correspondong terminal of the new switch, which are probably in a different layout.

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[OwainDIYer]

And on your new metal switches you MUST have a link of earth wire from the choc block with the earths in to the switch faceplate. This must be in green/yellow or sleeved green/yellow.

 

[sparkwright]

That second picture is as clear as mud.

Observe that both the old plate and the new plate are divided into sections ie for two separate switches.

Each individual switch will have something like;
Com
L1
L2

or

Com
A
B

or

L1
L2
L3

Anyhow, you must copy the wiring onto the new switch.

In the three examples shown above, 'Common' is printed at the top.

 

[sparkwright]

You can put your earth wires straight into the new faceplate earth terminal.

All metal faceplates MUST be earthed.