Replacing wall switch

[Steveb21]

Good afternoon

I have a wall switch in my living room which controls 3 separate lights.

3 button switch.

I no longer have need for the 3rd light so will be replacing the switch for a 2 button.

Current switch has 4 brown wires coming in from the wall. 2 are going into L1 and 2 into L2. The L1’s have another brown wire which loops to another L1.

I have attached a picture.

Using a multimeter the 3 L2 connections are live.

My new switch as L L1 L2

How do I wire this up?

 

[Risteard]

Easily, with a bit of understanding as to how it all operates.

 

[Steveb21]

Easily, with a bit of understanding as to how it all operates.

Yes, like anything.
I thought I’d ask on here before I start googling.

 

[EFLImpudence]

 

[EFLImpudence]

Just noticed -

Current switch has 4 brown wires coming in from the wall. 2 are going into L1 and 2 into L2.

That's not true, is it?

Please be more careful.

 

[Steveb21]

View attachment 137862

Any thanks for that diagram. Makes sense now.

The Live loops to the L1 to provide power to each switch. Triangles very help full.

Thank you

 

[Steveb21]

View attachment 137862

Out of curiosity, what would the L3 inputs be used for if wired in?

 

[EFLImpudence]

They are used when you have two switches for one light - like the stairs, or

should you want the switch to work 'upside down'.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Any thanks for that diagram. .. Triangles very help full.

They were already marked on the back of the switch:

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Out of curiosity, what would the L3 inputs be used for if wired in?

Steve - please do a bit of learning before you do any more fiddling.

It really isn't difficult to learn how things work, and you really, really ought to know how they work if you want to fiddle with them.

• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting
  
  
• http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/House_Wiring_for_Beginners#Lighting
  

 

[Taylortwocities]

Start off by disconnecting the light that you no longer need. That will be one of the wires in one of the L2 terminals.
TURN OFF THE POWER
Disconnect it and put the bare end in a bit of insulating terminal block (aka choc block)
Then remove the link wire that connects to the L1 terminal associated with the L2 (ie in the same triangle).
Switch on the power and check that the other two lights still work as before!

Now you can buy your new switch. Take careful look at the new switch terminals. They may be marked differently to the switch that you have.
Many now are marked C, L1 and L2
Instead of L1, L2 and L3

 

[EFLImpudence]

My new switch as L L1 L2

 

[winston1]

Start off by disconnecting the light that you no longer need. That will be one of the wires in one of the L3 terminals.
TURN OFF THE POWER

None of the L3 terminals have a wire in them.

 

[securespark]

OK. It's a typo. It should have read L2. Even you make them. Get over it.

 

[Taylortwocities]

None of the L3 terminals have a wire in them.

Thank you. I have corrected my post.