SINGLE SWITCHED LIGHT TO 2 WAY + ADDING ANOTHER LIGHT

[ashco]

A bit of advice would be appreciated for the following.

I have an existing hallway light that I want to add another ceiling rose/light to and add another switch to the circuit so that I end up with 2 lights and 2 switches (both being 2 way).
1. How should the existing switch be wired when changed with the new 2 way switch? Currently it has old red (live) coming in on switched side and black (neutral) on return when switched on.

2. How should the other (new) 2 way switch be wired?

3. How should the two lights (old and new) be wired together and how should the cable be picked up from the existing circuit? I assume the extended circuit cable (from new light fitting) will extend to the new 2 way switch?

4. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[davy_owen_88]

Do you have junction boxes, ceiling roses or terminal blocks in the light switch backbox?


You'll need:
2x 1-gang 2-way switches, a length of 3-core and earth cable sufficient in length to span between the 2 switches, some twin and earth sufficient in length to span between the existing light fixture and the location of the new fitting, some 5/6A terminal blocks, some green&yellow 3mm sleeving and some brown 3mm sleeving.

If you have junction boxes then this should explain things:

Install the new light fitting and using twin and earth cable wire the new light to the old:

Untitled

• davy_owen_88
• 20 Oct 2008
• 1

Then run 3-core and earth between the 2 switch locations and wire as shown:

Untitled

• davy_owen_88
• 16 Oct 2008
• 3

At switch location the brown conductor is going to be red in your case, and the blue conductor with a brown sleeve will be the black conductor which you should sleeve with a bit of brown sleeving.

P.S Are you aware of safe isolation procedures, safe zones and testing?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Davy, nice pics.

 

[davy_owen_88]

I wish I had the patience to draw such decent images, but I only scribbled on the wobbly lines at the top The rest was nicked from the wiki.

 

[ashco]

Thank you davy_owen_88 for your advice.

1 X Ceiling rose

1 X Junction box to existing light switch

The existing light switch backbox is approx 30 years old and has two block terminals. One on top of switch and one on bottom.