I know this subject will have been covered before but i have a problem. I have a black of flats to look after and there is a two way circuit from the front door to the top (2nd) floor with two intermediate switches, I have successfully changed the two end switches for timers and have spent almost a full day trying to sort the intermediates out (there are four wires) can anyone help?
stairwell lighting
- Thread starter wingcoax
- Start date
Two pole switches wont work with 2-way wiring.
The ideal way to wire pneumatic switches is to have them wired in parallel, so that all the switches have one live and one switched live.
I'll try and knock up a diagram that you may be able to use.
The ideal way to wire pneumatic switches is to have them wired in parallel, so that all the switches have one live and one switched live.
I'll try and knock up a diagram that you may be able to use.
You should be able to adapt 2-way wiring to accomodate this.
You can see that any of, or multiple, switches can activate the switched live.
You may be left with un used cores, these should eb terminated in terminal block.
Earth omitted for clarity.
I have seen too many sparks struggle with neumatic and electronic time lag switches in flats etc.....I have no idea why!
They always try to replicate the two way switching for some reason! It doesn't work like that! You dont plunge one switch in and then expect to plunge another to turn it off!
Just parallel the switches as above.
When wiring from scratch, it is common to use three core and earth and loop this around EVERY switch, light fitting and emergency light. You then have the necessary LIVE, SW LIVE and NEUTRAL available at every fitting. Use terminal blocks to connect the ones you do not need at that fitting together.
In more recent developments it is common to use a "staircase timer". This is fired by NO switches, and the off delay begins. You can use any kind of NO switch with these, and also use relay outputs from gate/garage openers, door intercomms and alarm systems to automatically bring the lights on for a set period.
They always try to replicate the two way switching for some reason! It doesn't work like that! You dont plunge one switch in and then expect to plunge another to turn it off!
Just parallel the switches as above.
When wiring from scratch, it is common to use three core and earth and loop this around EVERY switch, light fitting and emergency light. You then have the necessary LIVE, SW LIVE and NEUTRAL available at every fitting. Use terminal blocks to connect the ones you do not need at that fitting together.
In more recent developments it is common to use a "staircase timer". This is fired by NO switches, and the off delay begins. You can use any kind of NO switch with these, and also use relay outputs from gate/garage openers, door intercomms and alarm systems to automatically bring the lights on for a set period.
I put it down to wiring by number as opposed to thinking about what you are trying to achieve and the best way to achieve it.
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