Strange lighting problem..

[pabzilla]

Hi , im hoping someone can help me, ive look around for someone who's had a similar experience but no luck so thats why im posting this.

I decided to change my light switch in my kitchen to match the sockets , the current switch is 3 gang but only 2 of the 3 controlled any lights. the third one didnt do anything. I removed the face plate and disconnected the wires - heres where i have gone wrong - i didnt keep a note of how the wires went on the back of the 3 gang plate. stupid i know ...

so i went to put the new plat on which is a 2 gang, i thought the 4 wires (from two cables) would go into the common and l1 connectors for each switch. But when i do that nothing works. When i connect a wire between the common connectors i get one light working and one light that stays on all the time.

Can anyone help??

im slightlyl baffeled, needless to say the wiring above the ceiling and in the wall is inaccessible.

Thanks

Pabzilla

Doesnt work connected like this:

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n126/pabzilla/lighting1.jpg

one of the lights works correctly like this: (but the other is on constantly)

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n126/pabzilla/lighting2.jpg

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[Adam_151]

It would seem that you've got a one switchfeed and three switchwires there (one of which goes to a lighting point that since been removed)

The switchfeed is one of the reds, and the other red is the switchwire for the light that stayed on, the switchwire for the other light you have (which switched with the switch) is black and:

1) comes out the same cable sheath as the red for the light that stayed on
2) was connected to L1 on the switch that worked the light

The remaing black is spare switchwire for a lighting point since removed/ never installed (or an outside light you don't know you have )

Got that, and can identify all the conductors? good, now wire it as follows:

Switch feed to both commons using a link on the back of the switch, a switchwire to each of the L1 terminals

put the spare black in a piece of terminal block

 

[Lectrician]

Sounds like one of the reds is a constant feed down to the switch, and should be connected to all commons by means of jumpers.

The black of the same cable should go to one L1, the red of the other cable to another L1. The remaining black is the third switches L1, which you think does nothing.....but did once. Put it into a choc block (terminal block) out of the way in the back box.

This is how I read the situation anyway.

You need to determine which is the constant live red - this is the one which was connected to the switch that ''worked''.

 

[Lectrician]

damn and blast

 

[pabzilla]

Thankyou both very much for your quick replies, what your saying makes perfect sense, ill give that a go tomorrow!


Cheers
Pabzilla

 

[securespark]

should be connected to all commons by means of jumpers.

Like these?

 

[Lectrician]

NOPE!

 

[securespark]

Altogether now.......

[depending on how you view rabbits]

Either



Ahhhhhhhhhh!


OR

































Yummmy!!

 

[pabzilla]

Thanks a bunch guys worked a treat


i prefer cats...