Swopping an old 2 gang, 2 way switch for a new one.

[chickflick]

Having just re-decorated, I wanted to upgrade my hall/landing switches with some nice shiny new ones.

When the old switches were opened they had more connections than the new. i.e. the bottom of the old switch had 3 connections the bottom of the new switch has only 2.

Is this normal?

How would I go about connecting 3 wires into 2 connectors?

Any Ideas

Thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Having just re-decorated, I wanted to upgrade my hall/landing switches with some nice shiny new ones.

When the old switches were opened they had more connections than the new. i.e. the bottom of the old switch had 3 connections the bottom of the new switch has only 2.

Is this normal?

It's normal for 1-way switches.

How would I go about connecting 3 wires into 2 connectors?

You can't - you've got the wrong switches - you need 2-way ones, not 1-way, you'll have to go and buy some.

See the For Reference topic for details of how 2-way switches are wired up.

 

[chickflick]

Well, like I said, I have bought, 2 gang 2way switches.

The switches insitu already work both upstairs and hallway lights independantly.

So unless they have been packaged incorrectly I am certain that I have the correct switches.

I shall check out the 'For Reference' section though, thanks.

 

[dw3101]

its not three way lighting is it? (an intermediate switch would give you two at the top and two at the bottom) but then your unlikely to get a double one.. so I doubt its that.

What are the terminals marked as?

 

[chickflick]

I'm at work at the mo, but I remember there were 4 slots/connections at the top and 2 at the bottom.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Well, like I said, I have bought, 2 gang 2way switches..

OK - sorry if I misunderstood, but when you asked "How would I go about connecting 3 wires into 2 connectors?" I took that to mean that each gang of the new switch had only 2 terminals, not 3....

How many terminals does each switch have, and where, and what are they labelled?

 

[chickflick]

All I know is there are 4 at the top and 2 at the bottom.

I have no idea what the labels are. sorry.

 

[securespark]

Well, what are the terminals labelled?

 

[dw3101]

All I know is there are 4 at the top and 2 at the bottom

Turn it the otherway up then

Sounds like two com's at top and l1 l2 l1 l2 at the bottom..

which would get two at the top and four at the bottom..


were the three previous connections the only connections??

A pic would be worth a thousand words.. I can host pics if you mail them to davidwallis at gmail dot com

 

[ban-all-sheds]

All I know is there are 4 at the top and 2 at the bottom.

I have no idea what the labels are. sorry.

Wait until you are back home - these details are important.