Three way switch help please

[ani4golf]

Hi,

We have a downstairs switch that controls the hall and stairs, a landing switch controlling landing which has the brown wire in and a upstairs switch outside bedroom which turns landing light on and off. Attached all 3 photos of our wiring. Our problem is the downstairs switch and switch near bedroom work okay and can switch each other off, however when we touch the switch for landing(3 way intermediate) it cannot be switched off by either of the other 2 switches so something we have done is wrong. We did not take a photo when we removed the white plastic covers to chrome, hence our problem. Here are the photos of how the wiring looks at moment. Any help much appreciated.

Untitled

• ani4golf
• 8 Mar 2011
• 1

Untitled

• ani4golf
• 8 Mar 2011
• 1

Untitled

• ani4golf
• 8 Mar 2011
• 1

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Try this link
//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:intermediate:chocknonharm

 

[fireman22]

three way intermediate switch, you mean the switch with four terminals? yes?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

or this even
//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:intermediate
harmonized colours
red=brown
yellow=black
blue=grey

 

[fireman22]

how many lights are you actually controlling 2 (one downstairs and one upstairs?)

 

[fireman22]

excuse my brown wire blindness but which photo has the brown wire in it?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

The middle photo could be the one causing you brown wire blindness, the black cores often to that, depending how much gin you have drunk that is

 

[ani4golf]

Hi all,

One light on landing is being controlled by all 3 switches. The references to weblinks we tried, the problem is our wiring sockets are not same as photos you supply. We have a 2 way switch near bedroom door, a 2 way switch downstairs alongside 2 way switch for downstairs hall, and a 3 way intermediate switch upstairs on landing with brown wire and 4 holes, but only 1 switch on exterior. Problem seems to be the initial house electrics have wired the brown 2 way switch wires in with the 3 way intermediate switch hence an awful lot of wires and no diagrams we can replicate, hence why we need help !! Hope this makes some sense to you all.

 

[matt1e]

in the middle photo either reconnect the red from the top terminal to the bottom terminal or move the black from the bottom to the top

 

[fireman22]

there is no brown wire, its black, anyway the red and black of one grey pvc cable go into lower two terminals with yellow and blue of one of the 3 core cables. the yellow and blue of the other 3 core cable go opposite in the top two terminals. the reds of the two grey cables (make sure you dont mix in the red of the 2 core cable) go together in a connector block. its nearly right looking at your photos

 

[ani4golf]

All,


Massive thanks - it now works !! You are all wonderful and I shall see
the optician regarding my brown/black vision!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

In the 3rd photo there's no earth wire running to the switch itself - there should be.

Can't make out from the others what's going on, but ideally the earth core(s) from the cable(s) should go to the switch and a short link from there to the back box.

 

[sparkwright]

In the 3rd photo there's no earth wire running to the switch itself - there should be.

Can't make out from the others what's going on, but ideally the earth core(s) from the cable(s) should go to the switch and a short link from there to the back box.

In the third picture a piece of blue wire has been used as an earth link to the switch.

Ideally you should sleeve this wirh green and yellow.

Can't see to well but is that a decent connection at the earth terminal on the box?