Two way light switch issue

[Northstandblue]

Hi, I have a lighting issue that I’d be really grateful for your advice on. I have a ceiling light in my living room that can be switched on or off by one gang, two-way switches located near the two doors, one to the kitchen, and one to the hall.

I removed the old metal faceplates today and replaced them with plastic one gang, two- way switches, connecting them exactly as before.

The switch by the hall door contains a three core and earth cable and is wired as follows:

Yellow to COM

Blue to L1

Red to L2

Green/yellow to earth

The switch by the kitchen door contains three cables and is wired as follows:

1x Yellow to COM

1x blue plus 1x black to L1

3 (not 2) x red to L2

4x green/yellow to earth

I have two questions:

• One of the cables to the kitchen door switch only contains red and earth wires (no black). Could you tell me why there’s no black? I think there may be one but might have been cut off by the previous owner. I can’t see it; maybe it’s tucked away in the outer sleeving. Also, I don’t understand what this cable is for – I was expecting just two (not three) cables in this switch; one twin and earth and one three-core and earth. No other lights are controlled by this switch.
• Despite being wired exactly as before, it doesn’t work properly, in that both hall door and kitchen door switches can turn the light off, but only one of them can switch the light on. My first thought was that the new switches were faulty, but I have tried swapping them for spares and they still don’t work.

If anybody could help with either question I’d be very grateful! Many thanks in advance.

 

[pete01]

Any pictures of the actual connections?

 

[endecotp]

One of the cables to the kitchen door switch only contains red and earth wires (no black). Could you tell me why there’s no black?

Single-and-earth wires are available. They aren't often used.

I don’t understand what this cable is for – I was expecting just two (not three) cables in this switch; one twin and earth and one three-core and earth. No other lights are controlled by this switch.

My guess is that it is supplying a permanent live to something else that we don't know about. There are other possibilities. If you disconnect it, you may discover what no longer works.

Despite being wired exactly as before, it doesn’t work properly

You haven't wired it exactly as before.

 

[Northstandblue]

Any pictures of the actual connections?

I did try to take photos but unfortunately the wires inside are short so couldn't pull the faceplate far enough away to take a clear shot. I'll try taking them apart and putting them back together again when I've got natural light tomorrow morning. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Northstandblue]

Single-and-earth wires are available. They aren't often used.



My guess is that it is supplying a permanent live to something else that we don't know about. There are other possibilities. If you disconnect it, you may discover what no longer works.



You haven't wired it exactly as before.

Thanks for your reply. I'll try taking them apart and putting them back together again tomorrow. Also I'll try disconnecting the single and earth to see what happens, as you suggest. Cheers, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[sparkwright]

Are you certain the single red went in with the other reds?

 

[Northstandblue]

Are you certain the single red went in with the other reds?

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the single red was twisted together in L2 with the other reds.