Two way switch problem

[tomtailford]

Hi all,

I've had my first fiddle with some light switches in my girlfriends house.

She had a two way switch that didn't work.

I have the following set up, both upstairs and downstairs:
Common - Yellow Wire
L1 - Reddy / Brown
L2 - Blue

The downstairs switch works fine.

The upstairs switch will only work if the downstairs switch is on - so it seems that the upstairs is dependant on the downstairs.

Any suggestions? I can take photos if required, but should be explained OK!

Also, my girlfriend has lights downstairs (3 bulb light fitting) - and she says they blow very quickly - are there any common reasons for this?? Would it be advisable to use bulbs of the same wattage?

Oh and hi! I am new here!!

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

You'd save yourself a lot of bother by either getting a proper electrician in or getting a new girlfriend........

"First fiddle" indeed!


Lucia.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Any suggestions?

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting

Also, my girlfriend has lights downstairs (3 bulb light fitting) - and she says they blow very quickly - are there any common reasons for this??

Cheap bulbs.

Cheap transformer if it's ELV lighting.

Vibration from the floor above.

Touching the quartz surface of the lamp if they're of the design where it's possible to touch it.

Would it be advisable to use bulbs of the same wattage?

If it's an ELV light you should keep the total wattage within the range specified.

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

Poor old BAS! You must be so disappointed to see that my post preceded yours.........

Lucia x

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

The thing is, BAS dear, you might have foresworn my company and struck me off your Christmas card list, but as you can see: there's no way we can avoid being on the same thread simultaneouly, is there, sweetie?

Lucia x

 

[tomtailford]

Thanks PoD... she's a good one aside from her dodgy wiring!

Thanks for the schematics BAS - I now see how the circuit currently is.

If the downstairs switch is OPEN then the upstairs switch can't close the circuit!

Both switches match each other as mentioned previously (Common Yellow, L1 Brown, L2 Blue)...

However, when taking the switch off upstairs I seemed to think it was wired up incorrectly... but maybe it was wired up correctly?!

My uncle is an electrician so I can ask him, but thought I would try and figure it out myself first!

Thanks all for help

 

[tomtailford]

Found another post and wired up as follows:

Common: Red/Browny colour
L1: Yellow
L2: Blue

Now it works!!