Two Way Switch

[TheWizard]

Hi there,

Just a quick question for you guys...........

Can anyone explain to me the theory behind the workings of two switches controlling one light?

This may sound strang but I can wire one up no problem but this is only because I've been shown how. I would like to know the purpose of each cable in the 1.5 3 core (brown, grey, black) and the reason for putting each one in its respective terminal.

If this is as clear as mud, or there are several ways to do it I could write out which wires I put in each terminal if that helps?

Anyways thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[breezer]

have a look in sticky for reference, it shows you how

 

[TheWizard]

What is sticky? If you mean the "How to" section I've checked that and it doesn't really make sense to me as I can already wire one in a new build, I just want to know what purpose each cable serves to make the set-up work.

I can understand how it works in the following diagram, where if both switches complete the circuit the light is "live" but if one switches to the other leg the circuit is broken



0-----------------------0
---------0 0-------------(x)
0-----------------------0




However it just interests me how this translates into the 3 cables in the 1.5 3 core connecting the two switches.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That diagram didn't actually come out the way I planned it

 

[breezer]

perhaps i should have typed "sticky for refernce"

but i can see how "sticky for refernce" looks just like "how to" (not)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What is sticky? If you mean the "How to" section I've checked that and it doesn't really make sense to me as I can already wire one in a new build, I just want to know what purpose each cable serves to make the set-up work.

OK - so you looked in How To and not For Reference, but even though there are no diagrams in the former, it does describe, quite clearly, where each wire goes.

Are you saying that even though you've drawn a sketch of a couple of switches, linked as described, that you still can't see how it works?

 

[TheWizard]

Ok guys I was only asking,

and I didn't need to know how to position the wires I already knew that,

Anyways I asked a spark and he explained it fully.

Obviously I didn't know that using that diagram the light would be on one strapper and the mains in on the other, or the light connected to the black and the mains connected to the grey if you like, so that you can make the circuit, break it, then make it.

Why you couldn't explain this without trying to talk down to me I don't know but god bless you anyway.

 

[Gary0]

Sticky Thread

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ok guys I was only asking,

and I didn't need to know how to position the wires I already knew that,

But you didn't understand why.

Anyways I asked a spark and he explained it fully.

So does the drawing.

Why you couldn't explain this without trying to talk down to me I don't know but god bless you anyway.

Because you should not, ever, under any circumstances, be doing any electrical work without understanding it.

If you don't know what the internals of a 2-way switch do, you should not do anything with one except use it when it's fixed to the wall.

If you cannot draw a sketch like this:

and immediately be able to trace the routes from the first switch to the second and back again then you should not try to wire it up.

And that isn't talking down to you- it's a simple and accurate statement of the facts, made because you shouldn't be messing with stuff that you don't understand.

Obviously I didn't know that using that diagram the light would be on one strapper and the mains in on the other, or the light connected to the black and the mains connected to the grey if you like, so that you can make the circuit, break it, then make it.

It shows a 2-core circuit cable coming in. You really should know what that does, and how it relates to the wiring at the ceiling rose.

I can wire one up no problem but this is only because I've been shown how

So it looks like you don't even understand the why of wiring a 1-way switch...

 

[TheWizard]

Listen, I asked someone to explain it to me. I didn't ask you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do- I'm aware that I'm not an electricion.

I have in interest on the topic and I asked someone who I thought would be helpful and give me a run down so it was up to you whether you gave me the information I wanted or not.

So why don't you get down off your high horse I've read a lot of messages on this forum and a lot of you sparks swan about it like your gods constantly reminding people they shouldn't do the work, consult an electrician, etc etc. People know they aren't electricians thats why people come on here and ask you guys for advice so grow up and stop acting like a pr*ck

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I did explain it to you, or at least I directed you to information on this site which explains it perfectly.

If you still don't understand it, having looked at that information, then it doesn't matter how interested you are, the subject is too hard for you.

And what use is it being interested in something that is too difficult for you to understand, and which can kill you if you mess with it?

 

[TheWizard]

I did explain it to you, or at least I directed you to information on this site which explains it perfectly.

If you still don't understand it, having looked at that information, then it doesn't matter how interested you are, the subject is too hard for you.

And what use is it being interested in something that is too difficult for you to understand, and which can kill you if you mess with it?

I understand it perfectly now, if you read my post I wanted to know what way the 3 core translated onto the simplified diagram I drew. When I asked the spark, he told me all that I had to do on that diagram was put the light on to one leg and the mains onto the other and connect both ends with the brown ie common. It took all of 5 seconds to tell me I had the light in the wrong position of that diagram.

I'd like to think its not too difficult for me as I've shown enough aptitude on it in the last few months for me to get a start at my apprenticeship but I was just trying to get ahead of the game.

Cheers lads