Wiring a switch

[Paul6756]

I'm replacing a 2 gang switch and the current wiring is as follows

Top Red to Com, Black to L2, and L1 empty,

Bottom Yellow to L2, Blue to L1 and Red to Com.

On the new switch it only has L1, L2 and L3 at top and bottom.

I thought that the L3's could have been Com but this only turns on one light and it won't go out. The second light wo'nt work at all. Can anyone help.

Many thanks

 

[colport27]

L1 is most probably the common.

 

[Paul6756]

Thanks for this and sorry to be so thick,

but does that mean that the black which was at L2 should remain, or move to L3 and the blue which was at L1 should move to L2 and the yellow at L2 should move to L3.

Thanks

 

[Spark123]

Red and black in one cable will most likely connect L1-L2 on one switch. On the other switch the red will go to L1, yellow L2 and Blue L3. Note, the switches are likely configured with the terminals in a triangle formation, i.e. L1 on top with L2&L3 on bottom, L1 on bottom with L2&L3 on top. Best to check this out with a multimeter set to ohms to find out the terminal combinations before installing.

 

[Paul6756]

Thanks, but I only have 1 switch with 2 rockers and 2 sets of L1, L2 and L3.

If the L1's become Coms, do I leave the black which was in L2 or do I move it to L3, and on the other set do I move the blue which was in L1 to L2 and the yellow which was in L2 to L3.

Thanks

 

[Spark123]

I think you have a two gang, 2way switch which are in effect two separate switches.
The easiest way to tell is to have a play with a multimeter set to ohms range (providing it isn't a dimmer switch etc), you will find with a switch set in one position a low resistance between L1 and L2, and in the other position L1 and L3.
The Com will likely transpose to L1, L1 to L2 and L2 to L3.
The black will go to either L2 or L3, as you will find if it is in the wrong one the switch will be "upside down". On the other gang, the common (red) will transpose to L1, Yellow to L2 and Blue to L3.