FAO Sparks or any other household electrician...

[binge]

I'm having a bit of trouble with my Upstairs-downstairs 3 way light switches.

Basically this is what I have.

2 x 3-way switches Downstairs
2 x 3-way switches Upstairs

2 lights. One upstairs, and one downstairs.

I can (well, Could) control both lights, from both sets of switches.

Here's where the tricky bit starts.

The downstairs switch (One of them) got jammed. It wouldnt switch. So I turned off the Leccy and took the switch off the wall to find out why it was jammed. Turned out a small bit of plastic had snapped inside the switch box. So I went to B&Q and bought a new 3 way switch panel.


There are 6 terminals on the back.
On the old switch it was this arrangement.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/binge/switch1.jpg


And on the new switch, There is also 6 terminals. But they are situated like this.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/binge/switch2.jpg


Thinking it was the right way to go about it. I just separated it into 2 separate switches (like it is). and swapped the wires over. Starting with the left hand side. Single wire to single wire. Then the double side by side terminals. One at a time.

And same for the other half of the switch.


Went to try the lights, And had nothing. No light given from any combination of switch position Up stairs or down.


A mate of mine came round. He knows a bit about electrics etc. Between us we realised that I should of taken note of what was written on the switch terminals. E.g "Common", "1 Way", "2 Way".





So my mate started switching the wires around, Trying each different combination on the downstairs switch. Note, I havnt touched the upstairs switch. So its only the downstairs one that has been changed, and should need sorting.



Managed to get the lights working. But it works like this.

Downstairs Switch panel:

Both switches set to ON. Both lights work.

Switch 1 set to ON. Switch 2 set to OFF Only upstairs light works.

Switch 2 set to ON. Switch 1 Set to OFF. No lights work.


So basically I need to have to upstairs light ON. To be able to turn the downstairs light on and off, With the downstairs switch.

If the downstairs light is on, And I switch the upstairs light off (With either up or downstairs switch), Both lights go off.



So it seems the downstairs light switch is getting its power from the upstairs "Switch Live".

Thing is, No combination of wires on the switch panel downstairs seems to cure this problem.


Sorry for the long, Confusing and un-technical post. I am ready to call a Sparky out, But was wondering if there are any easy checks to do to resolve this.


If its any help, When the lights are OFF. I only have one Live to each Switch panel. Even though there are TWO switches per panel.

[Harley Godzisz]

I made sence of what you were saying dude.. lol

here u go.... An easy guide i made just for you!

https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7158/wiringdiagramfu7.gif

[binge]

See, That is exactly how I thought it would go. However. I only have one live wire at the top of the stairs switch, And one live wire at the bottom of the stairs switch.


Oh Its so confusing!

I need one of those powered multi meter things where you can actually run a current up the line to find out where it comes out.

[Cigaro]

You can do that with a normal multimeter and a battery (but make damn sure the power is off first).

[Harley Godzisz]

well... in that case, idf you have a live at each socket, then it's gonna be very similar... (note the diagram below IS difrent to the 1st).

This diagram should be the situation you have.....

https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/5033/diragram2lv1.png

[binge]

That is helpful and does clear it up a little.

But ive got 12 wires. 6 black and 6 red. I Know 2 of them are live. The other 10 are just wires!

[colin1]

if you arent sure what you are doing, it may be best to get an electrician in

better a small bill for an electrician than a big bill for a house fire
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god