Hall stairs and landing light problems

carl Westwood · Sep 28, 2018

we are shortly moving into my parents old house, me and my partner have renovated the property over the last 18 months, we are now nearing completion, but have a problem with lighting on the stairway, there is a light just inside the front door with a double switch, upstairs on the landing is another light with a single switch, im 90% sure that the double switch downstairs has not been removed at anytime during the work, but the upstairs switch has, I replaced the upstairs switch and it turns the upstairs light on and off, but the downstairs double switch will only operate the downstairs light on and off, pic 1 is the wiring on the double downstairs, pic 2 is the upstairs switch wiring and pic 3 is the upstairs ceiling rose, any help to whats wrong would be very welcome, thanks in advance

[ElectriciansForums.net] Hall stairs and landing light problems

Octopus · Sep 28, 2018

Who ever fitted the new switch has created this mess .... get a local spark ....... it won’t take long to resolve

Strima · Sep 28, 2018

That’s a two pole switch and isn’t suitable for two way switching. As Murdoch has said, get a local spark in to sort it out, won’t take long and shouldn’t cost a lot.

Nigel · Sep 28, 2018

Would have been a good idea for the person that changed the switch to have at least bought the correct switch. hahahahahaha

What a joke.

Risteard · Sep 28, 2018

essex said:
Would have been a good idea for the person that changed the switch to have at least bought the correct switch. hahahahahaha

What a joke.

Would also have been worthwhile if they had a clue what they were doing!

telectrix · Sep 29, 2018

caustic comments aside, OP. you have fitted the wrong switch. please call in a local electrician to do it right, should not cost more than £60.

Richard Burns · Sep 29, 2018

This is a very basic error, so please be careful with what you attempt in the electrical line and get advice wherever things do not seem right.
The switch should be a 1 gang two way light switch
and should probably be wired as two wire wiring. However be aware that the upstairs light will be connected to the downstairs lighting, possibly crossed over.

Midwest · Sep 29, 2018

While the sparks is sorting out the light switch, I'd show him/her that ceiling rose, seems to be some bare copper wire there?

Perhaps all your wiring needs a bit of inspection.

suffolkspark · Sep 29, 2018

Cheapeat nastiest switch you could find too?

Deleted account · Sep 29, 2018

Looks like someone tried to rig up a 2 way switch using one extra core in a twin & Earth.

Jim_e_Jib · Sep 29, 2018

Forget the dodgy electrics and please sand down that paintwork above the light switch!

Toneyz · Sep 29, 2018

What does the other switch on the two gang switch do? It looks to me like a borrowed neutral situation where the live is taken from the ground floor link over to the common and upstairs single and earth as switched wire. I would get that checked out.

telectrix · Sep 29, 2018

hit it with a hammer. if it don't fix, then call an electrician.

Rpa07 · Sep 29, 2018

You lot sound like you’ve been out ‘hand bag’ shopping - what cruel remarks. The OP is probably sitting in a puddle of his own tears at the woodwork remark!
As the ‘nasty’ men have said, get sparks in and get it remedied. The time you save can be spent sanding the woodwork - Doh, now you’ve got me doing it!