Changing to a 3 Gang.

JoshD1029 · Apr 24, 2022

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help.

In our outdoor cabin we currently have a 1 gang switch controlling two ceiling lights and an outdoor motion sensor light that is permanently on.

I want to change them to a 3 Gang, 1 way switch.

I have attached a couple of photos of the current setup.

The 3 Gang I have has three blocks of 'Com' 'L1' 'L2'. From looking online and my novice experience, would I keep the earth's in the block and connect the blues to individual L1s and the browns to individual Coms? Any advice would be great...

James · Apr 24, 2022

you do not have the correct cables available at the switch to control the 3 lights separately.
what you are trying to do can't be done without running extra cables from the lights to the switch.

depending on what exactly is going on with the wiring, it may well be possible to switch the outside light separately to the inside lights but would definitely require extra cables to switch the 2 indoor ones separately.

littlespark · Apr 24, 2022

The blues DO NOT get connected to the switch.

They are the neutrals looped to the lights.

You might need professional help to find out which brown does what.

James · Apr 24, 2022

Just to expand a little on your last paragraph "would I keep the earth's in the block and connect the blues to individual L1s and the browns to individual Coms? "
coupled with @littlespark comment above.

If you did this, there would be a BIG BANG when you turned the switch on, the switch's next destination would be your bin (possibly in a bag containing a pair of soiled underpants) .