2 way light switch wired incorrectly (by myself)

wriste05 · Jan 22, 2024

Hi everyone

I've moved into a flat and I've decided to replace the original electric switches and sockets with white ones. I've done them all however

I'm having problems getting the last 2 switches to work correctly:

There is a double light switch in the entrance hallway of my flat, the left switch should turn on the hallway light, the right switch should turn on the stairs & landing light.

There is a double light switch at the top of the stairs which also should do the same as the downstairs switch (2 way I believe).

I took a photo of the original switch wiring before removing and thought I had wired it the same but I haven't and have balls'd it up somewhat.

What now happens is the left switch on both the upstairs & downstairs light switch turns all 3 lights on & off, the right switch on both does nothing.

Each socket has 2 x 3 core cables & 1 x 2 core cable running to it (3 in total)

I have included pictures of the wiring, hopefully they'll help.

Any help given would be greatly appreciated, and apologies for my stupidity!

Cheers

Stewart

[ElectriciansForums.net] 2 way light switch wired incorrectly (by myself)

westward10 · Jan 22, 2024

Have you definitely put them in the right numbered terminals and not just the same place as the old switches.

littlespark · Jan 24, 2024

A photo of the back of each switch might help.

Some are labelled C, L1, L2…. Others L1, L2, L3.
Some have both switches orientated the same way… others have a switch “upside down” to the other.
You need to know which one is the Common terminal on each switch.

Treat the switches as two separate ones. Left and right. Get one sorted out first, and see what wires are left.

Is the 2 core cable a twin red? Or a red/black?

Mike Johnson · Jan 24, 2024

littlespark said:
Some are labelled C, L1, L2…. Others L1, L2, L3.
Some have both switches orientated the same way… others have a switch “upside down” to the other.
You need to know which one is the Common terminal on each switch.

As above you will probably find the originals where oriented the same way and your replacements are upside down to each other, or visa versa. I used to work on L2 = Blue and go from there.