Intermediate switch problem - Please Help!!!

harrison2987 · Sep 24, 2013

Hi Guys,

I have just been in a house that is experiencing problems with a hall/landing light and the 5 (yes 5!!!) switches that control it.

So here's the layout:

There is a 3 gang dimmer on the ground floor with one gang for the light in question

3 intermediate switches on the landing (landing is horse shoe shaped and there is a switch outside each bedroom door)

1 gang 3 way switch outside the bathroom.

At face value it all looks like its wired correctly. There is a common, L1 and L2 at the dimmer, and the same at the 1 gang switch, and L1 L1 in L2 L2 out at all 3 intermediates.

I can turn the light on and off at each individual switch, but when i turn the light on at 1 switch and off at another the switches then don't work at all and i have to go back to the dimmer switch to turn the light on again.

Can anyone help me solve this problem so that any switch can be operated at any time to turn the light on and off.

Cheers

guest119 · Sep 25, 2013

Murdoch said:
So disconnect the cable to the light from the first switch and undertake some basic dead tests. Time to get your wander lead out and a large piece of paper

You been watching re runs of Blue Peter M?
How to build a kite?

Boydy

Geordie Spark · Sep 25, 2013

Boydy said:
You been watching re runs of Blue Peter M?
How to build a kite?

Boydy

Here ye gan bonny lad:

Mary Poppins-Let's Go Fly a Kite - YouTube

tazz · Sep 25, 2013

Geordie Spark get a new badge...

[ElectriciansForums.net] Intermediate switch problem - Please Help!!!

Its Sailing over the Tyne....lol

harrison2987 · Sep 25, 2013

Fixed it chaps. 1 faulty intermediate was the problem * and dimmer switch was turned right down. I disconnected all the intermediate switches first and checked for continuity between the in and out terminals when switched. Found i didn't have continuity on one of them and replaced it. Still had a problem, re-read this thread and checked the dimmer. Turned the dimmer all the way to the right (fully up) and it worked!!

Thanks for all the input and help.

Just like to make a point as well:

Everyone is always learning on the job. If you haven't come across something before or it has been a very very long time since you came across a certain problem or since you last worked on a certain system, it is always good to ask your peers for help. There is no shame in that. And unfortunatley for me, my sensible way of thinking can become clouded when i get confused or fustrated with something. As i g older i will learn t take a step back, breath, and look at the problem more logically.

tazz · Sep 25, 2013

harrison2987 said:
Fixed it chaps. 1 faulty intermediate was the problem. Thanks for all the input and help.

Just like to make a point as well:

Everyone is always learning on the job. If you haven't come across something before or it has been a very very long time since you came across a certain problem or since you last worked on a certain system, it is always good to ask your peers for help. There is no shame in that. And unfortunatley for me, my sensible way of thinking can become clouded when i get confused or fustrated with something. As i g older i will learn t take a step back, breath, and look at the problem more logically.

Job sounds sorted great...Well your chance to put some input back......Would be interesting to known, how you found the fault in the end..then some other people might think before crititising others.

harrison2987 · Sep 25, 2013

tazz said:
Job sounds sorted great...Well your chance to put some input back......Would be interesting to known, how you found the fault in the end..then some other people might think before crititising others.

Just added abit in my post above, should have mentioned the dimmer switch bit too!! Hope that explains how i did it.

telectrix · Sep 25, 2013

i can take credit for suggesting the dimmer, then, but not the faulty switch. well done on finding the fault. :hurray:

arty:

tazz · Sep 25, 2013

Well done Tel...another blue peter badge....and logic prevails from the guys who suggested test each switch, get your meter out, draw out the circuit and not just guessed at the fault

mark ju · Sep 25, 2013

Just like to make a point as well:

Everyone is always learning on the job. If you haven't come across something before or it has been a very very long time since you came across a certain problem or since you last worked on a certain system, it is always good to ask your peers for help. There is no shame in that. And unfortunatley for me, my sensible way of thinking can become clouded when i get confused or fustrated with something. As i g older i will learn t take a step back, breath, and look at the problem more logically.

Easy to get confused. Old fella I worked with as an apprentice always said if you got a bit of a mind bender going on, always seems to help ( him anyway) to have a cuppa and a ciggy. Helped him think.
Come to think of it he always seemed to be thinking that old bugger !!

Octopus · Sep 25, 2013

harrison2987 said:
Fixed it chaps. 1 faulty intermediate was the problem * and dimmer switch was turned right down. I disconnected all the intermediate switches first and checked for continuity between the in and out terminals when switched. Found i didn't have continuity on one of them and replaced it. Still had a problem, re-read this thread and checked the dimmer. Turned the dimmer all the way to the right (fully up) and it worked!!

Thanks for all the input and help.

Just like to make a point as well:

Everyone is always learning on the job. If you haven't come across something before or it has been a very very long time since you came across a certain problem or since you last worked on a certain system, it is always good to ask your peers for help. There is no shame in that. And unfortunatley for me, my sensible way of thinking can become clouded when i get confused or fustrated with something. As i g older i will learn t take a step back, breath, and look at the problem more logically.

Good man for updating us all.

Too many people come on here, suck out information and then are never heard of again until the next issue they face.

The forum is a 2 way street, contributing is both helpful and educational & can be fun at times.

plugsandsparks · Sep 25, 2013

mark ju said:
Easy to get confused. Old fella I worked with as an apprentice always said if you got a bit of a mind bender going on, always seems to help ( him anyway) to have a cuppa and a ciggy. Helped him think.
Come to think of it he always seemed to be thinking that old bugger !!

I can confirm this is the most important part of fault analysis, my track record is for average head scratcher, one coffee, one smoke, problem solved.
Serious head banger, two coffees, 3 smokes and a call to my brother.:39::coffee: =:rockon: