2 gang 2 way, 1 each end of the room, odd behaviour

[Dubster]

I have a bit of an odd situation.

At one end of my living room there's a 2 gang switch and a light, at the other end of the living room there's a 3 gang switch and a light. Both switches control both, far end one also controls the light at the top of the stairs..

The light down the far end of the room works perfectly from both switches.
The light at the top end of the room works from both switches, but only if the switch at the far end is set in one of the 2 positions, if it's in the other position the switch at the near end of the room does nothing.

So, I took the near end switch off the wall to see if I could see anything untoward.

What I have :

Gang 1 - Yellow : L2, Blue : L1, Red : Squiggle sign (I guess that means common/power)

Gang 2 - Yellow : L1, Blue : L2, Red : Squiggle sign

On top of this there is then another mains cable that just has red and black.

The red has been joined up with Gang 2 Blue L2
The black has been joined up Gang 2 Yellow L1

Can anyone suggest why the switches are acting the way they are ?

Thanks muchly!

 

[streamer]

I know this might sound daft, but if it's only down to the colours changing, and there's only 3 wires - surely there can only be a few possibilities to go through on the back switch?

The point is that as the colours have changed there must be some connections somewhere which may be the cause of the problem.

 

[Dubster]

I shall throw my opinion in, incorrectly terminated JB would be my guess, or a switch obviously. Why not get the bloke on the blower who did the job and used the black, white and red cable?

I asked him at the time and he didn't have an answer.

 

[SparkyChick]

I think it's time to have a look in the directory section and find a local spark who knows what they're doing.

Did you get any paperwork (minor works certificate perhaps) from the guy who moved the switch?

 

[Dubster]

Sadly not.

 

[sparksburnout]

Possibly didn't want to get his wallet out for a proper spark........

 

[Dubster]

Possibly didn't want to get his wallet out for a proper spark........

Any need for that?

I used an electrician from mybuilder that was listed as qualified and had good feedback.

I can't be arsed being attacked for asking for help. I'll leave it here.
Cheers for trying folks.

 

[Dave OCD]

The terminal layout looks unusual on the 3 gang switch, commons would normally be on their own opposite the L1&L2, I've never seen them made like that before.

 

[sparksburnout]

Any need for that?

I used an electrician from mybuilder that was listed as qualified and had good feedback.

I can't be arsed being attacked for asking for help. I'll leave it here.
Cheers for trying folks.

No, what you mean is, you didn't want to pay for a spark, so you had a bash yourself, and now its all gone TU? if you did get a spark in, get him back so he can do what you paid him for originally?
Who would get a spark in, and then go through all this??

 

[sparksburnout]

Any need for that?

I used an electrician from mybuilder that was listed as qualified and had good feedback.

I can't be arsed being attacked for asking for help. I'll leave it here.
Cheers for trying folks.

No, what you mean is, you didn't want to pay for a spark, so you had a bash yourself, and now its all gone TU? if you did get a spark in, get him back so he can do what you paid him for originally?
Who would get a spark in, and then go through all this??

 

[telectrix]

The terminal layout looks unusual on the 3 gang switch, commons would normally be on their own opposite the L1&L2, I've never seen them made like that before.

it's schneider, so anything can happen. seen similar on an old crabtree switch that i replaced once.

 

[DPG]

Any need for that?

I used an electrician from mybuilder that was listed as qualified and had good feedback.

I can't be arsed being attacked for asking for help. I'll leave it here.
Cheers for trying folks.

No need to be like that. You've had good advice, but without seeing the hidden wiring it's going to be very difficult to say for definite what is wrong. What is the reason for not getting the guy back to fix it - you've paid him for something and he hasn't done it properley - get him to do the job right!

Daz