2 way switching

[Welsh_sparky_21]

Am I right in saying, that if you have a switch wire and neutral at one switch and a feed and neutral at the other switch. You can connect switch wire and feed into commons, and then just a 2 core into L1 and L2

 

[brianmoooore]

and a feed and neutral at the other switch.

Feed = permanent live?
If so, and the neutral actually connects to the switch, not just a parking terminal, and we have a working 2w switching system, then the circuit must be the one I described, unless you know of another 2w arrangement where both live and neutral connect to a single pole switch.

 

[Grant1987]

Feed = permanent live?
If so, and the neutral actually connects to the switch, not just a parking terminal, and we have a working 2w switching system, then the circuit must be the one I described, unless you know of another 2w arrangement where both live and neutral connect to a single pole switch.

Yes only other way I do it is feed into switch 3 core between the 2 way and then sw at other end or same end. SW into common one end and joint through permanent live to go into common other end. Usually do this on ground floor flats to reduce the amount of cables going into light fittings

 

[Soi disant]

2-way/3-way/n-way switching doesn't need any extra cables going to the light fittings compared to 1-way.

 

[Grant1987]

2-way/3-way/n-way switching doesn't need any extra cables going to the light fittings compared to 1-way.

I was talking about not having the feeds in the lights a hallway for example with 2 lights and one of those being operated via 2 way switch just found it easier taking feeds to switches and connecting through the switches

 

[DPG]

2-way/3-way/n-way switching doesn't need any extra cables going to the light fittings compared to 1-way.

He means take neutrals to the switches, rather than the traditional 3 plate method where you end up with too many cables going to the light fitting.

 

[Colin1429]

Am I right in saying, that if you have a switch wire and neutral at one switch and a feed and neutral at the other switch. You can connect switch wire and feed into commons, and then just a 2 core into L1 and L2o

 

[brianmoooore]

The post above is already a quote, so won't quote again. Yes, if there's a feed at one switch and a wire to the 'live ' of the lamp at the other, then just a T&E between them will provide 2W switching. Any neutrals at either switch are irrelevant, and are just confusing the issue. There's a world of difference between a neutral to a switch and a neutral to a switch box.

 

[brianmoooore]

It's part of design to avoid an excess of cables to one box when multi gang switches are involved.
The most economical use of cables for a particular application may involve five cables to one switch box, and only one to the other, but good design would allocate three cables to each box, or four and two at worst..