3 Storey house switching for lights

[claret73]

Reading too much & getting confused.com!...

Have lighting circuits on a 3 storey house to install. Each floor is on their own circuit and need to be able to switch the 1st floor from both Ground & First Floor & the Second Floor from both First & Second.

Am I right with this:
Mounted on the ground floor in the hallway, a 3x gang switch consisting of porch & hall 1 way with a 2 way to the first floor (3core cable). The first floor has a 3x gang switch, 2 way with the ground floor, 2 way with the second floor & the 3rd switch will be for the bathroom. The second floor has a 1x gang 2 way switch, 2 way to the first floor.

Or do I need to incorporate an Intermediate on the first floor??...Tried to work this through with diagrams but I'm running away with it & possibly making things more complex...

 

[RogertheBodger]

Fit an intermediate switch on the first floor.
You may also need to link the (presume you're talking about stairwell lights) together with a switched live.

 

[Doomed]

As long as you are not wanting to switch the ground from second floor or the other way around you could do it your way.

 

[Octopus]

If I understand this correctly, your spec is to switch 2 floors on 2 floors, not 3 floors on 3 floors, and in which case, with only 2 switches on each lighting circuit, you wouldn't need an intermediate!

 

[SirKit Breaker]

To give it a bit of clarity, forget the other lighting and just concentrate on the 2 way.

ground floor. Run a T&E to the ceiling for the light, run a T&E to the ground floor switch, run a 3 core&E from ground floor switch to first floor switch.
First floor. Repeat the same process as above but obviously First floor to top floor etc.

When connecting up

At the fitting, T&E supplying the light Blue to N and Line to Loop in the rose. T&E to switch, Brown into Loop, Blue (with brown sleeve) into the live side where the pendant is connected. Switch end, Brown into L2, Blue into L3. (switch maybe labelled C, L1, L2. If so then Brown into L1, Blue to L2)

3 Core at both switches. Brown to L1 or C, Grey L2 or L1, Black to L2 or L3, again depends on switch idents.

All cores used at switches are line conductors and should all be sleeved Brown

If you wish to use intermediates then you need to make sure that the 3 core passes where you want the switch to go, they need to be between the 2 way switches in the circuit. To connect, cut the 3 core, join the 2 brown ends together, then the Black and grey cross into the 4 terminals in the switch, look at the idents on the switch tubes. You can have as many intermediates as you want as long as they are all wired between the 2 way switches.

Cheers........Howard

 

[claret73]

Thanks! For all the replies Guys!!
How I've got it with 2 way switching between floors is how the customer may want it? I don't think they want to switch the ground floor (Hallway) from the 2nd floor Landing. Howard, Thanks! for the confirmation of connecting. I wasn't confused on that part, but gives me confirmation on what I'm doing...

This is the New Builds I'm on & the Spark responsible didn't seem too up on how this was switching & so couldn't clarify it to me...therefore am grateful for the responses.
Cheers!

 

[Adam W]

If you want more than 2 switches in a circuit you'll need an intermediate.
This method of wiring sounds a bit complicated - I'd suggest just having a 2 way and intermediate arrangement so you just have 'a switch' on each landing which switches all the lights together, then if you're going from the ground to 2nd floor or vice versa you only have to switch the light on when you start and off again when you get to your destination, and you wouldn't have to stop halfway to turn one light off and the other on.