Double light switch wiring puzzle

[Tony K]

Help please. My 85 year old father removed a double switch light fitting and two of the wires broke off and I’m not 100% certain where they go or whether the remaining wires are in the correct slots as unfortunately he had a stroke 20 years ago and his speech is impaired.

I bought a new fitting thinking I could do it but am puzzled.


Existing wiring

New switch

Help appreciated. Father reluctance to break his bubble. Many thanks

 

[Tony K]

Which switch worked, the left or right and how many blacks are connected in the back box.

The left hand switch worked when looking at the switch. This is the right hand one when looking at the photo.

 

[brianmoooore]

Do either of the lights controlled by this switch have another switch controlling them, located somewhere else?

 

[Tony K]

Have the wires in the left switch been disconnected or is that how they have always been. Is the right switch two way with another switch.

One switch controls the bathroom light and Is one way the other switch appears to control the bathroom cabinet light. This is the one that is working. I’m using the original switch at the moment. Also with the original configuration (as per photo 1) with the loose wire into right L1 and Right L2. Under that configuration only the bathroom cabinet light worked.

 

[Tony K]

Do either of the lights controlled by this switch have another switch controlling them, located somewhere else?

Only the bathroom cabinet has a switch which is a sensor one that turns the cabinet light on or off when you wave your hand in front of it.

 

[brianmoooore]

If the cabinet light works on the switch, the two wires you have connected must be the live power in and the live feed to the cabinet light, but we don't know which is which.
With the power turned OFF, mark those two wires somehow (dots on the wire with permanent marker is a common way), then disconnect all the wires from the switch, and temporarily join all four incoming red wires together. (put them all in any terminal of the switch), and see if both lights come on when the power is temporarily turned back on.
Is there a shaver socket in the bathroom that is not part of the cabinet?

 

[westward10]

The disconnected reds does one of them come from a cable with a black wire or do they both come from cables with black wires.

 

[westward10]

If the cabinet light works on the switch, the two wires you have connected must be the live power in and the live feed to the cabinet light, but we don't know which is which.
With the power turned OFF, mark those two wires somehow (dots on the wire with permanent marker is a common way), then disconnect all the wires from the switch, and temporarily join all four incoming red wires together. (put them all in any terminal of the switch), and see if both lights come on when the power is temporarily turned back on.
Is there a shaver socket in the bathroom that is not part of the cabinet?

The OP has limited electrical experience so this is a seriously bad idea.

 

[brianmoooore]

I fully agree that the OP has limited electrical knowledge, and considering the fact that this switch seems to have far too many wires for what it does, my normal answer would be to get an electrician in.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 has made this a non starter. I know exactly how they feel, living in a house with my wife, where no one has crossed the threshold for a few days short of a year, and nothing has entered the house without being sterilised or quarantined first.
In this case, we have to balance the dangers of DIY electrical fault finding against the dangers of an elderly gentleman trying to use his bathroom in the dark.

 

[Tony K]

Thank you brianmoooore and westward10. Your advice and suggestions were very much appreciated. The light is now working. My father is delighted and thanks you too.??

 

[brianmoooore]

?

 

[westward10]

Glad it was sorted.