Intermediate switching

[mark ju]

I have recently wired a light with intermediate switching.
when I turn on the light at one switch its fine, but when I operate the next switch it goes off! Then if I go and operate the next switch it comes on! But then if I go back to the first switch and operate that one the light goes off! What's happening?

 

[Red Flame]

Haha! that will teach me for not reading it right!! Thanks

 

[cmac70]

Good almost had me had to read it twice. Lol

 

[Stroppy]

Sounds Like in the intermediate switch the incoming L1 and L2 and outgoing L1 and L2 are crossed swap the L1's around.

You can't do that, then the first switch will be off when it should be on, and the others will all be the wrong way round too.

On a serious note: does everyone wire their 2-way switching so that the lights can be off when both switches are in the usual 1-way 'off' position, or am I being too picky? My colleague laughed like a drain when I pointed out one of his 2-way switches was upside down! To me it looks crap if the lights are off and one switch is up and one down.

 

[mark ju]

On a serious note: does everyone wire their 2-way switching so that the lights can be off when both switches are in the usual 1-way 'off' position, or am I being too picky? My colleague laughed like a drain when I pointed out one of his 2-way switches was upside down! To me it looks crap if the lights are off and one switch is up and one down.

I always do the same, thought it was just me!

 

[Guest55]

and how long do you expect the switch positions to remain synchronized ?
1 hr ?
1 day ?
a pointless exercise unless the homeowner is willing to run back and forth between switch points.
;-)

 

[cmac70]

We most have a bit ocd. Because I prefer them like that. The switchers have got to look the same down stairs.

 

[odawire]

You can't do that, then the first switch will be off when it should be on, and the others will all be the wrong way round too.

On a serious note: does everyone wire their 2-way switching so that the lights can be off when both switches are in the usual 1-way 'off' position, or am I being too picky? My colleague laughed like a drain when I pointed out one of his 2-way switches was upside down! To me it looks crap if the lights are off and one switch is up and one down.

They will only stay that way until someone uses it for the first time tho?

 

[mark ju]

They will only stay that way until someone uses it for the first time tho?

That's true but it's just one of the things you pick up over many years. Apprentices used to moan when I wanted all switches in off position when the light was off.

Mind you they also thought it a bit odd of me when I would spend a little time at the end of the day tidying stuff up, cleaning accumulated muck out of conduit dies, always making sure the floor of the scissor lift wasn't ankle deep in crap etc...

Bloody hell...maybe I am odd, just never realised

 

[Stroppy]

They will only stay that way until someone uses it for the first time tho?

Not so. On a 2 way it is possible to have the switches wired so that both up or both down is on or off, or the 'messy' way where no matter how many time you walk back and forth switching you cannot get them 'synchronised'.

 

[Silly Sausage]

That's true but it's just one of the things you pick up over many years. Apprentices used to moan when I wanted all switches in off position when the light was off.

It's known as perfection, stick to your ideals!

 

[Stroppy]

Bloody hell...maybe I am odd, just never realised

Absolutely NOT, it's a quaint old-fashioned thing called 'professional pride'. Like keeping the front of the van clean and tidy and clear of crisp and jaffa cake packets, mouldy half-eaten pasties, three year old paperwork, newspapers, smoke packets, clods of mud / dog shizzle, drinks cans, and all the stuff that should be in the back: switches, cable ties, tools, metal boxes, screws etc etc. Looks so messy and unprofessional IMO.

Ok I may be a bit OCD - when stopped at traffic lights I get my duster out and give the dashboard the once-over. Is that a bit weird?

 

[Knobhead]

That's true but it's just one of the things you pick up over many years. Apprentices used to moan when I wanted all switches in off position when the light was off.

Think very carefully about that statement.

There are 8 combinations, 4 giving “OFF”, 4 “ON”. Add more intermediates and the combinations get even more fun.

Unless you’re customer is Hyacinth Bucket it’s a waste of time.

 

[Stroppy]

On intermediates, yes, but on 2-ways its worth the effort. Not that its an effort to remember.

 

[Knobhead]

You ain't met my ex-wife!

 

[Adam W]

You can't do that, then the first switch will be off when it should be on, and the others will all be the wrong way round too.

On a serious note: does everyone wire their 2-way switching so that the lights can be off when both switches are in the usual 1-way 'off' position, or am I being too picky? My colleague laughed like a drain when I pointed out one of his 2-way switches was upside down! To me it looks crap if the lights are off and one switch is up and one down.

I actually do them the other way around, so that if both switches are in the 'on' position the lights will be off.
Or alternatively, if the switches are in different positions the lights will be on.