Lighting Not Working - Help!

[RJUK]

Hi folks, I've come here for a little help, after switching off my downstairs lighting circuit to change a light switch and then turning it back on to find that the back half of the house is now in darkness.

Basically, I wanted to add a WiFi switch for control of the living room lights, so switched the downstairs lighting circuit off on the RCD/fuse box and then unscrewed the light switch fitting. At this point the wife strolled back in and suggested doing the washing up, so I had to turn the lighting circuit back on so we could see in the kitchen. I hadn't yet disconnected any wires in the light switch, but had removed one of two living room ceiling lights to replace it. All wires for this light are exposed, but I made sure that none were touching.

The circuit breaker switched back on and stays in the "up" position, but none of the kitchen or dining room lights work. Only the front half of the house, including the remaining ceiling light in the living room. All other switches are in the "up" position too, so nothing has tripped.

What is likely to be the problem, and how do I fix it?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 104825]

Hi folks, I've come here for a little help, after switching off my downstairs lighting circuit to change a light switch and then turning it back on to find that the back half of the house is now in darkness.

Basically, I wanted to add a WiFi switch for control of the living room lights, so switched the downstairs lighting circuit off on the RCD/fuse box and then unscrewed the light switch fitting. At this point the wife strolled back in and suggested doing the washing up, so I had to turn the lighting circuit back on so we could see in the kitchen. I hadn't yet disconnected any wires in the light switch, but had removed one of two living room ceiling lights to replace it. All wires for this light are exposed, but I made sure that none were touching.

The circuit breaker switched back on and stays in the "up" position, but none of the kitchen or dining room lights work. Only the front half of the house, including the remaining ceiling light in the living room. All other switches are in the "up" position too, so nothing has tripped.

What is likely to be the problem, and how do I fix it?

Thanks

Get a dishwasher - sorry I'll get my coat.
Someone with a clue will be along shortly

 

[Wilko]

Hi RJ, one of the wires in the living room lights was probably an unswitched Live used to energise the next light along and you've probably disconnected it. Any chance you took a pic of the wires before changing anything?

 

[Des 56]

There seems to be only one change in circumstances that has happened to the wiring which is making the rear half dark suckers fail

One of the preceding lights has been disconnected and the supply to them has been lost
Logic my friend use logic

 

[static zap]

Or said wire ,is now acting as a neutral !
( that you don't have )

 

[buzzlightyear]

in order for the work to be done switch off the mcbs and call a spark out .

 

[RJUK]

Superb, thanks chaps. I suspected the missing light could be it, but not knowing how it all works I wasn't sure how or why that would be the case. All working again now. Thanks again.

One more question; can the below pictured switch be wired in where the other (already wired) switch is? If so, what wires am I putting where? I think the brown COM wire should go in L on the new switch, but what about L1 and L2? There only seems to be connections in L2 and N on the new switch. L1 and L3 are just holes...

 

[buzzlightyear]

that will never work because the switch that you where holding
is a two way switch .on the wifi switch you have a L L2 NUETRAL looking at the pictures

 

[PEG]

that will never work because the switch that you where holding
is a two way switch .on the wifi switch you have a L L2 NUETRAL looking at the pictures

Just when i had a handle on Brexit...you go and get me thinking about EU again...

But i think your star point reference may be accurate

 

[RJUK]

Ah damn, well that's that then. :-(

 

[telectrix]

the wi-fi switch will prhaps need to be fitted at the other 2 way switch position and the wiring reconfigured. you need a local electrician for this. too advanced for DIY.

 

[Octopus]

I wonder if the packaging or sales blurb for the wifi switch points out you need a neutral at the switch?

 

[RJUK]

Yes, it did. I took a look at another plug in the garage and thought a neutral wire was present. Guess I was wrong. Not really worth re-wiring the house to fit these things though.

 

[telectrix]

it may only be a simple job for an electrician. 1 -2 hours perhaps. depends on what cores you have at switches . might be easier to exchange the wi-fi switch for one that does not require a N.

 

[RJUK]

Thanks. The main issue we wanted the WiFi control for, was because it's a new build house and they put some of the switches in the most daft positions.

For example, the light switch in the garage is at the front, by the big up 'n' over door. Nothing next to the internal door that goes into the house, so we have to walk out into a dark garage and stumble around in the dark to find the switch at the front.

Another example is the main thoroughfare in the house - between kitchen and living room. Some genius thought it would be a good idea to omit a light switch for the kitchen here, so again you have to stumble into the kitchen, across to a door over the other side of the room, next to which the single switch is.

You'd think in a brand new build they'd have this stuff figured out. There's also two single switches right next to one another at the bottom of the stairs, one for the landing light and one for the downstairs hall light. At the top of the stairs there is a double gang switch that operates the same lights, so why have them separate at the bottom of the stairs?!