scratchy head time

[nidgew]

hi everyone happy new year to ya all
just a quick one i hope.
got a call yesterday to have a look at a couple of light fittings in a domestic property. when i got there the owner had taken down both light fittings and disconnected both 2way switches (in an attempt to save time and money).
he had not marked anything and it is wired using the old colours.
where the ceiling roses had been there was the usual mains in red black twin, a switch wire dropping down to the first switch but also the red yellow blue 3 core
the other switch just had red yellow blue 3 core
the other light had a red yellow blue 3 core and a twin red black
i tried all configurations but could not get the second light to work.
i got the first light to work along with the 2 switches but could not get the second light to function.
could anyone out there help me rectify this i just really need to know where the 3 core wires connect i havant come across this before ie the 3 core in the ceiling rose ? is this common ?
it got to the point were i had to leave telling the customer i would investigate. i really want to help and sort this problem oh and get paid having spent 2 hours there already lol please help
nigel

 

[telectrix]

easy. wire the 3 core from sw1 to sw2 terminal for terminal. then connect the switch wire from the light into L1 and L2 of the switch it goesw to. usual practice is to use yellow for common. sorry, missed a bit .the other light seems to be wired slightly differently, but you should ( if using Y for common) have red/blue of 3 core connected in with red/black of switch wire. whether this is done at the switch or the fitting make4s no diff.

 

[malcolmsanford]

How are they suppose to switch? are the switches single gang 2 way?

Do both lights suppose to come on when the switch is activated and then both go off on the 2 way? Did you bell out the 3 cores? they should go to the switches. So open the switches and make sure you have a 3 core going from switch to switch. That is your first start.

Once you have established that then switch line/line down to one switch, Line and neutrals sorted out.

 

[IQ Electrical]

hi everyone happy new year to ya all
just a quick one i hope.
got a call yesterday to have a look at a couple of light fittings in a domestic property. when i got there the owner had taken down both light fittings and disconnected both 2way switches (in an attempt to save time and money).
he had not marked anything and it is wired using the old colours.
where the ceiling roses had been there was the usual mains in red black twin, a switch wire dropping down to the first switch but also the red yellow blue 3 core
the other switch just had red yellow blue 3 core
the other light had a red yellow blue 3 core and a twin red black
i tried all configurations but could not get the second light to work.
i got the first light to work along with the 2 switches but could not get the second light to function.
could anyone out there help me rectify this i just really need to know where the 3 core wires connect i havant come across this before ie the 3 core in the ceiling rose ? is this common ?
it got to the point were i had to leave telling the customer i would investigate. i really want to help and sort this problem oh and get paid having spent 2 hours there already lol please help
nigel

I think this thread illustrates the logic in telectrix's signature, especially the £80.00 price band lol !

 

[nidgew]

many thanks for quick responce much appreciated.
1 - the switches are 1 gang 2way (both) one has just a 3 core red yellow blue the other has red yellow blue and a twin black red
2 - ceiling rose 1 feed in,(red black) switch wire down (red black) and the 3 core (red yellow blue) (do all reds connect together ? what about the blue yellow)
3 - ceiling rose 2 twin (red black) and 3core (red yellow blue)
when i have wired 2 ways before i just run 3 core switch to switch (not through the ceiling rose) any reason for this?
when test for voltage at ceiling rose 2 i presumed the black was the neutral even though ceiling rose 1 works fine and both switches operate as they should ????

 

[nidgew]

sorry missed a bit when test for voltage at ceiling rose 2 i presumed black was neutral i cannot get 230 volts even though ceiling rose 1 works fine and both switches operate as they should

 

[Paul.M]

I think your not an electrician. Two way lighting circuits are not straight forward has you have found out today. Do not assume that the black wire is neutral, it could be a strapper cable and therefore live. Be careful and do not energize this circuit until an electrician has fixed it for you. If you post what area you live in there will be someone on here close to you and this shouldn't cost that much to fix.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I think your not an electrician. Two way lighting circuits are not straight forward has you have found out today. Do not assume that the black wire is neutral, it could be a strapper cable and therefore live. Be careful and do not energize this circuit until an electrician has fixed it for you. If you post what area you live in there will be someone on here close to you and this shouldn't cost that much to fix.

I'll second that....any electrician of even limited experience should be able to sort what is what with a continuity tester,identify all switch lines and lives and anything left will most likely be neutrals...It helps if the wiring is confusing to do a drawing as you identify wires.....Trying various configurations in the hope of chancing on the right one is not the way to do it.

 

[nidgew]

sorry paul m i am an electrician been one since i was 20 so for 18 years. yes i said i presumed but i took all precautions when testing what i should have said is i tested between all conductors and could not achieve 230 volts at ceiling rose 2. as i said earlier i have not come across this way of wiring a 2 way switch where the 3 core is wired in the ceiling rose thats all i just wanted some assistance, if any of you guys had come across this situation you're selfs. it is not the way i would do it but tried to help a customer in need.

 

[Paul.M]

Ok in that case let's go back to basics and simplify this. Forget about the colours, it is down to you to identify each cable at each terminal. Of course you need a L and N at the 2nd rose and sounds like you have a damaged cable. Dead test each wire, it may need replacing. So without sucking eggs:- L to sw1 com, strapper L1 sw1 to L2 sw2, strapper sw1 L2 to sw2 L1, sw2 com to first rose, loop over to 2nd rose.

 

[derek preece]

If in doubt draw a wiring diagram, I just have based on your description and it looks like (at a guess) that the 3core links the two ceiling roses, one to carry the switched live, one for the neutral and one for the unswitched live to link the twin and earth to the next part of the lighting circuit.
Just a guess mind!

 

[i=p/u]

buzz em out ladddddddddddddddddddddddddd

 

[telectrix]

buzz em out ladddddddddddddddddddddddddd

i'm getting a 2nd buzz out of a JD today.

 

[i=p/u]

does he kiss like a sexy lady