Understanding

[clarkey85]

Just would like to understand the wiring of this if possible as looks different how we been shown at college as we only get to see the nice perfect way in our booths, the set up is hall landing 1 gang 2 way switch and if turn either on or off both will do same and like I said would like to understand this and also what would the best Soloutions be to change into a 2way so could turn landing and hall seperatly this pic Is hall
-seems to be only a t&e and a single cable in both switches and finding hard how wired as cant figure our where the feed from the light is
so any info much appreciated
Hallwayswitch
Landing switch

 

[telectrix]

what you have is a simple 2 way switching but controlling 2 lights. to separate them to have both independently 2 way switched would involve quite a bit of extra wiring and chasing out. not a job for the faint hearted.

 

[clarkey85]

yeah would kinda get that it would need more wiring just struggling with how this is actually wired up ?
as in. doesnt seem to be enough wires in the way im been taught?
not sure if im getting this right as i would have a feed from a junction box from the loop to the switch and back up to switched live and connect 3 core to each switches?

 

[almantle]

I assume 1 switch has the pair of strappers & a feed with the other switch having the pair of strappers & the switch wire, getting your testers out would confirm this

 

[clarkey85]

and what would be the most convenient tests to do to clarify this seen as i cant get to the junction box as in ceiling void and light in ceiling are down lighters

 

[almantle]

Just bell the strappers out, you can test for voltage at the switch & surely you can pull the downlights out of the ceiling the get to the connections to bell out the switch wire.

 

[Des 56]

The standard circuit for a 2 way is to feed the common of a switch at one end,a pair of conductors(strappers)connected to the L1 and L2 between the 1st and second switch then a switch live to feed the lamp,or as in your example 2 lamps
This wiring method would be used with singles in conduit pipes

The method you mention is a conversion circuit.the feed and switch live is connected at the 1st switch as would it be if it was a standard 1 way switch
A 3 core and earth cable is then used to link between the switches and it can then be converted to a 2 way

 

[almantle]

As previously said to change them to operate individual lights would probably require chasing out/changing the cables ect

 

[telectrix]

1 switch will have L to common and the other switched L to common, and strappers from L1 and L2. you are probably used to L and SL in 1 switch and 3 core fron SW1 to SW2. as generally used when looping through the lights.

 

[clarkey85]

and when your saying bell the strappers more detail..?
and regarding finding the switch wire that seems to be a single cable from pics so not as easy and doing a continuity test at the junction box with the pairs flick switch till get a continuity and thats my switch wire
sorry pal not much practical

 

[clarkey85]

Telectrix so will both lights as in hall landing just be looped off and fed, and regarding the wiring in the junction box just same regarding switch wire and live

cheers for all replies aswel everybody great help

 

[Richard Burns]

It is probably wired something like this, though other options are possible. (No earths shown but should be there)

Obviously in your case the three plates will be junction boxes as you have down lights.
One of the switches when the lights are off will have a live cable in common (the line supply) , the other switch will not have a live cable in common (the switched line).

 

[clarkey85]

That's a good diagram pal cheers have you any like that for if it was 2way 2gang in hall one gang on landing

just only diagrams I have are the loop way

 

[Knobhead]

Thats saved you belting seven bells out of the wall.

 

[Richard Burns]

Something like this:

Just as an example of one (two) ways of doing it.