wall light problem

[BrainD]

I have 4 wall lights installed in a lounge with two 2-way switches, one at each door entrance.

Lights have been installed since the house was built about 10 years ago, without a problem.

I've just changed the wall lights and the 2-way switches are no longer working as they did.

If I turn the lights on from one switch and leave them on, the other switch functions OK and the lights go on and off, but the 1st switch only works if the lights are left on from the 2nd switch.

I notice that the malfunctioning switch in each case makes the lights flicker if the switch is depressed slightly.

The only difference between the old and new lights is that the new ones have no earth connection to the lamp fitting.

I hope this makes sense and look forward to a solution.

P.S I'm NOT an electrician

 

[Darkwood]

Welcome to the forum, You will be assigned with DIY status so members can tailor their responses to suit.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I have 4 wall lights installed in a lounge with two 2-way switches, one at each door entrance.

Lights have been installed since the house was built about 10 years ago, without a problem.

I've just changed the wall lights and the 2-way switches are no longer working as they did.

If I turn the lights on from one switch and leave them on, the other switch functions OK and the lights go on and off, but the 1st switch only works if the lights are left on from the 2nd switch.

I notice that the malfunctioning switch in each case makes the lights flicker if the switch is depressed slightly.

The only difference between the old and new lights is that the new ones have no earth connection to the lamp fitting.

I hope this makes sense and look forward to a solution.

P.S I'm NOT an electrician

what type and how many cables at each light?

 

[telectrix]

what's the betting that the cpc has been used as a switched L / part of a strapper?if so there could well be a danger of the metal casing of the lights becoming live when a switch was operated.

 

[BrainD]

The wiring to each light ends in a 3-way terminal block - Live, Neutral & Earth - but the number of cables is not the same at each light. I've checked that all screw in the blocks are tight. Could this problem have anything to do with the fact that the new lights do not have an Earth connection, unlike the original lights?

 

[BrainD]

Thanks for your reply but I really don't understand. Any chance you could explain a little clearer?

 

[Flanders]

The fact that the there is no earth required at the new light fittings has nothing to do with light switches not working correctly ( unless as others have said the earth cable had been used for other reasons (and without testing it we wont know) , it sound like you have connected the new lights incorrectly, there could be a permanent live as well as a switched live in the light fitting , if you did not alter the wiring at any of the switches then you have connected the lights incorrectly, may be too late now but did you make a note of were the cable went in the old fitting or take a photo of them.