Wiring help for 3 way sitch

[lstables]

I have bought a new 3 way switch which controls the landing, living room and Kitchen, but I can only get either living room and kitchen to work or just landing.

Can someone help me with this?

See attached images for what I've done so far.

 

[Richard Burns]

You initially need to switch off the power and ensure it is dead and then repair the live cable that has a broken sheath, this is dangerous especially in a metal back box with unsleeved earth cables (it would be good to sleeve the earths individually in green and yellow sleeving).


It is not possible to identify the cables in the switch without being on site and testing.
From the look of the current wiring it is possible that one of the lights is a two way arrangement in that the light can switched form another location.
There are a variety of ways to wire a two way switch and without knowing how it is wired it could be dangerous to advise.


Just remember that each switch will require a permanent live supply on one side of the switch and the switched live supply will then go off to the light.
The permanent live supply can be looped from one switch to the other as it looks like you have done from the left most switch to the right most switch.
If both cables in the centre switch go to another switch then these will need either a permanent supply or a switched supply.


Sorry not to be able to help much but it really requires a site visit to ensure accuracy and safety.

 

[Pete999]

I have bought a new 3 way switch which controls the landing, living room and Kitchen, but I can only get either living room and kitchen to work or just landing.

Can someone help me with this?

See attached images for what I've done so far.

Bit of a calamity waiting happen there mate, my advice would be to employ a decent Electrician to visit and put this right, you really shouldn't be messing about with something you know very little about, not having a dig at you.

 

[uksparks]

It's all too common people changing three gang switches and then getting stuck, I probably get one per month.

As Richard and Pete say you need to physically be there to establish what's what else it's just a guess.

More often that not, a three gang switch at the bottom of the stairs like this is the most complex out of all the switches in a property generally speaking, it needs careful attention paying to it before touching it even when you know what you are doing. One I went to had 9 red wires, the customer had removed the faceplate and left them all hanging out, it did t take too long to work out what was what but it was a bit of a challenge!

 

[telectrix]

as others have said. it's a job for a competent sparks. too likely to cause a tragedy to be attempted by someone without the knowledge. without test equipment and the know-how, there's no way to tell if that fancy metal faceplate has a viable earth, as well as other issues.