Mend > Switches and Sockets

Mend MK Electric Lighting Problem Lights

Lighting circuit problem?

I recently began to change a 2 gang 2 way switch, it serves the lights in the hall way that can be switched on/off at either end of the hall, and also and outside light that can be switched on/off from the inside or the garage, the old MK switch has 8 posible connection points the new one only has six (L1,L2,L3) there are 6 wires, 2 black and 4 red the earth connects directly to the back plate (unsheathed) on the original switch to of the connections are used at the top of the switch and all 4 at the bottom of the switch, when I disconnected the socket I identified that 1 black and one red are not live, 3 red and 1 black are live. My house is circa 1960's - so does not have the update todate wire colourings. Please can somebody help with this connundrum?

Lewie
October 2008

MK Electric D.I.Y, Switches and Sockets Lighting Problem Lights

Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light
Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!
It is the business of the wealthy man
To give employment to the artisan.

For each lamp...

Live---Switch A---Two conductors---Switch B ---Lamp---Neutral

Usually live passes between the switches on one cable with Red & Black wires - The Black in this configuration is NOT Neutral and must be identified with a Red (sometimes Brown) sleeve to show that it's dangerous. Throw either switch and the lamp changes its state.

Draw the circuit for one lamp - Identify Live into just one switch box - identify the cable between the switches - identify the cable from the other switch to the lamp. DO NOT GUESS. Consider employing a certified person.

Peccavi
October 2008