Wiring advice needed

Liam1611

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I've just replaced a Dimmer switch with a toggle switch but have run into problems wiring the switch up. The room has 2 light switches which control the light, the dimmer has 3 connections Common, L1 and L2 and the new switch is an 1 Way 2 Gang Intermediate switch with 2 x L1 and 2 x L2 connections, there is also a chock block that is in the backbox of the new switch and I have 3 wires 1 Red and 2 Black ones. Which wires do I shove in which connectors to make it work or do I just change the switch to the same one as the original?
The way it is wired at the moment the main switch switches the light on/off but the second switch only turns it off once it is switched on with the main switch.

Thanks in advance

Liam
 
Hi Liam,

Just to clarify things, do you have one light in the room and two separate 1 gang switches perhaps on either side of the room (entry & exit) that are used to switch the light on & off independantly?

Cheers
Phil
 
I think that you will find that you have a 2 way circuit, therefore you will need a 2 way switch.

What you then need to do is to find out which are the switching wires (probably the black ones but, you never know).

You then need to connect the switching wires to L1 and L2 and the other wire into the common.
 
Thanks for the replies, the switch which I have changed over is in fact a 1 Gang 2 Way and NOT a 2 Gang 1 Way as previously posted, with 2 x L1 connections and 2 x L2 connections with no Common connector , the original switch had a Common, L1 and L2 connections. In reply to Phil's question, you are correct I have 1 light controlled independently by 2 switches but I do not know what type of switch the second one is.

Regards

Liam
 
Last edited:
Hi Liam,
In that case it is a 2 way switching system, in that you can switch the light on & off independantly at either switch. On both switch boxes you will need a 1 gang 2 way switch (2 switches in total). Connect the red to COM and connect the two blacks to the L1 & L2 connections.
This applies to both of the switches and you should be in business! Remember, before you do any work, check & double check that you have turned off your main switch on your consumer unit or RCCD. Any probs post back.
Regards
Phil
 
Hi Liam,

Forgot to mention that the switch you changed over which had 2 x L1 & 2 x L2 terminals, is an intermediate switch and is of no use to you in this 2 way switch set up!

Regards
Phil
 
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