3 Way Kitchen Light Switch With odd Wiring Help Needed Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[chappers3604]

Hi all, trying to change a light switch in the kitchen, the existing switch seems to have been wired up oddly can't understand the thin red wires at all, can anybodey help please, have done all the others in the house, just this one left

[Mr White]

You should connect it as it is connected now.

The "thin red wires" as you call them are links (Probably going to be too short for your new switch, in which case you will need some longer ones, from a cable of the same size, probably 1mm.)

Lets call the "fat one" with the links "Cable 1"

So cable 1 goes into the first C terminal.
Then a link from this to the next C terminal
Then a link from this to the last C terminal

You should have 3 cables left (Not counting earth) lets call them 2,3 & 4)

Put 2 In the first L1 terminal
Put 3 in the second L1 terminal
Put 4 in the last L1 terminal

The new switch you have is the same as the old one, just the terminals are laid out different and called L1 L2 and C where as the old one they are top, centre and bottom (Ok, I made the names up for the last bit)

[kbrownie]

As above, just to clarify.
The cables that link across the common terminals do so to supply a live connection to each gang. The live connection comes for one of the thicker cables, which is permanently live from the supply. This perm live is the thicker cable that is connected up with the link cables, in your second picture.

Once you have connected all the above up, you will be left with a switch line to each light on the switch. These are then terminated individually at L1 of each gang.
The positioning of these L1 cables, will switch that particular light to that switch on the front of the plate. So depending which light you want at which gang would determine where they are terminated.
Without the link across the commons, only one switch gang will work, that being the one with the perm live connected to it.

Remember safely isolate before work is carried out, and keep all earth cables connected together in the backbox.

[chappers3604]

Thank you gents, all done and working :-)

[chappers3604]

err cancel that last post, i have connected the lives to C and connected the main live to C, however i now have two wires left and a very thin red wire that seems to be a two core wire with the black wire cut back, i didn't notice where this was connected to......help