DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

OK, this is giving me a headache! Two Gang Switch as shown in the attached image. The red wire with the black mark on it is the permanent live.

As looking at it in the photo, the switch at the right (left hand side if you were looking at it fitted on the wall) controls a hall light and the other one outdoor lights on a PIR - currently, the outside lights won't come on unless the hall light is switched on, plus I need the switches the other way around - hall light working from the right hand switch if you were looking at the switch fitted on the wall.

Apologies in advance for being a numpty and not wanting to kill myself or blow the box up by fiddling without having a clue what I'm doing! Have looked at stuff on here and tinternet, but am really no further forward. :)

Swap the two red wires over. Leave the short link wire where it is.
Then turn the switch upsidedown. (Just to see does it work as you want)

Mr White wrote:Swap the two red wires over. Leave the short link wire where it is.
Then turn the switch upsidedown. (Just to see does it work as you want)

Yup, it now works as I'd like it to, thanks. Any way to swap the switching around now?

Yes, swap the respective wires that are in L1 into L2

Mr White wrote:Yes, swap the respective wires that are in L1 into L2

I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks a lot for your help... :-)

Hmmm, that doesn't work. I can now turn on the hall light from the right hand switch as I wanted, but when I flick the switch for the outdoor lights the hall light goes off..... tried combinations of the permanent live & the neutral in both L1 & L2 with no joy?

Put it back how it was after I first told you and insure it is working right.
Then do exactly as I told you the second time.

I shall tell you why.

The switch you have is a 2gang 2way
(2 buttons and each can be in "either of two positions" L1 or L2)
You said the red wire with the black mark is permanent live.
By swapping this with the plain red wire, you are now giving a live to both switches via the short link to the C (common) terminal.

The red wire and the black wire you have in each L1 (or should have) are switch wires (The black is NOT neutral)

As I said earlier each switch can be in either of 2 positions L1 or L2
What it actually does is to change from L1 to L2 when the switch is operated. C being common is always connected to either L1 or L2.

When you first had it working you had the switch wires in the respective L1's (with a permanent live in each C)

So when you turn the switch round 180 degrees the wiring does not change (Obviously) but the switch operation is "wrong" so all you have to do is to move the respective switch wire from L1 to L2 nothing else.

OK, thanks - that'll be my mission for tonight and will report back! :)

Perfect, thanks. My fault. I was turning the switch the 'right way' up after swapping the wires. Of course, there is no right way up, as long as it works as intended! :)