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Two switches to operate a single light - change to single switch
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:04 pm
by pachmarhi
Our garage has a two gang switch where BOTH switches need to be pressed in order for the light to work. Is this some weird kind of two-way switch set up? I want to replace this with a two gang grid front plate with one switch for the light and the second a retracting switch to operate the door. The door needs bell wire and wiring seems straightforward. Unclear how to wire the light switch. The new light switch has two terminals: 'common' and 'L'. Photos of the old wiring are below.
Thanks.
Re: Two switches to operate a single light - change to single switch
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2020 10:22 pm
by Mr White
As your door controls will be around 12v (The motor will be mains) you can not have 12v and mains in the same enclosure without physical separation.
In plain English you have to have two separate switches. Most folk use "door bell" button for the garage door controls.
Regarding your lights.
Someone has clearly wired the wrong, since it should not do as you say.
Without being there to physically check, short of trial and error I can not say, I would however ask is or was there ever a 2nd light?
You could always leave it as it is, and just turn one switch on / off and never touch the other switch.
Re: Two switches to operate a single light - change to single switch
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:10 am
by pachmarhi
Thanks for the reply. Leaving one switch on is what we have done but as I needed to replace the door switch I thought I would replace it with a bell switch in the faceplate. Will have to just get another separate switch.
I am not aware of another light ever having been installed in the garage. It was all installed by the garage installation company probably 20+ years ago, but I'll try tracing the cabling and seen if I can see anything.