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www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk Forum Index -> Electric Forum UK
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philip_alexander80
Junior Member
Joined: 19 Aug 2008
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: 2 lights 4 switches. |
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I have just connected my hall light to 4 switches after following the diagrams on this website. I need some help though. I have tried to add another light fixture to this arrangement so that i can have 4 switches operating 2 lights. I have done this by connecting a 2core and earth cable between the 2 light fixtures. I have connected the brown to the switched live in the first light and the blue to the neutral bar. I have then connected this wire to the other light by the exact same arrangment. I have now no neutral in either light fixture. The swiched live in dead and the neutral is the switched live. Where am I going wrong? Any help would be great
Many thanks |
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ultimatehandyman
Site Admin
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 9321
Location: Darwen, Lancashire
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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It might help if you post links or the pictures of exactly what you have followed.
Have you used the correct type of switches?
Is it a four way switching arrangement, so that the lights can be switched on or off from any one of the forur switches?
If so have you used two- 2 way switches and two intermediate switches?
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Rich-Ando
Approved Electrician
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 2495
Location: Derby, Derbyshire
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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it sounds like you have mixed up the wires int he main fitting.
the switched live is NOT the neutral cable it is meant to be that colour with a marking on it to indicate it is a switched live. it appears you are assuming the black cable is a neutral.
if you have lost the neutral then i would suggest you took the wires out of the main fitting and put them back wrong. the wire you have used as a switch wire is more than likely the neutral (if you can understand what i mean)
what you need to do is follow the instructions on here to find out which wire is the "switched" pair. once you have done that the rest are simply a case of like to like. |
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IDontBelieveIt
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2008
Posts: 962
Location: North Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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All sound advice above ^^^
As ultimatehandyman says you should have 2 x 2-Way switches and 2 x intermediate switches (2 x L1 and 2 X L2 and no COM terminals).
COM to the two outer 2-ways switches connected together (called the 'strapper'). Then L1 <> L1 and L2 <> L2 throughout.
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 4730
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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I thought it was;
L1<> L2<>L2<>L1 
Just goes to show what the plumber knows or not as the case maybe 
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philip_alexander80
Junior Member
Joined: 19 Aug 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for the replies. I have figured out what the problem was, finally. The person who wired the house connected the cable running from the switch to the light fixture as follows. He connected the switched live to the neutral bar and the live to the live. The feed from the previous light fixture which carries a live and neutral was connected to the switched live(black with red sleeve) in the switched live fixture. This was in fact the neutral, and the live was connected to live. Confused  The light off course still worked because the neutral bar acted as the switched live, but off course that left me with no neutral. I have swapped the cables over in the first light fixture and now i have a neutral, a live and a switched live.
Now i need to know whether i have connected the wiring for the second light fixture, which operates off the 4 switches, correctly. I have fed a 2 core and earth cable by connected the brown wire to the switched live in the first fixture and the black to the neutral bar. I have mirrored this in the second fixture. I have a neutral and a switched live in my second light so i assumed it was correct. |
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Rich-Ando
Approved Electrician
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 2495
Location: Derby, Derbyshire
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| it sounds ok but 100% honest, taking a couple of pics and attatching them on your reply would be far easier to tell you. |
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