Hi there.

I've made a bit of an error somewhere, but the wiring baffles me.

I understand that in order for 2 way switching to opearte correctly, then a common wire should run between the 2 switches.

However, when I came to install a new light switch in the hall, I noticed that instead of 3 cables being available for connection, there were only 2 - a black and a red.

The switch on the landing seemed to be wired "correctly", in that 3 cables were connected to the switch - black & red to S1 & S2 and a yellow to the common.
I did make a note of the original wiring before I disconnected everything, and noticed there was an additional short red cable connecting between the common terminal and S1.
For the life of me, I can't work out what this cable does.

When I connect everything exactly as it was before, the landing light no longer works.

I have verified that it's not the bulb and it's not the fuse.

Please, somebody help me!! I'm not a qualified electrician, but have always done my own domestic electrical work and this is the first issue I've had in over 40 years.

Many thanks,

Jonesey

Took a bit of thinking about, I think you'll find the com wire from your switch that appears correct, will be the live return to the light, you can check this I would hope.
You will also find that the live feed to switch2 (The one with 2wires) is the only permanent live on the circuit, this should go to L1, with the strapper to com and the black to L2.

As always pics would help.

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Hi there, thanks for the quick response.

The first picture is the upstairs landing switch, the second one is the one in the hall.

I've re-connected the old one, just to make sure the new one wasn't broken.

The old one as you can see is of the old fashioned "one switch upside down" variety.

The 2 wires on the right (looking down) are a separate switch for the hall light

I am totally convinced that this is how it was wired before I disonnected everything.
But I'd love to be wrong........

That is how I expected it to be and should work (after a fashion) provided the yellow wire in com returns to the light fitting

Can you take a pic of the connections there?

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Right, you mean the yellow connected to the upstairs switch yes?

An added complication, though it shouldn't matter - we no longer have a ceiling rose, instead I installed the wiring for wall lights.

I basically moved the rose into the loft, (I actually installed a junction box, rather than using a rose which would have meant exposed wires) then I filled the hole so that the plasterers could skim over.

I then ran my new cables from the junction box. In order for us still to have light when going up/down stairs, I ran a cable from where my new cables exit the wall to a temporary light fitting. This worked fine and has been running perfectly for about 2 months (I'm a slow decorater )

So I should be able to check that the yellow runs back to where the light fitting now resides (in the loft)

unless we can confirm that the yellow is acting as the live return, we are working on an educated?? guess..

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Ok, I'll have to go and investigate.

Many thanks for your help so far, I now have to go out for a couple of hours (Christmas shopping ) but I heop to back on this later on today.

Jonesey

The mrs. is making similar noises...looks like I'm getting dragged around the shops too...

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