I'm after some advice. i'm replacing a 2 gang dimmer switch with a fancy touch panel one. The switch is 2 gang 1 way which is what I need. Its for two sets of spot light.
My question is my old switch seems to be a 2 gang 2 way setup. With two separate common wires. However my new switch has only 1 common port. How do I wire this?
Light switch wiring
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wine~o
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Re: Light switch wiring
Pics of both the new and old switch please, the back not the front, and the wiring as is.
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Someone-Else
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Re: Light switch wiring
"Gang" refers to the number of buttons on a switch
"Way" means how many places can you turn a light on or off from (sort of)
In most rooms you turn the light on or off by a switch at the door.
Most Landings the light can be turned off from downstairs or upstairs.
So most rooms have 1 gang 1 way switch
Landings have 1 gang 2 way switch
(in the hall it is often 2 gang 2 way, one switch for the hall, and one switch for the landing)
So if your new switch is 2 gang 1 way, but your existing switch uses 2 gang 2 way, the switch is not compatible, BUT as wine~O said pictures of the back of the switches would help.
"Way" means how many places can you turn a light on or off from (sort of)
In most rooms you turn the light on or off by a switch at the door.
Most Landings the light can be turned off from downstairs or upstairs.
So most rooms have 1 gang 1 way switch
Landings have 1 gang 2 way switch
(in the hall it is often 2 gang 2 way, one switch for the hall, and one switch for the landing)
So if your new switch is 2 gang 1 way, but your existing switch uses 2 gang 2 way, the switch is not compatible, BUT as wine~O said pictures of the back of the switches would help.
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spikeyv81
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Re: Light switch wiring
Thanks for the replies, here are some pics of the new and old light switch.
Old switch which has wires going to common and L1 on both sides. These turn on two separate sets of spot lights in the same room.
New 2 gang touch panel switch. Only has one common and L1 and L2 how am I supposed to operate the switch independently?
The wiring diagram for the new switch seems to indicate that I connect L1 and L2 (I guess these operate independent switches) and L=Live however with two live wires and only one connector.
Old switch which has wires going to common and L1 on both sides. These turn on two separate sets of spot lights in the same room.
- Old Switch
- maxresdefault.jpg (77.82 KiB) Viewed 2123 times
- New switch
- GLSTouch_2G_Dimmer_Back-Black.jpg (43.98 KiB) Viewed 2123 times
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OnlyMe
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Re: Light switch wiring
OK, so your old light switch is 2g 2 way but was only used as a 2g 1 way?
The way to wire the new switch up depends on how the existing switch was wired. There are many ways to wire a switch but if you post a picture or diagram of the existing circuit it should be easy to sort out. (on the new switch L is permanent live, L1 is the feed to light 1 and L2 is the fed to light 2).
The way to wire the new switch up depends on how the existing switch was wired. There are many ways to wire a switch but if you post a picture or diagram of the existing circuit it should be easy to sort out. (on the new switch L is permanent live, L1 is the feed to light 1 and L2 is the fed to light 2).
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ericmark
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Re: Light switch wiring
I see the problem, old switch wired with separate permanent lines new switch wants to combine them, it could be as simple as joining both wires together, but without knowing where each light is fed from we can't be sure, and you need to be sure.