4 gang 2 way lighting problem

[davidmitchell]

Today I was on a job wiring a new lighting circuit into an office block. It's 4 individual offices each getting a single rose with a single 2 way switch and a set of strappers back to a 4 gang 2 way switch by the main door.

Wired it all in as a typical loop in loop out radial and used 3 core to the single 2 way and a 3 wire arrangement between the switches linking the commons. Tested all of them and they worked fine except the last one. Where the single 2 way didn't work and only allowed the 4 gang to operate if L1 was open on the single 2 way switch.

All the the kit is brand new from tlc direct and all the switches and loops are wired the identically.

As is always the case, it was gone 5 by the time this was discovered and the client was closing up.

Any thoughts ?

cheers

 

[Leesparkykent]

Dodgy switch

 

[davidmitchell]

Yeah, that was my first thought, but didn't have time to cross wire it with another switch in the 4 gang to check it. Mainly want to check that a sticky switch is a fairly common thing ?

 

[Plonker 3]

Use a low ohm reading meter to check the switch is working correctly.

 

[Octopus]

Reversed feed and load?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Yeah, that was my first thought, but didn't have time to cross wire it with another switch in the 4 gang to check it. Mainly want to check that a sticky switch is a fairly common thing ?

It could also be the single 2way switch. Do what Dillb said on both switches in each position.

 

[davidmitchell]

Cheers. I'll give it bash tomorrow and see if the problem jumps across, if it does I'll def be off to TLC for a couple of new switches.

 

[Octopus]

Where the single 2 way didn't work and only allowed the 4 gang to operate if L1 was open on the single 2 way switch.

I still can't make out the point you are making here! Are you 110% sure you have linked all the feeds correctly??

 

[davidmitchell]

100% sure I triple checked them and all the other three single 2 way switches and the first 3 wire strappers to first three of the four switches on the 4 gang worked fine. The last one is definitely wired the same with commons linked between the switches and L1 2way linked to L1 4 gang and L2 2 way linked to L2 4 gang. ??

 

[Octopus]

I still don't understand "only allowed the 4 gang" do you mean only allowed the 4th switch?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Today I was on a job wiring a new lighting circuit into an office block. It's 4 individual offices each getting a single rose with a single 2 way switch and a set of strappers back to a 4 gang 2 way switch by the main door.

Wired it all in as a typical loop in loop out radial and used 3 core to the single 2 way and a 3 wire arrangement between the switches linking the commons. Tested all of them and they worked fine except the last one. Where the single 2 way didn't work and only allowed the 4 gang to operate if L1 was open on the single 2 way switch.

All the the kit is brand new from tlc direct and all the switches and loops are wired the identically.

As is always the case, it was gone 5 by the time this was discovered and the client was closing up.

Any thoughts ?

cheers

It sounds like you've switched the common live feed through the 2 way.

 

[davidmitchell]

In short the 4 gang switch would operate but only if the 2 way switch was in one position and not the other.

 

[Octopus]

In short the 4 gang switch would operate but only if the 2 way switch was in one position and not the other.

I think a fresh pair of eyes tomorrow will spot incorrectly connected feed or feeds.

What did your dead tests show?

 

[davidmitchell]

It sounds like you've switched the common live feed through the 2 way.

I'm pretty sure I haven't. But I'll check/test them tomorrow and swap accordingly.

Thanks for your time.

Good night
Cheers
Dave

 

[Octopus]

Most of us have done this at one time or another!

 

[Plonker 3]

As Murdoch said, its a simple mistake, but a night away from the job and a fresh head tomorrow will almost certainly see the problem straight away.

Try not to over think things when you are fault finding as that will only make things worse.

 

[Leesparkykent]

As Murdoch said, its a simple mistake, but a night away from the job and a fresh head tomorrow will almost certainly see the problem straight away.

Try not to over think things when you are fault finding as that will only make things worse.

Every one has done this at some point as well, think the worst possible scenario and miss the obvious haha

 

[telectrix]

i think he means that the 4 gang end works if the single is in one position only.

 

[Anthony S]

Sounds like you have wired 3 switches in 2 plate and the other one in 3 plate but connected the feed and return in the wrong terminals.

 

[telectrix]

brown to brown, black to black, blue to bits.