Intermediate switch problem - Please Help!!!

[harrison2987]

Hi Guys,

I have just been in a house that is experiencing problems with a hall/landing light and the 5 (yes 5!!!) switches that control it.

So here's the layout:

There is a 3 gang dimmer on the ground floor with one gang for the light in question

3 intermediate switches on the landing (landing is horse shoe shaped and there is a switch outside each bedroom door)

1 gang 3 way switch outside the bathroom.

At face value it all looks like its wired correctly. There is a common, L1 and L2 at the dimmer, and the same at the 1 gang switch, and L1 L1 in L2 L2 out at all 3 intermediates.

I can turn the light on and off at each individual switch, but when i turn the light on at 1 switch and off at another the switches then don't work at all and i have to go back to the dimmer switch to turn the light on again.

Can anyone help me solve this problem so that any switch can be operated at any time to turn the light on and off.

Cheers

 

[telectrix]

Re: Intermediate switch problem - Please Help!!

first thing is to check if it's not the dimmer.if the dimmer is turned right down, then the other switches will appear not to work as the lights are controlled by the dimmer. second is to see if you have the common in the 2 way switches linked with connectors in the intermediates if the L feed is not in the common terminal of 1 of the 2 way switches. if it's into L1 or L2, then you need 3 strappers.

 

[iamelectric]

i see you are qualified and have 2391 , can you not figure it out

 

[harrison2987]

Re: Intermediate switch problem - Please Help!!

second is to see if you have the common in the 2 way switches linked with connectors in the intermediates if the L feed is not in the common terminal of 1 of the 2 way switches. if it's into L1 or L2, then you need 3 strappers.

Cheers Tel,

I didn't see any connectors behind the intermediates, however i was getting 240v at each intermediate from one of the terminals.

I will check the dimmer and keep it turned up.

Keep you posted!!

 

[harrison2987]

i see you are qualified and have 2391 , can you not figure it out

I haven't come across this problem before so i'm asking for some advice and help

As it says on your profile......

Everydays a school day.

If your not going to be helpful why comment

 

[telectrix]

is the dimmer turned right down? where does the L feed enter the switching system. if it's a loop in at light with L feed going int L1 of 1 of the switches, you need 3 core to the intermediates, with the 3rd core connected in each, straight through.

 

[telectrix]

Re: Intermediate switch problem - Please Help!!

hmmm... my post appeared about 15 minutes after i'd posted it.thought it was dead, so, similar one follows when the forum wakes up.

 

[harrison2987]

is the dimmer turned right down? where does the L feed enter the switching system. if it's a loop in at light with L feed going int L1 of 1 of the switches, you need 3 core to the intermediates, with the 3rd core connected in each, straight through.

Thanks again Tel, I've posted this on 3 of the forums so apologies if you see it a few times. I'll go back and look for what you've said and hopefully rectify the problem.

Cheers for the help.

 

[crow11]

did it work ok before or as it always been like this, obviously if it as never worked then someone wired it wrong, if it used to work and now doesn't time to start testing

 

[iamelectric]

fair enough

 

[Risteard]

1 gang 3 way switch outside the bathroom.

What is a 3-way switch?

 

[harrison2987]

What is a 3-way switch?

3 way is a switch that has a common (C) and L1 and L2 terminals

2 way just has a common and L1

 

[telectrix]

wrong!!!!! 1 way has common & L1. 2 way has common, L1, and L2. the 2 way switches the common from L1 to L2, hence 2 way.

 

[harrison2987]

Ooppss!! Yea what he said

 

[ferg]

Has it always been like that? Or is it a new fault?

I've had this before and it was a diy bodge job that had never worked.

Either way it's not complicated.
If you are having trouble visualising how the circuit should be wired, draw it out and compare it to what is there.

If it looks the same then it's a case of continuity test till you find the fault.
I'd be surprised if it took more than a few minutes TBH.

 

[Aindowsimon]

3 way is a switch that has a common (C) and L1 and L2 terminals

2 way just has a common and L1

Haha !! C'mon there is a statement from a Electrical Trainee ( with 2391!!! ) if I ever heard one

 

[telectrix]

confusion between no. of ways and no. of terminals. standard of teaching is going down to socialist levels.

 

[harrison2987]

Haha !! C'mon there is a statement from a Electrical Trainee ( with 2391!!! ) if I ever heard one

Time served actually, full 4 years. No excuse for gettng that wrong other than me being stupid.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

One strapper is open circuit between the two switches that have to be in particular positions for the light to work, or one of those switches has a faulty contact. Should find it in 2 minutes with a multimeter.

Edit: I read your description again and it's ambiguous - there are other possibilities according to exactly what you mean.

 

[telectrix]

fair play to owning up. :clap: