Little Wiring Brain Teaser

[SparkyChick]

This is nothing spectacular, just a little question to get your wiring grey matter whirring

Setup is as follows:-

Hall - 6 cables:- Loop in (T+E), Loop out (T+E), Supply to outdoor light (T+E), Supply to hall light (T+E) and two 3 core and earth cables to landing

Landing - 3 cables:- two 3 core and earth cables to hall, Supply to landing light (T+E)

Your task if you fancy giving it a go is to draw a wiring diagram for this setup such that the hall and landing lights can be switched from both places, and the outside light can be switched from the hall. Specify the switches to be used in each location and show the connections at each location.

When you post your pictures, please be sure to put them in a Spoiler section (See the insert menu - the ellipsis button on the right of the smileys) so other people can choose to look at your solution or not.

 

[Loki]

Ok i'm on holiday & im still checking this forum lol
Here's my attempt using Microsoft Paint

Spoiler: My wiring diagram spoiler

 

[SparkyChick]

Ok i'm on holiday & im still checking this forum lol
Here's my attempt using Microsoft Paint

Not a bad effort and for a slightly different question it would be the perfect answer... but read the cable purposes again carefully. The cables in the OP are the only ones involved.
[automerge]1569696958[/automerge]
In fact, I think @Loki it's my fault. I've just re-read my OP... I should have made it clear that the cables I've listed are all at the switches.

 

[H]

Fed switches easy ?

 

[SparkyChick]

@H - I've deleted your posts because the idea is not to provide too many hints for those who want to have a go

 

[H]

I tried the ‘spoiler alert’ thingy. However I think a few too many drinkies affected the process ?

 

[Loki]

Ok so I've redone it again this time switch fed

Spoiler: My wiring diagram

 

[SparkyChick]

Ok so I've redone it again this time switch fed

Spoiler: My wiring diagram

View attachment 52766

Better, but you've cheated There is no loop at the landing switch. I'm evil like that (actually just didn't want to run a loop into the landing switch)

However, unless I'm much mistaken, your two way switching won't work in this version. For the general case (the hall light) you had it spot on in your first attempt.

 

[Loki]

Better, but you've cheated There is no loop at the landing switch. I'm evil like that (actually just didn't want to run a loop into the landing switch)

However, unless I'm much mistaken, your two way switching won't work in this version. For the general case (the hall light) you had it spot on in your first attempt.

Hi SparkyChick,

I know it could be wired like

When i was on new builds I'm sure we wired it like i drew it. Im always happy to learn from my mistakes & ive made a few
I've just tried following the path through the circuit & it looked ok but i could be wrong. Ideally my landing light should be on left side of 2 gang switch.
Ive made sure that upstairs light is fed from upstairs circuit & hall light is fed from downstairs circuit.

 

[SparkyChick]

Hi SparkyChick,

I know it could be wired like

View attachment 52768

When i was on new builds I'm sure we wired it like i drew it. Im always happy to learn from my mistakes & ive made a few
I've just tried following the path through the circuit & it looked ok but i could be wrong. Ideally my landing light should be on left side of 2 gang switch.
Ive made sure that upstairs light is fed from upstairs circuit & hall light is fed from downstairs circuit.

So this diagram is basically the solution to the landing light. I elected not to feed the landing from the upstairs lights for two reasons:- 1) I've done it before and I'm not keen on the fact you have to isolate two circuits to fully isolate the two switches and 2) because in this instance I didn't want to touch the upstairs lighting circuit (it's a full rewire except that one circuit - accessing it is difficult without significant damage to the building fabric and it tests OK).

I could be wrong with my statement about the two way in your second version not working, but I drew it out and I can't see how it works.

 

[Loki]

@SparkyChick I like it when scenario posts like these get posted as it gets you thinking.
Just a shame that more trainees didn't take part.

 

[SparkyChick]

@SparkyChick I like it when scenario posts like these get posted as it gets you thinking.
Just a shame that more trainees didn't take part.

I'm already thinking of some more

 

[SparkyChick]

We have lots of trainees and only a couple have had a go... come on guys Give it a punt.

 

[SparkyChick]

Thanks to anyone that had a punt

To my trainee... you know who you are... get your bloody finger out... I'm still waiting for a van chat on your attempt at this

 

[King84]

This is nothing spectacular, just a little question to get your wiring grey matter whirring

Setup is as follows:-

Hall - 6 cables:- Loop in (T+E), Loop out (T+E), Supply to outdoor light (T+E), Supply to hall light (T+E) and two 3 core and earth cables to landing

Landing - 3 cables:- two 3 core and earth cables to hall, Supply to landing light (T+E)

Your task if you fancy giving it a go is to draw a wiring diagram for this setup such that the hall and landing lights can be switched from both places, and the outside light can be switched from the hall. Specify the switches to be used in each location and show the connections at each location.

When you post your pictures, please be sure to put them in a Spoiler section (See the insert menu - the ellipsis button on the right of the smileys) so other people can choose to look at your solution or not.

View attachment 52650

This is nothing spectacular, just a little question to get your wiring grey matter whirring

Setup is as follows:-

Hall - 6 cables:- Loop in (T+E), Loop out (T+E), Supply to outdoor light (T+E), Supply to hall light (T+E) and two 3 core and earth cables to landing

Landing - 3 cables:- two 3 core and earth cables to hall, Supply to landing light (T+E)

Your task if you fancy giving it a go is to draw a wiring diagram for this setup such that the hall and landing lights can be switched from both places, and the outside light can be switched from the hall. Specify the switches to be used in each location and show the connections at each location.

When you post your pictures, please be sure to put them in a Spoiler section (See the insert menu - the ellipsis button on the right of the smileys) so other people can choose to look at your solution or not.

View attachment 52650

 

[SparkyChick]

@King84 ,

Nice attempt and I think it would work. My initial post was marginally cryptic and should have more explicitly stated a key fact. All the cables specified were present at the hall light switch and the landing lightswitch. Each light had only a twin and earth cable going to it (it was loop in/loop out at the switches).

 

[King84]

@King84 ,

Nice attempt and I think it would work. My initial post was marginally cryptic and should have more explicitly stated a key fact. All the cables specified were present at the hall light switch and the landing lightswitch. Each light had only a twin and earth cable going to it (it was loop in/loop out at the switches).

oh sorry I didnt realise. Switch loop in and loop out is 2 plate method but the one I drew is 3 plate method. I will give 2 plate a try aswell.
Thanks for these brain teasers please keep them coming.