alternative wiring

[avinalarf]

Is someone able to explain to me (preferably with a diagram, if possible) how electricians use the switches for their feed cables please Blushing.

I've just come across this, which I believe to be an older way of doing things. The spark obviously didn't have any 3-core as he used 2 x T&E for the 2-way switching! I've got the landing light to work, but it can only be controlled by the landing switch and not the one downstairs.

I'm sure I 've done something wrong in the landing switch, but am not sure what!

I've been trying to draw it out myself, but want to make sure it's correct before I return to the client.

Thank you.

 

[betty swollocks]

try this

http://www.flameport.com/electric/lighting_circuits/lighting_circuits_diagrams.cs4

 

[sarni31]

try this

Guiness Drink

 

[avinalarf]

try thisGuiness Drink

Sarni, there are 4 T&E cables going into the landing switch .

 

[sarni31]

4 wires ?:| ? :| ?:|

are they single gang switches?

how many lights are on the landing? ?:|

Guiness Drink

 

[avinalarf]

There's only 1 light on the landing and the landing switch is a single gang! I'm hoping that others will now understand my confusion...

The switch downstairs is a 2-gang, operating the lounge light and [should be] operating the landing light.

 

[Theorysparky]

is the lighting all one cct downstairs/upstairs ?

 

[sarni31]

mmm .....Ive drawn another way .... very odd way of doing it.

I would start by identifying the strappers on the landing from the downstairs switch..

using the 2nd drawing this would leave you with 2 T+Es

then find the switch feed / switch return ....continuity test between switch and ceiling rose.

Is it possible 2 cables have been used for switch and return ? ?:|

Guiness Drink

 

[avinalarf]

is the lighting all one cct downstairs/upstairs ?

No, they are separate.

 

[avinalarf]

mmm .....Ive drawn another way .... very odd way of doing it.I would start by identifying the strappers on the landing from the downstairs switch..

using the 2nd drawing this would leave you with 2 T+Es

then find the switch feed / switch return ....continuity test between switch and ceiling rose.

Is it possible 2 cables have been used for switch and return ? ?:|

Guiness Drink

I did manage to identify switch cable and the feeds. Ran out of time at that point :_| .

Will take a good look at your diagram later Sarni - thanks for now.

 

[Apache]

It's not one of these spider systems Steptoe talks of?

A kind of branching radial?

 

[batty]

Nat

I can understand your confusion how they used to wire was not very good. This is where borrowed neutrals and borrowed lives come into being and quite often there is no cpc for you to test against anyway good luck.

Batty

 

[Theorysparky]

Have you got the live feed coming from the lounge switch ??? ie jumpered across

that way you would only have 1 t+e between switches therefore they being the strappers

and then 1 core of a t+e to the light fitting from landing switch

you havnt got the live feed straight out of the cu ???

 

[avinalarf]

Mmmmm, Theory, interesting questions. I'm going to try and draw the current setup out, take a photo of the drawing and post it.

To answer one of your questions...there's a live feed coming from the loft jb and a live feed coming up from downstairs switch.

 

[avinalarf]

Here's a drawing of the current setup for the landing switch...

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/avinalarf/IMG_5650.jpg

Here's the downstairs switch...

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/avinalarf/IMG_5651.jpg

Apologies, but didn't have time to clarify/identify cables within this one Blushing

I didn't start to mess around with it as there seemed to be so much going on in the upstairs switch and even though it does operate the landing light, I'm sure something's not right in here, which is why the downstairs switch doesn't control light upstairs as well.

Sarni, tried to muddle through your earlier drawing, but couldn't work it out I'm afraid.

 

[sarni31]

It stil seems unclear where your feed is coming from? ?:|

is it the loft or is it the downstairs switch?

Guiness Drink

 

[Theorysparky]

there seems to be too much going on in the upstairs switch

is the landing light on the downstairs lighting mcb ????

 

[sarni31]

OK here goes....

yes there are way too many wires in that upstairs light switch, Im suprised anything works

Anyway Ive redrawn the curcuit... even in old colours especially for you!

Guiness Drink

 

[avinalarf]

is the landing light on the downstairs lighting mcb ????

No.

 

[avinalarf]

It stil seems unclear where your feed is coming from? ?:| is it the loft or is it the downstairs switch?

Guiness Drink

This is what confused me...I traced the 2 cables coming in from above; 1 came straight from light fitting and other from a jb which came from bathroom light (240v).

The other 2 cables came in from below the box which I never got around to checking continuity with cables in downstairs switch, but which must go down to it (I know I shouldn't assume). One of these cables gave me voltage reading but it wasn't 240, it was around 90+. Does this make any sense :_|