Disconnecting kitchen light

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DIY GUY

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Hi wondering if anyone could help, I have 3 kitchen lights and want the middle one away now, I’ve just identified the middle light cable from light switch so I’ve disconnected it. Thing is where I’ve disconnected the cable from it’s a 2 gang 3 way switch. Now that I’ve done away with middle light I’m looking to change above switch into 1 gang 2 way switch. My new switch is marked up L1 L2 L3, could anyone help how and where wires from old switch would go into new switch. Thanks
 

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Would I just need to match all L1 to L1 L2 to L2 L3 to L3 together into the new switch?
 

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Yes, if both switches, original & the new one, use 'L1', 'L2' & 'L3' as their terminal designations then its just a like for like swap..

Some manufactures use different terminal designations, 'C', 'L1' & 'L2' where 'L1' & 'L2' are not the same as on a 'L1', 'L2', 'L3' switch.

🍺
 
The terminal labelled L1 on your pictured switch is often labelled COM on other makes, when the strappers will be L1 and L2 . As long as you get the COM (or L1), correct the other two don't really matter which way around they are.
 
When the power is on but lights and switch are off the brown at the bottom L1 has no power but top L1 & L2 have (which are linked) Is this ok to wire the brown that has no power into the L1 into the the L2 that has power on new switch? Also on new switch would I still need link from L1 to L2? Thanks for your help
 
Just swapped everything from old switch (2gang) to new switch (1gang) 1L1 into L1 L2 into L2 & L3 into L3. Switch at either side of kitchen doesn’t turn of lights now
 
The cable that you have removed, have you checked to see if it still at 230V or is it dead 0V?
how many cables and cores are you using?
detail each cable and core to each terminal, ie cable 1 brown to L1 cable two brown to L2 etc.
We may then be able to offer some guidance.
 
Yes cable I removed is now dead. There was 5 cables coming into the old switch
Now 4 cables as one removed
Cable 1 L to L2 N to N
Cable 2 L to L1 N to N
Cable 3 L to L3 N to N
Cable 4 Brown-L1 Black-L2 Grey L3
 
New switch
 

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Old original switch.

Bottom L1 I’m this switch is now into new L1 position on new switch
 

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Cable with black mark L1 on the brown is coming from the cable with grey and black.
This core marked L1 was originally into the bottom L1 on old switch
 
So you have a loop at switch set up.
this means you will have:
1 cable that is incoming circuit from either previous light switch or MCB/fuse, this will have 230v on brown.
1 cable that is outgoing circuit going to next light switch in circuit, which will have no power on.
1 cable that is going to the light for this switch
1 cable going between the switches for this light. (this will be the brown black grey cable)

Do you have a multimeter or voltage tester?
 
Yes I have a meter, (2 gang) LH switch worked light at either side of kitchen RH switch worked light in the middle. Other side of kitchen is 1 gang which also worked light at either side of kitchen. All I’ve done is disconnected middle light from 2 gang and want to replace with 1 gang, thanks
 
from the old switch: take the brown - that is in the L1 with the link going to the Black on L2 - and place it in with the Black in L2 on new switch.
Put all cores that were in L2 and L3 on old switch into the new switch L2 and L3 respectively. Put the brown (from cable with black and grey) from old L1 into new L1.
Just make sure that all blues are in the connector together less the cable you have removed. All earths together in terminal in back box.
 
from the old switch: take the brown - that is in the L1 with the link going to the Black on L2 - and place it in with the Black in L2 on new switch.
Put all cores that were in L2 and L3 on old switch into the new switch L2 and L3 respectively. Put the brown (from cable with black and grey) from old L1 into new L1.
Just make sure that all blues are in the connector together less the cable you have removed. All earths together in terminal in back box.
Spot on 👍🏻, that’s it now working. Thanks very much for your help mate 👍🏻
 
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