missing a strap in 2way lighting

[batty]

thanks for the pic Andywould a pic of what I have help too ?

as in total I have 3 lights & 5 switches lol ( one light & swicth is the bathroom tho )

With the wiring you have I would say there is no way of being able to switch up and down lights from two positions. I could be wrong though. Why is it so important to be able to switch downstairs light from upstairs. Maybe there is a wireless system on the market if it really is necessary.

Batty

 

[bazza_uk74]

oh all, I do agree that ist not `safe`, but I have tried to make it as safe as it can be,

after all, I do my best on that as I did blow a hole in my hand down to the bone when I was 11 lol - so I know the dangers.

as far as a redecorate, thats unfortunatly out of the question too. We bought the house, ripped it to bits, and we almost ready to move back in now. Everything is just about finished its redecorate anyway - no time to start puttin channels in walls to pull more cables

hence trying to find the closest solution to a workaround.,

pic on its way guys

I`ll add the `live earth` in as this how I currently have it.

 

[bazza_uk74]

ok heres the pic :

 

[Andy™]

all you can do is go by my diagram. you will not get what you want unless you add another 3c&e.

 

[bazza_uk74]

as its late here in the uk, and I have to be at work in 6 hours, I`m off to bed,

I`ll check back tomorrow on all ur great help

thanks

Simon

ps as the hall, landing and stairs not papered yet, `and` the plasterer has to come back out to rework the kitchen floor ( just remembered that ) ,I`ll see if I can get the time to channel the walls and get another wire thro, - but tbh that could be doubtful. so please, if u can find a work around for me, or at least a 2nd best solution

Thanks very much.

Simon.

( please check out my website! )

 

[Robojin]

ok heres the pic :

Bazza have you included all cpc's (earth) or only drawn the 3+e for clarity?

 

[Andy™]

so please, if u can find a work around for me, or at least a 2nd best solution

If both up & down lights are on the same circuit (unlikely), and you have really deep backboxes installed, you could use changeover relays to get what you want....

... but its probably easier adding a new cable

 

[bazza_uk74]

all you can do is go by my diagram. you will not get what you want unless you add another 3c&e.

I worked out that I will need 5 cables between,

a live feed, 2 switching commons, and 2 more strappers

in a single system, I need a 3core, so yes I know that suggests that 3 wires needed for 2 systems, but cant the live feed be used as a strapper on both switching circuits? ( ran a simulation of that in a PCB design program and that worked? )

so I only need 5 ?

hence a 2c&e extra?

please confirm

 

[bazza_uk74]

Bazza have you included all cpc's (earth) or only drawn the 3+e for clarity?

just cpc on the 3core, as thats the one I have used as a strapper

all other earths are joined and terminated to the back boxes.

 

[bazza_uk74]

If both up & down lights are on the same circuit (unlikely), and you have really deep backboxes installed, you could use changeover relays to get what you want....... but its probably easier adding a new cable

live feeds on up and down are from different circuits and I think the back boxes are 25mm ones ( could be 30 ? not sure )

 

[Andy™]

unless there on the same circuit, they will both need to be 3c&e

but either way, if you do install another cable, why go to all the trouble of working a solution to having a 3c&e and a T&E when you could just get it over and done with easily and install another 3c&e instead

 

[batty]

I thought you were going to go to bed.

Batty

 

[Andy™]

I thought you were going to go to bed.Batty

i probably should be!

 

[batty]

I meant Bazza

 

[Andy™]

I meant Bazza

its OK, i know when im not wanted. :^O

 

[kme]

Right.

First things first. Get that earth wire used as an earth. That is not acceptable, in any way, shape or form.

If you MUST have 2 lots of 2 way switching, get a wireless switch, and use that. no mess, no fuss.

The sparky who took all that lot to the switch needs his head looking at - what a convoluted, crazy way of working. Are you sure you didn`t do it yourself? No offence intended, but it looks like DIY work.

Use the 3 core properly, and fit a remote / wireless switch for the other 2 way, if you really must have it.

KME

 

[NozSpark]

If your cables are in trunking and you have a 2c & e from each switch for the downstairs light then you could replace it with 3c & e from both switches back to the downstairs light fitting!

 

[bazza_uk74]

ok, well if I do get the time ( very little chance ) I will add a 3c&e, - just I dont think I`ll be able to.

I`ll have a talk with the 2 bosses tomorrow ( my fiance and my dad-who arranges the plasterer ) lol

anyway

thanks for all ur help so far.

I should not be too much more trouble as once this is done, the house will be finished and I will not need more wiring to be done lol ( I hope )

thanks again,

I`ll check back tomorrow and see whos put what, and I`ll let u know ifI can squeeze the time to get a 3c in.

Simon

www.input-inc.com

 

[Andy™]

The sparky who took all that lot to the switch needs his head looking at - what a convoluted, crazy way of working. Are you sure you didn`t do it yourself? No offence intended, but it looks like DIY work.

thats now a fairly common way of wiring lights - loop in at switch instead of light fitting. means you only got 1 cable at light for when joe public wants to change it

 

[bazza_uk74]

right I am off to bed now lol

just KME, its half a DIY, the sparky started it, but failed to finish it as required - I think he missunderstood what I wanted as he said `I thought u only wanted to turn on upstairs from up, and down from up & down` - tho it could of been an excuse as he forgot? who knows, hence I`m looking in to it.

other that this, he did too a good job tho

anway!

yes Batty & Andy ( & all!)

night! lol