Odd light wiring

[Con81a]

I'm scratching my head with this, managed to blow up 2 wifi switches so far...

I have a 2 gang  1 way switch, switch A shows black as live/feed, switch B shows red as live/feed, when I switch A on then as expected red and black bother show as live. But switch B which did have red showing as live now has none showing as live, if I turn on switch B it works fine but no current showing. I have only tested with an electrical screwdriver and non contact sensor so far, next think is a multimeter. Any ideas as I have another wifi socked and I don't want to blow that up as well. Many thanks in advance

 

[ProDave]

Your description makes no sense.

Unfortunately as a new member you can't yet post pictures.

So can you try and desctibe clearly what you have. i,.e how many cables entering the switch box? and what colour core from which cable (label them cable 1, cable 2  etc) and where each core goes to e.g cable 1 red goes to switch 1 terminal L1

Not forgetting any interlink wires between the switches.

 

[Con81a]

Hi thanks for the reply, some more detail

Switch 1 

Red goes to common, black to 1way

Switch 2

Black to common, red to 1 way

Switch 1 light off

Red live, black dead

Switch 2 light off

Black live, red dead

Switch 1 light on

Red live, black live

Switch 2 light off

Black live, red dead

Switch 1 light on

Red live, black live

Switch 2 light on

Black dead, red dead

I don't understand why when I switch on switch 2 Black goes dead but the lights work...

 

[Davethsparky]

My best guess would be that the neutral is being switched rather than the live, which is a potentially very dangerous situation. 

What Exactly are you trying to do with this switch? 

 

[Andy™]

as above, id go with switched neutral

but what is a switch got to do with wifi blowing up?

 

[Con81a]

I am trying to install wifi remote switches for home automation. But have blown two up now when I switch them on, the difference between these switches and the old switch is these have shared common not one to each switch. Think I'm going to have to get a sparky to take a look as I'm completely thrown by this

 

[Davethsparky]

I am trying to install wifi remote switches for home automation. But have blown two up now when I switch them on, the difference between these switches and the old switch is these have shared common not one to each switch. Think I'm going to have to get a sparky to take a look as I'm completely thrown by this

Be thankful it is only two switches which have died as a result of this, it could have been much worse.

Yes employing the services of an electrician is a very good idea, and I'm sure he would appreciate you letting him know that there may be a switched neutral in the circuit. 

 

[ProDave]

Okay.

There is a SERIOUS failt with the way your lights are wired, I share the opinion of others, that one of them is switching the neutral.

That is preventing you using your wifi switch, because that expects both lights to be switching the live, which is normal )it insists on that because it has a common inpt terminal). What happens in your case is turning both on will put a short circuit between live and neutral and blow up the switch. DO NOT try another one, it will do the same.

You need to get an electrician around to find and correct the fault with the wiring to switch 2. Then and only then can you contemplate trying another wifi switch. Since you will have an electrician there, it would only take him a few minutes to fit it and test it.