Replacing Vacuum time lag with standard push button

[Massi]

Hello,

I wanted to replace a Columbus Vacuum time lag switch (https://new.abb.com/low-voltage/products/lighting-emergency-lighting/lighting/elkay/timers-switches/columbus-pneumatic-timer) which has stopped working with an Elkay Standard Push button (https://new.abb.com/low-voltage/products/lighting-emergency-lighting/lighting/elkay/timers-switches/standard-push-button-timer)

The wiring we have seems a bit complex ... 

In the current one there are a 

COM / NC / NO.

There is 1 red wire in COM / 1 Red wire and 1 yellow wire in NC / 1 Blue and 1 Black in NO.

The Standard push button has instead of a COM / NC / NO the terminals are L / N / SL.

Can I replace the vacuum with the standard?

How do COM / NC / NO map vs. L / N / SL? 

Do I put the 2 Blue and Black which I suppose are neutral into N? There are then the 2 red and 1 yellow ... one that goes in COM and the other 2 go in NC... Not sure which would go in which.

 

[kerching]

So,I assume there is another switch somewhere that controls the same light.....and that it doesn't work correctly.    As from the information supplied it appears to be wired as a two way. The red and black being feed and switch wire and the Red/yellow/blue going off to,another switch. Also I doubt if there is a neutral there

 

[Massi]

Hi - 

There are 2 more vacuum switches in the hall / stairs ... and there are 2 ceiling lights.

The switch I am trying to replace (broken) Is the first one at the entrance. 

I guess the easiest option is to get the same Columbus and copy that layout - but quite like the flat standard switch - hence why i was looking to go with that... 

 

[kerching]

Did they ever work correctly?

assuming switches are 1 2 & 3

i GUESS

switch1 pressed...lights come on

if at same time switch 2 is pressed I reckon lights go off then come back on until Switch 1 resets

this is purely guesswork as I  can't see it BUT it sounds to me like it is all connected incorrectly and these switches have been fitted to a conventional 2 way and possibly intermediate ( or 2 2 ways and 1 one way set up) and I can see it ending in tears

 

[Massi]

Actually they worked fine. The one i need to replace is just because it gets stuck and does not pop out anymore - so all the lights are on all the time ... but up to 2 days ago it worked all fine... 

All the 3 pneumatic switched turned the 2 lights on ... 

If you pressed any of the other switches all the lights stayed on - so it somehow seems to work correctly - although i was puzzled when I opened the downstairs switch and found 5 cables terminating there...

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Hello,

I wanted to replace a Columbus Vacuum time lag switch (https://new.abb.com/low-voltage/products/lighting-emergency-lighting/lighting/elkay/timers-switches/columbus-pneumatic-timer) which has stopped working with an Elkay Standard Push button (https://new.abb.com/low-voltage/products/lighting-emergency-lighting/lighting/elkay/timers-switches/standard-push-button-timer)

The wiring we have seems a bit complex ... 

In the current one there are a 

COM / NC / NO.

There is 1 red wire in COM / 1 Red wire and 1 yellow wire in NC / 1 Blue and 1 Black in NO.

The Standard push button has instead of a COM / NC / NO the terminals are L / N / SL.

Can I replace the vacuum with the standard?

How do COM / NC / NO map vs. L / N / SL? 

Do I put the 2 Blue and Black which I suppose are neutral into N? There are then the 2 red and 1 yellow ... one that goes in COM and the other 2 go in NC... Not sure which would go in which.

If you follow your own link to the "Elkay" switch you will find wiring diagrams, timing diagram, installation instructions etc.. etc.. etc...

Which would answer your own question..

I would guess you are trying to fit a one-way switch with an electronic controlled timer..

in place of a two-way vacuum controlled timer...

It may be possible to achieve the switching arrangement that you need..  but it may also need amending some wiring at other switches..

ie. this new switch may have to be wired in parallel with other existing switches....      or maybe not?   

But either way...

If you think that light switch wiring is complex then possibly you are working out of your depth and a bit of professional help would produce a more efficient solution.

One-way,  or Two-way, or Three-way... or any other number of switches to control any number of lights, is pretty basic stuff for anyone who can understand simple logic of wiring diagrams and switch configurations.....

But, dabbling and getting it wrong can pop fuses and/or weld switch contacts together if you wire them across a live-neutral dead short..

Do you have any test meters to verify exactly which wires are which??

:C

 

[Geoff1946]

I think the straightforward answer to your question is NO.   Different item requiring different wiring.

The whole circuit would have to be re-configured to suit, which may or may not be possible using existing wiring.