Switching

[Hayden@2468]

On a new site at the minute and got to the site and my supervisors ask me to have a look at the switching in over a 100 rooms for the bathroom there is a two gang intermediate switch for every bath room one does the spot lights and one does a mirror light both of the feeds are in L1 of the switch and both switch lines are in L2 of the switch However for some reason one switch is upside down I’ve tried changing it on one switch but even when I change it for some odd reason it just stays the same anyone have any clue I don’t have a clue why they haven’t used normal two gang switches either I’ve tried every single combination however it won’t allow both switches to be switched right one is always upside down it’s on all of the rooms tried changing one switch so feeds are in L2 and switch lines are in L1 however still didn’t fix the problem it’s baffled me

 

[Sharpend]

Tell them their switches are wrong. Don’t try to work out when wrong item installed.

 

[Hayden@2468]

Think that’s gunna be the case the switch just won’t allow them both to switch right no matter what you try one switch stays upside down

 

[Andy™]

an intermediate switch can be used as a 1 way or a 2 way. it should work, you just havent got the cable in the correct terminals

 

[Sharpend]

Yes but wouldn’t that leave one switch upside down so to speak?

 

[Geoff1946]

Go to the switch which operates upside down and reconnect it such that it's fed on L1(in) and the load is on L2(out). . That should work, (shouldn't it?)

 

[Hayden@2468]

Yeah In theory it should I got one switch working the way it should and then the other switch I played about with tried it in all different configurations but it just wouldn’t allow them both to switch normally dunno if it’s just the way the lights l switches are manufactured as they are suppose to be used as two ways

 

[Hayden@2468]

an intermediate switch can be used as a 1 way or a 2 way. it should work, you just havent got the cable in the correct terminals

Both switches are wired up the exact same feeds in L1 and switch lines in L2 even if you switch this around it doesn’t make any difference even if I just switch it on one switch may just be how they are manafactured as they are suppose to be used as two ways may just all need changing to standard two gang switches as it’s every switch on the job that does it

 

[poni]

if its intermediate don't you have two L1 and two L2's on each switch,
is it being used as an intermediate switch or as a one way?
try L1 and L1 see what happens

 

[Geoff1946]

They found a large job lot of switches on e-bay. Real bargain!

 

[kerching]

I use a lot of Click Mode modular switches. I only carry Intermediates as they can be wired as
1 way
2 way
Intermediate

Saves running out of bits

Just sayin

 

[Andy™]

Yes but wouldn’t that leave one switch upside down so to speak?

only if you put the wires in the wrong way. think about how an intermediate switch works... draw it out

usually 2 on the top & 2 on the bottom. swapping 1 cable at the top to the other top,or the bottom to the other bottom, should fix the upside down part

 

[Phoenix]

I use a lot of Click Mode modular switches. I only carry Intermediates as they can be wired as
1 way
2 way
Intermediate

Saves running out of bits

Just sayin

Nice idea, haven't taken it that far myself because I very rarely need intermediates, I carry 1 on van just in case on call out jobs.

Guess it helps with click the modules can be swapped around (it was the only way I could get a double intermediate for my hallway, no one seems to make them)

But one way switches are just something I just do not buy, same as indoor gland packs, use the outdoor ones even if inside

 

[kerching]

And why do they make 1 way pull switches?....never mind 1 way switches??
Madness I tell you, madness!


Also

601 JB 6 terminals
401 JB THREE terminals
301 JB FOUR terminals

What's That all about!

 

[Murdoch]

A bit worrying that the 2nd fix person didn't know what they were dong

 

[peterspurs]

It should be double pole switch not intermediate seen it on new builds

 

[Andy™]

It should be double pole switch not intermediate seen it on new builds

why should it be double pole? single pole is perectly fine

had an 'architect' a good few years ago now demanding that the light switches were all double pole. despite us telling them otherwise that it wouldnt work, we were told to wire them double pole. so we did. entire school

that was fun when it was all commissioned and then discovered that the emergency lighting came on when the light switch was turned off...

 

[peterspurs]

I said I have seen it in new builds where I have had to change the dp switches due to failure
The lights and the fans are connected via the dp switch
Turning light and fan switch lines off but enabling the fan to run on timer
Saying this is the scenario I have come across
Due to the ventilation system

 

[Andy™]

I said I have seen it in new builds where I have had to change the dp switches due to failure
The lights and the fans are connected via the dp switch
Turning light and fan switch lines off but enabling the fan to run on timer
Saying this is the scenario I have come across
Due to the ventilation system

you said it should be... implies something completely different and that it not being double pole is wrong

use of DP switches for that is common for a fan shared between rooms. if its a fan within just that room them the only advantage is it reduces any potential flickering when off of LED's

 

[peterspurs]

And that’s probably what it is that’s why it should be double pole