3 way switch wiring...stuck

aliasojo

ormus wrote: »

a 3 gang switch (or socket) is just 3 x single switches in one unit.

Yes, once you take the time to step back and think about it, it's fairly straightforward but at first glance the amount of cables there are, is offputting.

zax47

aliasojo wrote: »

Cheers zax...where were you a while ago?

Workin' !!!!:j

DVardysShadow

aliasojo wrote: »

When I took down the old stud wall, I took off the old light switch and carefully noted down what wire went where. Can I find the notebook now? Nope!

So I have a 3 way switch.

1 cable with red / black / neutral comes from bathroom ceiling light
1 cable with red / black / neutral comes from the hall landing light
1 cable with red / black comes from bathroom extractor fan
1 cable with grey / brown / black / neutral comes from another switch.

I think 2 of these cables were wired together but don't ask me which ones.


Can someone tell me what goes where please? (Please no warnings about electricity and professionals, I appreciate the concern but it's not helpful to me.)

I've googled but I'm getting confused with the terms used......I need someone to tell me very simply .......put the bathroom red wire into L1 of the first switch etc etc.

Neutral ? Earth, you mean?

DVardysShadow

aliasojo wrote: »

The worst that will happen is that the main consumer unit rcd will trip.

Or you could simply short something for a blue flash event and you RCD would never trip if you hadn't shorted to earth.

aliasojo

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Neutral ? Earth, you mean?

aliasojo wrote: »

I must try harder to stop the bad habit I have of calling the earth wire neutral......I know exactly what I mean but it does confuse the issue and makes people think I'm clueless when I'm really not.

Point already addressed above. Did you skim read?

baldelectrician

aliasojo wrote: »

The worst that will happen is that the main consumer unit rcd will trip.

The worst that could happen is you connect earth to a live terminal and someone gets a fatal shock (he says not over dramatising) :rolleyes:

Glad you got it sorted, but I have been advised by my insurers NOT to give advice like the type you were looking for as I could be sued if someone made a mistake and got hurt / burnt down house etc.

This was specifically told to me when I went for my insurance as an electrical contractor as they have had issues like this with other people in the past.

aliasojo

Point taken baldelectrician. That's not something I personally would do, but I do appreciate the issue.