Two Way Light Switch Wiring help

helengraham280365

Hi all

Got a massive problem. We have eventually been decorating our living room, and as usual removed the light switch plate from the box. And, in all of my 5 years I have never seen any wires come out. Problem is we are now stuck with two red wires and I have no idea where to put them.

The plan is to change it to a double dimmer, but at this moment in time I only want lights on the old switch. Can anyone help please? I really am so desperate. And everything I have ever known looks so different to this.

I have photos but I was unable to attach them

onomatopoeia99

Can you put the photos on an external site (e.g. photobucket) and link them?

TheCyclingProgrammer

Post a link to the photos.

You say its a two way switch - one gang or two gang? If you're thinking about a double dimmer then probably two gang.

Is it definitely a two-way switch (i.e. it and one other switch controls the same light) or did you just mean its a two gang switch (two switches for two lights)?

helengraham280365

it won't let me as it says I'm not allowed to post links

helengraham280365

official.complaint2012@gmail.com

TheCyclingProgrammer

I don't know if this will work but if you PM me the link I will post it for you.

If it still doesn't let you do it, try posting the link with various random spaces in it to stop it being detected as a link.

helengraham280365

i can send photos

It's one plate with two switches, one controls the living room and one the dining room.

helengraham280365

http://img3.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589763cdba470cd243a34d574bc4c266f1e62e.jpg

http://img2.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589762b81c064a5cb95535ecc29ab87f647515.jpg

http://img4.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589764aaf4ad531de459d467d65717497da158.jpg

http://img6.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/215897664bd483d87f30558ad0fe90303c463483.jpg

http://img5.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/2158976526013d592a1d5b4f53fd270a3007cb84.jpg

helengraham280365

http://img3.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589763cdba470cd243a34d574bc4c266f1e62e.jpg

http://img2.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589762b81c064a5cb95535ecc29ab87f647515.jpg

http://img4.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589764aaf4ad531de459d467d65717497da158.jpg

http://img6.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/215897664bd483d87f30558ad0fe90303c463483.jpg

http://img5.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/2158976526013d592a1d5b4f53fd270a3007cb84.jpg

helengraham280365

Hope these work


http://img3.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589763cdba470cd243a34d574bc4c266f1e62e.jpg

http://img2.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589762b81c064a5cb95535ecc29ab87f647515.jpg



http://img4.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/21589764aaf4ad531de459d467d65717497da158.jpg

http://img6.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/215897664bd483d87f30558ad0fe90303c463483.jpg

http://img5.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/21589/2158976526013d592a1d5b4f53fd270a3007cb84.jpg

TheCyclingProgrammer

Hmm, tricky. Not enough information to fully make sense of the wiring - are either of your lights controlled by another switch somewhere else? I'm afraid you may need to wait for one of the electricians on here to help out. However I'm doubtful even a qualified electrician could make a confident diagnosis or the wiring setup from afar - you may need to get an electrician out to check what each wire is safely.

I'm having a hard time making out some of the detail at the back of the box. At least one of the red wires coming out of the cables on the right will almost certainly be a permanent live feed from your lighting circuit - I'm a bit confused by the third red wire that's wrapped around one of the others. Is it red all the way up to the grey insulation as it looks like it might be sleeving over a bare wire which would be odd (as that would be the earth wire - I'd be concerned if its being used to carry live, even if it is correctly sleeved).

Is that blue tape on the right covering a join from one black wire to two? Sorry, its difficult to see exactly whats going on in there.

If these are just one way switches (no other switches for these lights), then they should both have a live feed in and a switched live out. One of the red wires going into the common terminal on the right will be carrying a live feed to that switch. There shouldn't be any need for two live wires into the common so I'm wondering if somebody has decided to take the power from this switch off to another switch somewhere (so the second red wire would be taking the live feed off to another switch).

The small brown jump lead to the other common terminal will be taking the power to the second switch. The blue wire on the left should be the switched live back to one of your lights - does that switch work?