Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Light switch wiring https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1248641514 Message started by Rookie on Jul 26^th, 2009, 9:51pm

Title: Light switch wiring
Post by Rookie on Jul 26^th, 2009, 9:51pm

Hi Guys. Could you put me straight please with regard to this wiring configuration. Its a 3g 2w switch. There are three t+e cables feeding their respective switches. Each switch only operates one light each and the lights are not operated by any other switch. The red wire connects to the L1 terminal. A piece of red wire links L1 to L2. All three black wires are connector blocked together (not connected to the switch). This is the bit I don't understand because I thought to operate a light one wire had to go into the switch and one wire came out. Just the one cable comes out of the ceiling to feed the light. If there are junction boxes involved then I assume they are in the ceiling. Could you be kind enough to explain how this system works either by using the hosepipe analogy or by diagram or both. Many Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Light switch wiring
Post by Zambezi on Jul 27^th, 2009, 10:47am

Could you post a photo of the back of your switch?
Normally one of the red wires will be the live in from the consumer unit, which would then need to be bridged to each of the other switches (to supply them with 230V) the black cables joined together will be the neutrals and hopefully there will be a bunch of earth wires connected together too?

Title: Re: Light switch wiring
Post by Rookie on Jul 28^th, 2009, 7:20pm

Im going back there tomorrow so i'll take me camera and add a pic.

Title: Re: Light switch wiring
Post by Y3 on Jul 29^th, 2009, 8:51pm

It sounds like they have fed the switch instead of the ceiling rose, which would explain your situation.