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View Full Version : Wiring help, one light on, the other gos off...


copy
Nov 8, 2005, 01:51 PM
hi,

OK here's what I have...

I'm trying to replace a light, now the wires that are under the light are:

3 x red
3 x black
1 x earth

now the only way I could get the light to work as it should was by putting 2x red for the live and 1 x red for the neutral. All the blacks linked up doing nothing... (which is the way the old light was)

OK this works, but when I go into the next room and turn the light on, nothing happens... but if I turn the one I just fitted off, it will work as it should...

any ideas on how to wire this proberly?

I have tried using all 3 red as live and all 3 black as neutral (together and one at a time using 9 different combinations) but this did blow the fuse (my trip switch doesn't work for the lights, it just blows the fuse... its always did that tho)

cheers,
Phil

tkrussell
Nov 8, 2005, 03:36 PM
OK with two switches, you have what is called a three way system. And it seems that all the wires from both switches and the other light may junction in this light outlet.

Some wires in the box may need to splice through, going ffrom one switch switch to the other. They all could not have been spliced together. Where are the white wires? Are there any? There should be.

Following is a link with a decent diagram to help you. All I can offer is for you to trace out, ring out each wire, and make a sketch of each wire to each box, and see if you can figue this out.

If you can, trace out and draw a skecthc and post back here for us to help.

http://www.forteelectric.com/3wsw.pdf#search='3%20way%20switch%20diagram'


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Three way switch systems are esy when you know where each wire goes, You now have a nightmare on your hands. See if you can figure out for yourself or get back here with a sketch.