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light switch - kitchen and outside light?

Was replacing some light switches and plug sockets in the weekend an the only one which puzzled me was the double light switch for the kitchen light and the outside light. The switch is made up of 2 MK Grid switches, one for the kitchen light so that is fine, just the usual wires and one for the outside light which has four holes. These are 2 for supply and 2 for load and an earth. However the switch I bought only has the usual three holes. Any idea how to wire this up? There is 2 live and 2 neutral wires currently. Any help would be appreciated. So I just connect one red wire to the common and one red to L1 and tape up the neutrals. So I don't need the neutrals at all then?

Public Comments

  1. I had that same problem. I'm thinking it was the white neutral wire we weren't supposed to connect. If the instructions don't tell you what to do in that event (ours did) then call some place like Lowes or Home Depot. They'll tell you what to do. i call them for help on just about everything home improvement related. You might even be able to go there online & search the archives for the answer.
  2. It may be that the kitchen light was originally wired for two switches. When this is done, there are two wires connecting both switches and they need to be two way switches. The circuit is live to switch 1, two live wires connect the two switches and then live to the light. The neutral and earth are connected as usual. If switch 1 is switched to wire 1, switching switch 2 to wire 1 will light the light. Switching switch 2 to wire 2 will turn the light off, because wire 2 is open circuit in switch 1. With switch 2 switched to wire 2, switch 1 will light the light when it is switched to wire 2 to complete the circuit. Because both switches are wired in parallel, switching either one will make or break the circuit. Although it calls it a 3 way switch, the demo below will illustrate the process. When properly connected, the light will be off when both switches are in the same position, either 'on' or 'off', and on when they are in different positions. For more specific information about how to wire UK switches see http://www.diynot.com/pages/el/el031.php
  3. Ignore The US answers... Since you've said it's a grid switch, with four holes, my guess is that it was a Double pole (ie switches both live & neutral) for the o/side light. Put the neutrals in a plastic connector block and leave in the backbox; connect the two live wires (one into common, one into L1) on your new lightswitch.
  4. As Pauline says, it seems that the original was a double pole for some reason. Join the blacks and switch the feed. ADDED>> NO, don't 'tape up' the neutrals, join them together with a piece of connector strip. Your old switch was NOT a 2/3/4 way switch (3 and 4 are US terms - UK has 2 way and intermediate) or it would not have worked.
  5. one more thing, get a meter and make sure you know what you are dealing with. I've seen many times where people will use the white wire as a switched hot, sometimes they mark it sometimes they don't (especially when the home owner makes repairs) you wouldn't want to bundle the whites and then introduce power with the switch.
  6. DON'T JUST TAPE THE NEUTRALS!!!! They need to be joined with a connector block or similar if you just twist them together you are making potential time bomb!!!! apart from that as has been answered the reds go on the common and l1 or l2 depending on which way up the switch is up
  7. That is a 4-way switch,used to switch lights from more that two place. The wires are the travelers, split, between two three way switches to put in a four-way the whites are NOT neutrals. You will need to buy a 4-way switch
  8. speaking as a sparky don't play with electrics leave well alone you cant see it or smell it but it will kill you stone dead leave it to the professionals
  9. OF COURSE YOU NEED NEUTRAL...AND NEVER TAPE WIRES..!!..Dont fully understand Question. Sounds like two way switching in kitchen. The switch at the back door has a combined kitchen light and backdoor light .."right"..Usually light switches do not have neutral wires.. There should be a common live going in..whichfeeds your lights.. sorry but cant see your kitchen to tell you how to do it. but please ask an electrician...for your own safety..