Three Way with Intermediate and Three Wire

[Artur Makars]

Hi, I'm new here, and really hope for advice... Could anyone kindly put me in right direction. How do I go about connecting the second switch on landing, or what have I done wrong so far (attached image)? Whatever is connected now works a treat.

Thanks for your time

 

[Mickey]

Try this. It's all on there
You need a 2way switch at each end and a intermediate switch in between. You can add as many intermediate switches as you like providing you have a 2way switch at each end.

 

[Artur Makars]

View attachment 42736
Try this. It's all on there
You need a 2way switch at each end and a intermediate switch in between. You can add as many intermediate switches as you like providing you have a 2way switch at each end.

The trouble with this is that my light feed is at intermediate switch... I might be dumb but can’t figure it out

 

[Mickey]

Not a problem, you just connect it to L1 and L2 of the same cable, it makes no difference.
Look at the diagram, follow the wires
And you'll see what I mean.

 

[Artur Makars]

Not a problem, you just connect it to L1 and L2 of the same cable, it makes no difference.
Look at the diagram, follow the wires
And you'll see what I mean.

Thanks, I’ll try that tomorrow

 

[Toneyz]

As Mickey said the live and switch wire can be taken to the intermediate switch and put in the terminals there. Just to note the brown is just jointed through the switch.

 

[Richard Burns]

It is possibly worth pointing out that your original diagram shows each switch to be a double gang two way switch as you have duplication of each of COM L1 and L2.
You would need to have one of your switches as an intermediate switch. Also each switch (if the whole arrangement is only switching the one light) would only need to have a single gang i.e. one switch on each plate.
With the current arrangement you have shown you are lucky if it works correctly as you are splitting the circuit over two different gangs in the same switch plate.
I would start from new for the connections.

 

[Intoelectrics]

With the current arrangement you have shown you are lucky if it works correctly as you are splitting the circuit over two different gangs in the same switch plate.

Unless its my eyes or I'm missing something, I can't see how the current arrangement works at all other than if its in one certain switch position?

 

[Toneyz]

Yes see what you mean regarding the internals shown for the intermediate switch as long as the O.P. installs an intermediate switch and wire as shown it will work.

 

[Jamie']

View attachment 42736
Try this. It's all on there
You need a 2way switch at each end and a intermediate switch in between. You can add as many intermediate switches as you like providing you have a 2way switch at each end.

As Mickey has posted. I personally use Grey as common and brown as L1 but people do this a little different.

 

[MDJ]

The trouble with this is that my light feed is at intermediate switch... I might be dumb but can’t figure it out

Yup

 

[Richard Burns]

Unless its my eyes or I'm missing something, I can't see how the current arrangement works at all other than if its in one certain switch position?

Correct, I was trying to be diplomatic about my wording!

 

[elsparko]

As Mickey has posted. I personally use Grey as common and brown as L1 but people do this a little different.

no no no, do it in order, brown for common/feed , l1 is black, l2 grey and so on.

 

[Toneyz]

Mickey has posted a wiring diagramme it is not going to help the O.P. if we confuse him by posting he uses different colours.

 

[Mickey]

no no no, do it in order, brown for common/feed , l1 is black, l2 grey and so on.

I believe in the on site guide it does show the black as common and brown as L1.
I might be wrong, I know I've seen it in one of the regs books.

 

[littlespark]

What can be really confusing is how different manufacturers label their terminals.
Some are C, L1 and L2 as normal. I fitted ones recently that were L1, L2 and L3 (Volex if I remember)

Black and grey are always the strappers as far as i'm concerned. (with brown sleeving)

 

[elsparko]

I believe in the on site guide it does show the black as common and brown as L1.
I might be wrong, I know I've seen it in one of the regs books.

some guys i work with used the black as neutrals, that used to wind me up because they wouldnt bother sleeving them or telling anyone else on site who was using the black as you guessed it, switched live!

the way i see it is if 3 phase conductors are identified by brown/black/grey in that order, then it still kind of applies when you have 3 live conductors of a 3core+e , if brown is common then switch wire/strappers should then be l1=black l2 = grey

not often i have a 3core between 2 ways, feed at one end, switch live at other end and t+e for strappers

 

[elsparko]

I believe in the on site guide it does show the black as common and brown as L1.
I might be wrong, I know I've seen it in one of the regs books.

some guys i worked with used the black as neutrals, that used to wind me up because they wouldnt bother sleeving them or telling anyone else on site who was using the black as you guessed it, switched live!

the way i see it is if 3 phase conductors are identified by brown/black/grey in that order, then it still kind of applies when you have 3 live conductors of a 3core+e , if brown is common then switch wire/strappers should then be l1=black l2 = grey

not often i have a 3core between 2 ways, feed at one end, switch live at other end and t+e for strappers

 

[telectrix]

used to use yellow for common, so since the silly colours came in, have always used black.

 

[Intoelectrics]

used to use yellow for common, so since the silly colours came in, have always used black.

Me too, same reason.