3 gang wiring problem

noelo · 20 May 2019 at 19:19

I am trying to add an outdoor light to a 3 gang 2 way switch. On switch one is a hall light 2 way and on switch 2 is a landing light 2 way. Both connected and working fine.
When I connect the outside light to switch 3 however it does not function. I have bridged all the COM terminals and wired the light as the others - neutral to L1 and live to L2 with no result. I then realised that I did not need this light as a 2 way so wired it as one way - live in COM and neutral in either L1 or L2 -neither has worked. Is it possible please to have some guidance on where i am going wrong eith this? Many thanks in advance
Regards
Noelo

NoobCannon · 20 May 2019 at 19:36

A a picture speaks a thousand words

noelo · 20 May 2019 at 20:05

Thank you NoobCannon.....not a great picture so hope you can help

lewism · 20 May 2019 at 21:10

There's no neutral at that switch, unless the black is connected to something somewhere else, nor are there any earths for that matter. I'd leave the bag of nails alone and get a professional in and pay the <£100 they'd charge.

200sols · 20 May 2019 at 21:15

You don’t have neutral in your light switch pictured, you can’t just wire in a new light to the switch. Those black wires you see are not neutral, they are switched lives or loop wires to the other light switches. Also no earth as mentioned above, and it looks like you have metal faceplates. Sounds like you need a Pro, adding a new outside light is notifiable work anyway.

noelo · 20 May 2019 at 22:58

Thank you all for your advice which I will take and get this sorted properly. I thought this was going to be an easy install but did not realise tbh that this was notifiable so again thank you for your help

psd99 · 21 May 2019 at 08:54

I do wonder why there is no earth wire? looks dangerous
definitely get a professional in
good luck

200sols · 21 May 2019 at 17:30

psd99 said:
I do wonder why there is no earth wire? looks dangerous
definitely get a professional in
good luck

Many older houses don’t have earths on the light circuit. It’s a not a problem until you switch to metal faceplates. Double insulated fittings don’t require Earth either.

Martynt74 · 22 May 2019 at 09:20

Yeah, and it's clearly old given the red and black wiring.

Saytan · 22 May 2019 at 11:28

Red/Black went out in 2004, so it mightn't be that in house installation terms

Adam_151 · 22 May 2019 at 20:23

True, the red/black only indicates >15 years old, however the twin without cpc/ecc went out in '66 so >53 years

Saytan · 22 May 2019 at 20:42

I've just seen the image for the first time - firewalled at work.

Is that aluminium wiring?

Swifty55 · 22 May 2019 at 22:08

The 3rd wire on the right. Does the black wire actually attach to anything?

Remove the brown and put into L1 and join the blue to the black neutral on the 3rd wire as that seems to be the feed wire.