hi I have a celing light and a wall light on 2 2 way switch when i used 1 switch the light come on but they are very dim and can hardly see anything when i use the other switch they don't work at all this only happend overnight help!!!

lucy, January 2009

hi you didnt say what type of bulbs you are using...in case you were not aware you cant dimm most low energy bulbs

pete, January 2009

Lucy sorry for the delay.

Did you replace the lamp (bulb) or light fitting in the hallway?

What type of lamps (bulbs) do the light fittings have. If you have replaced the switches with dimmers, the replacement dimmer switches must be suitable for the type and load they are to control.

The result you have would suggest to me that during the switch changes there has been a feed/strapper swap. If the light fitting in the hall had been changed then it may have been here. In addition the switch in the hall that does the landing I am guessing is also a 2 way switch. If you have a lighting circuit for downsatirs and a lighting circuit for upstairs then these may have been interconnected too.

Your lighting circuit(s) need to be broken down and each cable ie loop-in, loop-out, switch wire etc needs to be located and verified and reconnect. Get back to where you were with it all working (normal switches) and make each change one at a time confirming that the system still functions correctly after every change.

Its a bit vague sorry.

Matt, January 2009

hi matt

1 - yes there are 2 switches
2 - yes there a switch by my front door and a switch in the hallway both of them have 2 switches on them
3 - by the front door 1 switch turns on/off a light on the wall by the front door and the other turns the ceiling hallway light on/off. the switch in the hallway 1 switch turns on/off the ceiling light in the hallway and the other switch turn on/off the landing light.
4 - they are both normal switches
5 - what happend was we replace a normal switch with a dimmer switch in out dinning room then the hallway light blow so we replaced the light and they it was dim! but this didn't happen straight away it was after a few week. now the hallway switch and the dimmer are behind each other if that anything to do with it. Also to let you know the switches by the front door don't work at all now only the switch in the hallway put the lights on and they are dim the landing light works fine.

thanks for your help

lucy, January 2009

Lucy

Can you answer the questions below based on when your lights worked OK:-

.....2 2way - says to me that you have a 2gang 2way switch?

01 - Are there 2 switches (2 gang)
02 - Can you switch the lights on from more than one switch - you state 2 2way (2 way)
03 - What did these switches turn on/off
04 - Are these switches dimming switches or normal switches
05 - Are you sure that no works have been carried out that could affect your lighting. (not necessarily electrical work)

Just a little bit more information may help to solve the problem.

Matt, January 2009