I have a 3 gang switch in my garage which i want to use for 3 different lights. The switch has 3 COM, 3 L1 and 3 L2 terminals. The 3 COM terminals are across the top of the switches and there is an L1 and L2 at the bottom of each switch. Do I use the COM terminals for the main power to the switches and L1 for power to each individual light unit. If so is L2 for the neutral wire to each light unit?

Jerry Hickson, January 2009

on my 3 gang switch i only have 1, 2, and 3. if i am connecting the live wires only through the switch, how do i connect the neutral and earth?

jimmy, December 2009

no dont do that!!!! L1 L2 L3 are your switch lines bring your main into the com then loop across the other 2

tony, September 2009

Thank you J and Adam for your invaluable information.

Regards,

Jerry Hickson, January 2009

One incoming Live wire (Red or Brown) will be connected to one of the COM terminals. A short piece of live wire -a "link" is wired from that first COM to the second COM and another link from the second to the third COM.

L1 or L2 (doesn't matter which) will be used for the live (switched live) running to the light fitting in a one way switching set -up.
So in summary there will be one live wire coming into the switch box and 3 live (switched live) wires leaving it.

There should no neutral wires anywhere near this switch! The switch must always be on the live wire not the neutral!

J, January 2009

Just use COM and L1 like you said - L2 is for 2 way switching, like a landing light.

Adam, January 2009