I have bought a wall light with 2 blue wires going to Neutral; 2 black wires going to Live; 1 Earth wire.

The previous light could be switched off from all 3 floors and has 3 red wires together; 2 black wires together; 1 black on it's own; the earth has been twisted back.

How do I connect the wires ?

Beginner Steve, June 2009

Peccavi - many thanks for your advice and guidance which worked perfectly and first time too.

Much appreciated.

Beginner Steve, July 2009

I have re-read your question - I still think you should get a sparky - The three red wires should be left on their own - they do not connect to the new light.

The Single black wire is very probably Switched Live - the wire that turns the light on and off.

The two black wires together are probably neutral wires.

You might wish to connect one of the wires in the new lamp to the single black and the other wire in the new lamp to the double black.

Strive if you can to connect the earth to a proper earth terminal or to the new light if it has a metal body and a screw terminal for the earth.

Take care...

Peccavi, June 2009

You should engage the services of an electrician - three way wiring is perhaps too advanced for a beginner.

The two remote switches are Wired L1 to L1 and L2 to L2 with live entering on Com of one switch and exiting on the Com terminal of the other distant switch. In between the two distant switches is what is often called an Intermediate switch (crossover switch) that acts as a polarity reversal switch.

The Intermediate switch interrupts the L1/L1 and L2/L2 wires and has the ability to convert them to L1/L2 and L2/L1 and in this way the light may be operated from any of the three stations.

Wikipedia switch - in a search engine takes you to an article with simple coloured diagrams under the heading Multiway Switching / More than two locations.

Good luck... Take care...

Peccavi, June 2009