L1 is off when l2 is on and vice versa depending on the switch position. A metal light switch must be earthed as seen below.
Help With Replacing Double Light Switch With A Single Dimmer
Wiring a light switch uk. The switch puts power out to one wire or the other like a valve for water that goes in two directions. A one way light switch has two terminals which is a common marked as com or c. Wiring a one way switch. If you are based in the usa. Heres my simple video on how to change a light switch in the uk. The l2 terminal is unused.
However the actual look of the wiring in the box can vary depending on where the switches are located along the circuit run. Two way switch uk light switch a two way switch for switching a light from two different locations like in a hallway has a common c a l1 and an l2 terminal. Ceiling rose wiring the switch connections in the ceiling rose are as shown. The other terminal is marked as l1 and is the output to the light fixture. Its possible that the switch you removed was one of the two that controls the non functioning light. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram.
If youre changing a light. How to wire a light switch in the usa. A two way light switch can also be used in in place of a one way light switch in this instance the red wire from the feed cable is connected to the common c terminal and the red wire going to the light is connected to the l1 terminal. You can use a two way switch for one way switching. Wiring a 3 way light switch. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.
The common is for the live wire that supplies the input voltage to the switch. From here it is easy to modify the 2 way switch diagram to add an intermediate switch which allows you to control a light from 3 switches or 4 or 5. Just ignore the l2 terminal. The switch simply interrupts the live feed to the light and enables you to turn the light on and off by disconnecting the live flow. A switch with three wires could be used for a hall light with a switch at each end. Its easy and quick to do and i cover the basics on swapping a simple switch like for like.
The essence of the wiring configuration is for one hot feed wire entering the switch box to be split so that it feeds both switches which in turn feed hot wires in cables that lead out to two separate light fixtures.