2 way pull switch only works a certain way

[blaster]

i need a little bit more info .
so before you changed any switches did this fault just appear ?
did any of the connections on the switch have more than 1 wire in the terminal? if so which C L1 L2 ?
both the switches you are talking about wall switch top of stairs and pull switch in bedroom did both these turn the same light on and off or is one for stairs and one for bedroom?

 

[steptoe]

This is how it was wired originally and the new wall switch had exactly the same connections ( L1,L2,and com) .in the same places on the switch, so it was a straight swap , I will check them again tomorrow but I'm sure they were right , as I kept them in the correct position as I loosened the screws.

Ok, that is a standard 2 gang 2 way , where one switch is "upside down" to the other, it is possible that the new switch is also like that, but opposing, so the switch on the other side to the one you changed is the upside down switch.

 

[steptoe]

One on the left is looking from under the 2 gang switch and the one on the right is looking from above

We now know it's traditional strappers, where a T&E links the switches, and you have a live at one switch, and a switch wire at the other.
I think you have a red in the wrong terminal on the new switch.

 

[blaster]

easy to find out just need a tester , you would just disconnect C L1 L2 and test see which is live all the time, that wire then goes into connection C on the switch then other 2 disconnected wires go into L1 and L2 doesn't matter which. On a 2 gang switch there usually is a link wire connecting both connection C together , are we sure this isnt a 1 to 2 way wiring ?
As steptoe as pointed out really should only be live testing if you know what your doing so above test really should only be carried out by a qualified electrician. I was just pointing out how I would test it , hope you get sorted .

 

[patch]

@steptoe, these are photos of the original switch that I took before disconnecting . The switch worked perfectly good for 20 years , but has just started with this problem last week. Will update tomorrow when tested continuity . Thanks

 

[wullboy]

@steptoe, these are photos of the original switch that I took before disconnecting . The switch worked perfectly good for 20 years , but has just started with this problem

Then 1 of the switches has went faulty

 

[patch]

Changed both switches now and checked continuity at L1 and L2 on both switches, wired exactly as original and still same problem, I will now get electrician and let you know what he finds .

 

[patch]

Changed both switches now and checked continuity at L1 and L2 on both switches, wired exactly as original and still same problem, I will now get electrician and let you know what he finds .

 

[patch]

The other side of the 2 gang is 2 way for another light at top of stairs and works fine

 

[steptoe]

Looks like that black is in wrong terminal at pull switch

 

[Scufferoo]

you have a black wire in the common at the pull switch but in live 1 at the wall switch , the 2 commons should be connected .
do you have a photo of the old pull switch while it was still wired ?

 

[patch]

Black is wired into the com terminal in the pull switch. What is the yellow tape on the black wire in the wall switch for (what is this to identify) . Its wired into L1 on the wall switch.

 

[steptoe]

Black is wired into the com terminal in the pull switch. What is the yellow tape on the black wire in the wall switch for (what is this to identify) . Its wired into L1 on the wall switch.

Ye, that's wrong, the red and black in the same cable go into L1 and L2 , doesn't matter which way round, the red on its own goes into com at both switches

 

[spanner123]

Google 2 way switch wiring diagram. There are two ways to wire correctly.

 

[steptoe]

Google 2 way switch wiring diagram. There are two ways to wire correctly.

No there isn't,
There is only 1 way to wire a 2 way switch using traditional T&E strappers

 

[steptoe]

you have a black wire in the common at the pull switch but in live 1 at the wall switch , the 2 commons should be connected .
do you have a photo of the old pull switch while it was still wired ?

You don't connect the 2 commons, good chance landing light is off downstairs circuit, and bedroom light is upstairs circuit

 

[spanner123]

No there isn't,
There is only 1 way to wire a 2 way switch using traditional T&E strappers

There's a two wire method and three wire method but don't know what method t&e strappers is!

 

[patch]

Just noticed it says 1 way on the 2 gang wall switch, will this matter

 

[steptoe]

There's a two wire method and three wire method but don't know what method t&e strappers is!

2 wire

 

[steptoe]

Just noticed it says 1 way on the 2 gang wall switch, will this matter

That's normally to denote the terminal to use if you want it to be a 1way switch