Replaced light switch, now no lights!

[shinji]

Earlier this afternoon I decided to change the light switches in the livingroom.
A few weeks back I changed the light switch in my bedroom with the same brand switch without any issues.

I switched off the Lights 'trip switch' on the DB - had to keep the Main Switch on as my PC was updating a ton of crap...

Anyway, I took off the old switch cover, removed the switch, made sure I knew which wire went where and installed the new switch (the switches are the double switch types ie. can turn on 2 lights via 2 switches).

Flipping the Lights Trip Switch back on nothing expolded or popped, so it's all good.... not.
Even after a triple check to make sure the wires were connected properly and that the bulbs were in working order, I decided to replace the old switch only to discover they don't work anymore!!!

All the plugs in the room work, the rest of the house's lights work and the switch I replaced in the kitchen won't turn on the kitchen's light when I press it's switch but when I press the back door's light switch it turns on...

I am extremely confused. What went wrong?

[FNfal]

Normally the light switch just switches the positive . if you pulled the wire while you were changing the switch may be you pulled the wire out of where it comes from.(another switch or your DB)
How old is the wiring is it PVC or older??
Most light switches the positive is just daisy chained. (fed from switch to switch.

[dj_jyno]

Easiest would be to use a multimeter to check for 230V AC power between two wires. Sounds like you accidentally swopped wires. If there are three poles in the switch, the positive goes in the center, with negative at the sides.

[Garyvdh]

Time to call the Electrician!

[shinji]

Time to call the Electrician!

Lol! Yeah thought the same...

Wiring not too old. If I were to guess maybe 10 years...

Luckily I have learned the lesson of pulling too hard on cables/wires. When I removed the old switch I took care not to put too much strain or tension on the wires.

The switches take only 2 wires, which I guess are the Live & Neutral wires. Can't see how reversing the wires could cock things up...

[MyWorld]

Like mentioned, a switch is only a break in the live wire, there is no neutral wire involved. There might be an earth wire in some installations.

Take a picture of the back of the switch and the wiring and we'll be able to help you.

[rorz0r]

Sounds to me like you swopped the wires, perhaps unintentionally. Some switches have the common wire first then the 2 others and some have the common one in the middle. I think just double check the markings on both the old and the new switches.

[FNfal]

Normally the light switch just switches the positive . if you pulled the wire while you were changing the switch may be you pulled the wire out of where it comes from.(another switch or your DB)
How old is the wiring is it PVC or older??
Most light switches the positive is just daisy chained. (fed from switch to switch.

The wiring for a light is very simple the black wire (neutral) goes straight to the light fitting, the live goes to the switch and then to the light . very simple if you have some sort of tester .

[shinji]

The wiring for a light is very simple the black wire (neutral) goes straight to the light fitting, the live goes to the switch and then to the light . very simple if you have some sort of tester .

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll pop in at Builders tomorrow to get a multi-meter.

Sounds to me like you swopped the wires, perhaps unintentionally. Some switches have the common wire first then the 2 others and some have the common one in the middle. I think just double check the markings on both the old and the new switches.

Starting to think the same! Really really do hope it's such a simple solution.

[shinji]

I'll snap pics tomorrow when I will try to fix the problem.

[shinji]

SOLVED!

After a good night's sleep I rechecked everything with fresh eyes.

Light switches are wired with the black (neutral) uninterupted and the red (live) interupted by the switch.

The switch simply closes the current running from a 'live red' (from the power source) to a 'dead red' (the wire that goes to the light etc.).

In some cases the wiring is a tad confusing - 2 switches will, or rather should, have 2 wires for power and 2 wires for 'destination', ie. one of each per switch. In the case of my lights there were 2 destination wires and 1 'live' twisted onto a 'dead' wire (maybe for a dimmer switch?).

When I spilt the twisted wires I ended up mixing the wires on the livingroom switch (thus no lights there) and by complete accident got the kitchen switch to get one light to work there. Retracing all my steps and using some common sense I got all the wires into the right places!

Conclusions:

1) Buy a Multi-meter!
2) Buy extra wire (solid copper not braid)
3) Send the family out - you will say very family unfriendly stuff!
4) Triple check the switches in the DB are off!!!
5) If you're not confident in your abilities get an electrician.