A cross between indoor lighting and a combination lock.
My flat is structurally sound and generally satisfactory, but the lights on the landing and above the front door have been wired up very oddly.

There are three switches that control these lights. Out of all eight possible combinations, the only ones that will turn on the lights are off-off-on, or on-on-on. No other combinations will work.

I can't even work out how the builder(s) managed that - it's either a spectactular bodge or a cryptic work of genius.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Sat 12 Mar 2011, 21:12, 15 replies)

I like this.
I'm sure I'm not alone in spending a minute double checking your '8 combinations' claim.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Sat 12 Mar 2011, 21:25, closed)

2x2x2

(Vigilante Man weeps because you're stupid., Sat 12 Mar 2011, 21:29, closed)

2 ^ 3

(Bad Monkey hasn't had an abusive gaz since, Sun 13 Mar 2011, 13:59, closed)

They haven't
Used an intermediate switch for the midddle position switch.
( bane, Sat 12 Mar 2011, 23:15, closed)

"I can't even work out how the builder(s) managed that"

You have a master switch which is a simple on/off switch - when it's off the circuit is broken at that point, and when it's on it is connected.


The other two have a pair of wires between them, A and B, and when both switches are "on" they are both connected to A so the circuit is complete across that point, and likewise when they're both "off". When they're not pointing the same way there's no circuit.
This is useful because (assuming the master switch is on in your situation) you can control whether the lights are on or off from either switch - so you can have a switch at the top and bottom of a set of stairs for example.


I can see why it'd make sense depending on the location of the switches, but it is a little odd.
(phyphor, Sat 12 Mar 2011, 23:34, closed)

The "master" one is on the landing, the other two are at the top and bottom of the stairs.
Also, to forestall your next question, I don't know why there are two switches upstairs. Especially as they're less than five feet apart.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Sat 12 Mar 2011, 23:42, closed)

The landing switch ..
.... looks like it's there to stop the light being turned on from the bottom. Is the bottom of the stairs in a public area or somewhere that might result in the light being turned on by mistake? Maybe someone upstairs used to find the light disturbing and wanted to be able to over-ride it. Humm...
( Ugi , it's a game of give and cake, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 11:30, closed)

Nope.
The entire circuit is contained within my flat, and can't be accessed from the outside.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 16 Mar 2011, 1:33, closed)

Sounds like they put the wrong switch type in the middle location?
0.tqn.com/w/experts/Electrical-Wiring-Home-1734/2010/08/4_2.gif
(Brian O'Blivion contains hazardous material, Sun 13 Mar 2011, 4:21, closed)

we must live in the same house!
mine is EXACTLY the same, an outside lite and an indoor lite...and 3 switches. with the same combo!!! FTW!
(grandth3ftauto, Sun 13 Mar 2011, 15:09, closed)

I had 3 switches to a hallway light, all within 6 feet of each other.
The worst thing was when the bulb went and I had to get the pen and paper out to work out how to change it without burning my fingers on the bulb if it was in the on position.
( JebediahSpringfield, Sun 13 Mar 2011, 23:04, closed)

turn the breaker off for the lights in the mains board,
or just be quick, bulbs dont get hot that quickly
(whorsepower needs an amusing sig, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 0:42, closed)

That said, glass is a poor thermal conductor and GU10s get very, VERY hot while they're on.

( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 16 Mar 2011, 1:36, closed)

you said GU

(whorsepower needs an amusing sig, Wed 16 Mar 2011, 6:47, closed)

We have two switches for the light in our utility room...
... one next to each door. Makes sense, except it's a tiny room. I can easily reach both switches at the same time. I often wonder why they bothered.
( Ugi , it's a game of give and cake, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 11:33, closed)

My house had something similar when I moved in.
Neither switch was guaranteed to make the landing light come on, but sometimes thumping the upstairs switch would do the trick.

One particularly motivated day I switched off the power to the whole house and removed and refitted all the light switches. Cured it, dunno how.
(WillI'mNot logs in twice a year, every year, Wed 16 Mar 2011, 10:39, closed)