Double switch for two light bulbs

Rnj

Hello there,

I've found this forum using Google trying to figure out how to wire my project, and I would appreciate your help.

I bought some new lighting for my room which has two light bulbs (each bulb has seperate wires - positive and negative), until now I had a normal switch, now I want a double switch - Each one to each light.

I took the current switch out and there are two wires - Brown and blue (same thing goes for the ceiling).

Can I wire those two wires somehow that will let me control each bulb with each switch?

P.S. Sorry if I got the terms wrong, I'm more of small electronics projects type rather than home electricity

Thanks!

nap

are you somewhere outside of the US?

Rnj

Indeed I am, has the brown and blue wiring framed me?

TimPa

normally the 2 light socket wires are connected together (2 hots and 2 neutrals) then connected to teh feed hot and neutral respectively, fed by the single switch (switching the hot wire). your desire for separate control will be limited by the number of wires between the switch box and the light fixture. since there must be a switched hot for each socket (x2)and a shared neutral (1), adding up to 3 current carrying conductors. you likely only have 2. the black and brown colors at the switch are unfamiliar to me, is this a low voltage system or non-usa?

Rnj

Thanks for the comment, as mentioned, non usa indeed. Blue is the phase, brown is the neutral.

Then I understand there is no easy way to do it, but add another wire?

TimPa

"Then I understand there is no easy way to do it, but add another wire?"
unless there is a spare wire already. that's what i'm saying am sticking to it -

"since there must be a switched hot for each socket (x2)and a shared neutral (1), adding up to 3 current carrying conductors. you likely only have 2."

Rnj

Just wanted to make sure. Thanks a million!

nap

it was a good clue.

nap

and if I am correct, this gives another clue that you are in the UK or someplace that uses the UK wiring system.

and this is not a very new system since even the UK switched to IEC colors and uses blue for a neutral now. Don't know what year they changed though.

am I right?

frenchelectrican

The brown and bleu is common European and aussie colour format.

Now to OP .,

If you want the light bulbs to be on seperated you will have to change the cable from the switch point to the ceiling luminaire.

you will need 2.5mm² triplex cable or 4.0mm² triplex depending on it have in there however if you have exsting ring circuit that will get tricky but I will expain it if you have it.

To change from twinner to triplex you have to pull the exsting cable out and run the new one to the switch point and get double toggle or rocker swtich.

and you will have to remark one conductor useally Bleu with brown sleeve or brown tape one of two { some case black } the remarked is your power supply while the Brown and Black is switched conductor.

Can you tell me which location so I can able pinpoint more closer with final connection due I am famuir with UK , French , Aussise system.

Merci.
Marc

Rnj

Actually I'm from Israel, and the building I live in is around 13 years old.
I suppose it is indeed the old UK system (there are many influences of UK in Israel, it goes back to the days of the British Mandate for Palestine actually )

frenchelectrican

They did change that about 5 years ago to harmozied the system.

so here quick run down

Bleu - Netural
Brown - Phase A
Grey - Phase B
Black - Phase C

that what it should be but here my verison { France }

Bleu -Netural
Black - Phase A
Red - Phase B
Brown -Phase C
Green/yellow - earth

so there are couple latest verison of conductor colours that is legit.{ bioth are used but the first part is little more common then second one }

Merci.
Marc

nap

I'll let Marc run with this one. He is more familiar with the Euro systems so less likely to make a mistake than I would be.

(just watch out for his accent. He's French ya know)


just kidding with ya marc.

frenchelectrican

Ok that is stright shot

Just follow my comment above this it pretty straight foward task with colour codes

They havent change very much with colour codes expect just updated few years back.

But if you have hollow wall it will be very easy to swap cable if soild wall you can either chip it out or run a surface tube on the wall and run the cable inside of it.

Merci.
Marc

Rnj

Thanks a lot Marc and nap, I'll switch to a 2.5 triplex wire first thing tomorrow morning!
P.S I'm pretty sure it is indeed radial circuit.
How trickier does it get?