Legal wiring?

[kev]

the house I live in is 8 years old. I have a 2way switch in the garage and i want to disconnect one of the switches. Both switches are fed with a 2 core and earth, red to L2 black to L3, and a single red to L1. The light as one red core and earth and one black core feeding feeding into live and neutral. Is this legal? How do i disconnect the surplus switch? Any explanation about this system of wiring will be appreciated.

[Martin]

Prob not actually illegal for DIY 8 years ago, nor unsafe if done with correct rating cables, red sleeves on ends etc. But not best practice, even then, because it sounds as if the live feed is going into switches first (any sign of a junction box, BTW?) and from them to the light itself. Correct practice is to feed L+N to appropriate terminals on light fitting, then take L to switches and back to terminal.

To remove one switch, you'll need to trace precisely which cable goes where, and it seems highly unlikely you can do it "properly" without adding / replacing some cable.

Forgive the blindingly obvious, but don't touch anything without isolating completely at fuse box first, and if you're not absolutely certain what you're doing, don't touch it at all.

[kev]

other two way switches all wired the same, looks like the whole lighting circuit is wired the same. This was a new build supposedly wired by electricians not DIY.

[cj]

Hi Kev Seems like you are wired in two plait (excuse spelling) quite common even today (most pubs wired this way). Problem is live comes into 1 switch and exits to light (via strappers) at other switch. Only 2 solutions really

1 run a single and earth cable (brown or red old wiring) from the switch with the live feed to the light .(very tricky for non sparks) 2 at the switch you do not want connect the single wire to either of the twin wires insulating the left over wire. Remove the switch and fit a blanking cover plate. It goise without saying turn power off before starting and if not sure don't touch.

HTH

CJ

[kev]

Thanks CJ.