Lighting Circuit 2 Plate Method How to Wire and Connect up 2 Way Switches (Connections Explained)
In this video we look again at a lighting circuit using the 2 plate method and I explain the connections within the switches for 2 way switching (2 way switching). The 2 plate method takes the feed (supply) to the switch and is often used in installation that have lots of downlights fitted (LED). I show you how to wire and connect up a 2 ways switches when the circuit is wired using the 2 plate method. The 2 plate method is a very common wiring method used on site so it’s important appreciate electricians and trainees understand it.
This video will show you how to convert (change) a 1 way switched lighting circuit into a 2 way lighting circuit.
🔵 The 2 plate method of wiring lighting circuits playlist • Taking the Feed (Suppl...
== 🕐 Time Stamps - Cut to the action 🕕 ==
00:00 - Lighting 2 plate method 2 way switching
0):48 - Adding a 3 core and CPC cable
01:27 - Original 1 way switch to be changed
01:51 - 2 Way switch
02:22 - Connecting up our first 2 way switch
03:19 - Removing the 1 way switch
06:46 - Connections in our first 2 way switch explained
07:19 - Adding the second 2 way switch (new switch)
10:22 - Recap adding the new 2 way switch
Videos are training aids for City and Guilds (C and G) and EAL courses Level 1, 2, 3 plus AM2 and AM2S.
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Some heroes don’t wear capes, they wear polo shirts that say GHS electrical on them. Your videos have been so helpful for me this year. Thank you Gary
Massive thanks for the lovely message 👍
Great comment
I'm currently doing my level 2 as an adult learner. I'm learning more from your short videos than I am through my practical lessons. Your explanations are clear and concise. Thanks 👍
I’ve got my practical synoptic tomorrow and I gotta fit one of these in 😅
2 yrs later I'm back to watch your vids on wiring methods. So very helpful. Thank you and your team for all your hard work
Man I was trying to find this way of connection from switch not from ceiling rose for so long, thanks for ur video it really helped me...
👍🏻
Your revision video helped at least 4/5 people on our electrical installation course. I found it and told everyone I could to watch it. My friend says it saved his ass! Thank you
Cant thank this channel enough. So helpful
Amazing videos. I've learnt a lot from you in the past couple of weeks. Everything is explained so well too. I used to be a trainer (not for electrical) and repetition is key. So hearing you say the same things, in the same way but for different videos, helps to link it all together.
Thanks for taking the time to comment so positively 👍
Very helpful as needed to add one to my loft. Thanks!
Excellent - clear, practical and sensible. Thank you.
Thanks 👍🏻
I have come across few of your videos. And I must admit your explanation is the best on YT. Keep up the good work. Thanks!
Thanks. It's really clear and full details. Useful for DIY people like me
Brilliant video and great series for electrical and non electrical folk alike. In my case, I've been doing a fair amount of DIY and have found these videos to be invaluable. Clear, concise and informative. Know exactly where to come when I have a problem and need answers. Great work..
Thanks for commenting and watching
Great content, find your videos very helpful as an aspiring electrician. Everything is well explained and laid out. Thank you and keep it up. 👍
Thanks for the support Craig 👍🏻
I always find your videos soo helpful along side the course im currently doing!
That’s great 👍
Just started my adult apprenticeship, after 13 years as a painter.. these videos are helpful and well explained. Thanks
Massive thanks 👍🏻
Thanks. Just to let you know your clear instructions mean that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Hope the breathlessness has cleared up!
Thanks for the support and watching 😀👍🏻
Excellent advice
Thanks Gaz, the best most clearly explained 2-way wiring video on KZhead!
Thanks 👍🏻
Another great video,thank you 👍👌
Still astonished these days that there is no agreement over Common/Line colours in multi-way switching. Same with using multi-core SWA. Love the videos. Well done.
Thanks for commenting 👍
Great videos, explains process so well. 👍👍
Hi Gary, cheers for taking the time to visit us at South Devon College last week... you are now part of my daily routine for revising and learning. Awesome videos!
Massive thanks for the great comment 👍🏻
Thanks so much for this, just followed your tutorial sept by step, much appreciated 👍
Thanks for the support and kind words 👍🏻
The best on you tube his a legend love you man hope all is well gazz
Thanks for the amazing comment 👍🏻. All good this end
Brilliant
Another great video! Thank you gaz👍🏻
Thanks for the kind words Jordan 👍
You really explain very clear keep up really appreciate
Thanks 👍🏻
Appreciate the video. Thank you for your efforts again.
😃👍
Very lovely Very helpful
Thanks 👍🏻
Cheers dude, newly qualified and been off the tools for a while so this was a good refresher on a method I always got a little confused with
Happy to help Andrew 👍
Fantastic video, I get how taken the feed to the switch makes for less cable at the lighting point when installing down lights, I just don’t like it I think it’s a throwback to the 40s/50s As two way switching doesn’t anyone us the loop in that method anymore? I was tort to take two three core two way switch cables from the lighting point to each switch and link the yellows /greys with a connector block at the lighting point, can also use the junction box method. Anyone who doesn’t learn from GHS videos should rethink their career path . Gaz makes it so simple and easy to understand and learn. But who am I to argue i’am just a humble spark who’s opinion means nothing, Fantastic video Gaz as always 👍👍👍👍❤️
Thanks you sir.
👍🏻
Great video thanks for sharing. I wanted to know understand how this setup could be extended to work with a 2 gang switch where the second switch is 1 way. I have the 2 way working and thought all you would have to do is connect the permanent live to the second switch common and L1 to the SL on the ceiling rose. Whilst the 1st switch wit 2 way works the second switch only works when the first switch is also on. Any suggestions on what needs to be changed or a wiring diagram for this type of setup?
great tutorial
Thanks
Thanks buddy 😊
👍🏻
Excellent explain your good knowledge
Thanks
Hope you got your breathing issues sorted out Gaz, I had a bilateral PE around the same time as this video was posted so I know how horrible it is to be struggling. Great and informative video.
Great video again Gary extremely informative. Would I be right in saying that the wires on both those 2 way switching are all live or line either switch line or permanent at some point or another and that the neutrals are simply carried through to the lighting point.
2//8/23 thank you sir. Do you use 1 mm or 1.5mm cables ?
Used this method for fused switch spur from socket for wall light also ceiling to save having to climbing around the in the attic.
Hi Gaz, love your videos, your training is effortless and so informative. My question is: is it more commonplace, especially in new builds for the feed to be in the switch and not the rose? Thinking on my ‘60’s property, all the feeds are in the ceiling. I have a marine electrical background so I enjoy your videos which give me a domestic understanding to enforce and build on my maritime electrical knowledge. Thanks.
Yes it is Adam hence the video series and playlist on take the feed to the switch. In my time in teaching (18 years) we only looked at the 3 plate method on the conduit method of wiring lighting circuits… time for awarding bodies to refresh the syllabus 👍🏻
Great tutorial as always. 👍🏻
Thanks Mr Gill 🚴
Awesome explanation! Thanks alot. I have one question... so i have a two gang switch that controls two seperate lights. I have loop in and loop out at the switch and I have a small link wire connecting both the commons together feeding both the lights. If in my case I would like to make one of the lights in this two gang switch have a seperate switch controlling it in a different location... how would you go about doing this? A three core and earth would be needed but if the black wire is placed in Common of the light switch then would the small link wire between the two commons still allow the other light to work? I would really appreciate your help.
amazing video - do you have one in which you convert a 2-way switch into a 1-way switch? im really struggling in how to get this to work.
Wow.. this is just perfect again... Now to go buy the bits firstly figuring out the words in Slovak for all these bits and pieces :D
Ah a question if I may :) CPC... is that absolutely necessary when adding the second light switch? No big deal as I will just have to go buy a different cable to what I had laying around :) Just curious.
Great Video
Thanks 👍🏻
a back hall light on a 2 way switch for the hall light the other going to an outside light, power from the outside light going to garden lights whats needed to be able to have garden lights on and be able to switch off the main outside light but be able to use main outside light on its own when needed ? im not trying it just curious
How would this look taking the feed into the 1st switch 3 core to second then 2nd switch to the light?
Hi Gary, I love your very instructive videos. Can I ask a question on two way circuits please? I have a double gang switch that has an extra terminal on one of the gangs with two L1. There seems to be a short cable link to the other gang which is for a simple outside light. I'm just a DIYer so I don't know how to describe the unit to order a replacement? Thank you, Mike
Hi Gary, I have looked everywhere I can think of, but I cannot find anywhere an industry standard for wireing a two way switch with three core cable. To me most people use different colours for the common. Is there an industry standard or am I just being daft.
Question...how long does a electrical installation qualification last for....and if it does expired is there a way to renew?
Great video, thanks! Probably a stupid question but why doesn’t the the permanent line conductor go into the common on 2 way circuit? Thanks again
Could the lights be connected to switch 2 or does it need to be switch 1?
Hi Gary, Nice video. Would it not be easier if BS7671 gave a regulation on an industry standard colour sequence for a two way switch instead of each individual electrician using their prefered colour for common and L1/L2. It might save a lot of confusion if everyone terminated the switch the same way useing the same colours.
I agree 👍🏻
When you say the cables for L1 and L2 doesn't matter if they're the same in the other switch, is that the same for intermediate switches? Cheers
If you have used the 2 plate method to wire up 2 way switching, can you use the common to loop out to a new circuit or do you have to loop out from the light because there is no neutral at the last switch only the first one?
This should help Wiring Diagram 2 Plate Method - Taking the Feed to Another Room or Switch Connection Explained kzhead.info/sun/hZeYlbyDpmOEeYk/bejne.html
@@GSHElectrical thanks for the quick reply and link. Obvious once you see it. Amazing videos, thanks for doing it as really helps when doing level 2&3👍🏻
I'd draw the the circuit diagram with sw1 and sw2, L1 and L1 terminals link together with the brown wire is the permanent line terminals, L2 and L2 terminals link together with the grey wire line,is the switch line terminals. The common terminals is link together with the black wire line.
Hello, friend! I ll start 6 months course for electrician license and I want to develope reeeally good and professional skills so do you have an advice how to study, what to study, from where to study - textbooks, websites anything from zero experience to advance. I really want to have a career in this field. I saw your video for books but I wonder if there is some more information. Thank you!
Great videos. How would you add a new light and switch using the 2 plate method? I'd like to add a light up the loft
Wiring Diagram 2 Plate Method - Taking the Feed to Another Room and Switch Connections Explained kzhead.info/sun/hZeYlbyDpmOEeYk/bejne.html
Superb video as usual. Any advice to a ‘mature’ student who made the mistake of doing a short course as to where to go now?
A long course 😉
What does the black core actually do ?
That thumbs up at the end of the video is so cringe Gas 🤣 great video though.! So well explained and make it look easy 🤙🏼
👍🏻
What throws a lot is when there is say a 3-gang light switch, say doing lights over a bed, ceiling light, LED strip with xformer behind a mirror, etc. This sort of setup is becoming quite common. How about a vid on one of these. Maybe with two way - 3-gang at the bed and 3-gang at the door.
I've been told in the AM2S Refresher to use the Grey as a neutral?
Wiring Diagram Wired Through the Switch Lighting Circuit AM2 & AM2S - 2 Way & Intermediate Explained kzhead.info/sun/lq2JisyqoHaHpXA/bejne.html Connections Explained - Wired Through the Switch 2 Way and Intermediate AM2, AM2S & AM2E Assessment kzhead.info/sun/i8mYkdRqnISgjIE/bejne.html
Hopefully these 2 videos will help 👍🏻
@@GSHElectrical Thank you, your an absolute legend and your VERY responsive! Just watching that video now.
Trying to work out how the wiring leads to the switch function, the best I can come up with is this. Is this right? You've got the permanent line at one, non-common terminal on both switches, and the outgoing line to the lamp on the other. To light the lights, you need to bridge between L1 and L2. You can't do that directly at a single switch. All each switch can do is either connect permanent line onto common, or else common to the lamp line-conductor. So you need one switch doing one job (permanent->common: "up", say) and the other one doing the other (common->lamp: "down" say). So you need one "up" switch and one "down" (switch). Whenever you flip a switch and the lamps are off you change from a state where they're both up or both down (and so the lamp not lit because both switches are either connecting permanent to common [which goes nowhere] or common to lamp [and common is floating]) into an up/down combo (and so the lamp lit [permanent->common, common->lamp]). Or else you've turning it off, and it's the same argument in reverse. (And the up/down is obviously arbitrary at each switch, anyway). I've got that straight in my head, I think, but is there an easier way to think of it!?
Wiring Diagram Lighting Circuit 2 Plate Method Taking the Feed to the Switch 2 Way and Intermediate kzhead.info/sun/f519hZyQonqkZI0/bejne.html
Have you done a similar video but with multiple multiple gang switches, ie controlling different banks of lights from different locations? If not might make a nice follow on video from this
2 Gang Switch Connections Explained - Taking the Feed to the Switch kzhead.info/sun/fsOift6EaZONi2w/bejne.html
Wiring Diagram Using a 2 Gang Switch Downstairs Upstairs 2 Way Switched Using 3 Plate Wiring Method kzhead.info/sun/Y7qnktirioKZoq8/bejne.html
@@GSHElectrical is there a version of this video where you go through connecting the items on the show board? I find that such a great way to visualise it compared to just looking at the wiring diagram on paper, sure im not the only one 😉
Do you need to keep the cpc wire? Or can you just cut it off all together?
What if the switch or light is replaced with a metal one (exposed conductive part) it will need the cpc 👍🏻
At my college the thought me to take the cable from the consumer to the light then from there to the switch so pls help me?
Like this playlist 👍🏻 Lighting Circuits 1 Way, 2 way and Intermediate & Testing kzhead.info/channel/PL2Ea5r9gxUUcToR4p1wN8QDZ2NR_z2gCh.html
Hi Gary, Q for you if you don't mind? I thought I'd seen this somewhere in a presentation of yours the other night but now can't find it! - argh! I need to continue the feed to a simple single light and on/off switch but......... taking the feed out of a 2-way switch. As per your instruction I have Black as Common and Grey and Brown of the incoming 3-core in L1 & L2. From here I want to feed a switch just nearby. So to which terminals do I take my 'twin & earth' cable to the next switch please........?! My (Geordie!) logic tells me connect into the Black in the Common of the 2-way switch and the Blue (now I'm struggling!) into the Brown (L1 or L2) of the 2-way switch. Is there going to be a loud POP! doing this - sadly no RCD's here just plain old fashioned exploding block fuses I fear...... I await your kindly guidance please?!
Did you manage to sort it? You will only be able to continue the a loop out if you have a neutral present in your existing switch. Best practice would be to take the loop out from your main ceiling pendant or using a junction box otherwise.
@@rayc1503 Hi Ray, kind of you to reply. I have managed but I did have to chase a further cable down to the switch for the reason you describe. Sorted now anyway - I'm not the sharpest electrician! (general builder in fact)
@@MrTonyCresswell I'd suggest Quinetic switches instead of chasing in walls. The master receiver switch requires no neutral. Then beyond this you can pair upto 10 further switches. No mess of having to redecorate. I've installed loads of them, even in my own house.
@@rayc1503 Yes, I knew about them and would use when practical. Fact was that in this instance the place was still a building site so 'redecoration' was away in the future anyway, so bashed on. Thanks......
Lot of cables in the switch, wouldn't it be better to use the 3plate/ceiling rose when two way switching?Plus It's got the terms for the neutral too...Nice video though👍
I have loads of videos doing the 3 plate method so it was time to do the 2 plate method 👍🏻. Thanks for commenting. Gaz
Thyme tea is good for respiratory ailments. I'm looking to have a light in my attic. That is why I'm here.
Would that stripping pass your AM2? Seemed to massively cut the copper.
You have a choice at AM2 to use a knife or side cutters... it’s up to u 👍
@@GSHElectrical What's wrong with regular strippers? Are they frowned upon?
Did you get home to the missus on time ? Thanks for the video.
Yep 👍🏻
Gaz how about you do a video on using the junction box method and the loop in method for two way switching, as mentioned in my earlier comment , no one seems to use it anymore .
2 Way and Intermediate Switching Joint Box Method Wiring Diagram Connections Explained kzhead.info/sun/qqWDp96jhKWjmX0/bejne.html
Fantastic, but for some reason I can’t put my finger on it but that looks different to what I learned at college? Maybe it the colours that throwing me ? Still bring back happy memories of my time at Watford college. Brilliant video Gaz thank you As always 👍👍👍👍❤️
Just to say, that having the neutral in the switch back box with 2 plate method is good for keeping the luminare fittings free from congestion, but also useful if fitting a smart light switch. However, if fitting a strapper to allow two way switching, you can only buy 3 core and earth flat pvc and so will not have a neutral in the new switch for a smart switch. You can of course buy 4 core and earth in round pvc but then you will be lacking in continuity of materials used!!!
You only need to have neutral in one of the switches, because you don’t need to be able to smart switch at both locations.
Huh. So you’re connecting L and SL onto the two runners. Standard hookup over here would be to connect live to the common terminal, and connect the switch live to the wire coming back from the other common terminal. Obviously without connecting the two together. The two runner wires from switch to switch are the wires held in common for 2 or 3+ switching point setups, and only connect directly to switches. Apparently your variant is allowed, and is known as a conductor-saving scheme, although in this variant of cable routing it doesn’t. And then there’s apparently the “French variant” which is not allowed here (maybe still allowed in France?) and which puts two switches, each switching between live and neutral to make a switched live, and then put the load between those - so depending on the configuration of the switches, an “off” position could be either N-N or L-L, making changing lightbulbs something to do very carefully…
Yes big man. Hope your lungs make a recovery. Health's number 1. God bless
👍 thanks
Why you did not show wire come from C UNIT to the one pol
This video is part of a series - 👍 Lighting Circuit 2 Plate Method Taking the Feed to the Switch and Connecting a 1 Way Switch & Light kzhead.info/sun/ZKttlrtqe5eng3k/bejne.html
Why is the 3 core & earth used and not the twin core & earth.
What a g
Same old story. A way of describing a method of work is used for years, then someone decides to confuse thing. Instead of junction box , we will call it 2 plate . And loop in , let try 3 plate . And while we’re at it , earth connection let start calling it a CPC. Who make these decisions, probably the same moron who thought it was a good idea to change LIVE RED to BROWN
I must be 2 way switch illiterate, I have watched dozens of these tubes, for some reason, I just can’t get my head around how a 2 way switch works. To make matters worse, I was a gas engineer for almost 20 years. 🙈
make sure you get your breathing problem looked at if it continues.Don't be a hero see a doctor ❤️
Your comments obscure the video !
You can turn off the subtitles 👍🏻
your caption is preventing me from seeing what you doing properly.
I would never return to Morrisons no matter what bribe they are pushing.