How to remove a 2 way wiring switch (2024)

I have upstairs and a downstairs hallway light. I want to remove the 2 gang 2 way switch from downstairs, just leaving the upstairs switch in place.

I know that sounds like a strange thing to do, but the switch upstairs is controlled via a Lightwave remote device so I want to get rid of the switch downstairs.

How do I do the wires?

There are 2 red wires, 2 blue and 2 yellow - plus the Earth.

First I tried disconnecting everything, but then the switch upstairs didn't work. So then I connected the two red (common) together, along with one blue and one yellow.

That seemed fine, and the light switch upstairs then worked. However I found that the fusebox wouldn't switch off the upstairs lights - which was worrying me that I have connected them up wrong.

How should I wire it?

dominoman said:

I have upstairs and a downstairs hallway light. I want to remove the 2 gang 2 way switch from downstairs, just leaving the upstairs switch in place.

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See Also

Correct Wiring of a Two-Way Switching Circuit2 Switches for 2 lights (2-way)2 Way Light Switch Wiring (Plus Diagrams) - 1st ElectriciansTwo way switches explained EU

Do you mean you want to operate the downstairs light only from the upstairs switch, albeit a remote?

I know that sounds like a strange thing to do, but the switch upstairs is controlled via a Lightwave remote device so I want to get rid of the switch downstairs.

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I would recommend you do not.

There are 2 red wires, 2 blue and 2 yellow - plus the Earth.

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But there are two switches.
There is only a Red, Blue and Yellow to each switch

First I tried disconnecting everything, but then the switch upstairs didn't work. So then I connected the two red (common) together, along with one blue and one yellow.

Click to expand...

That seemed fine, and the light switch upstairs then worked. However I found that the fusebox wouldn't switch off the upstairs lights - which was worrying me that I have connected them up wrong.

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Which 'fusebox switch' did you open?

EFLImpudence";p="3319275 said:

There are 2 red wires, 2 blue and 2 yellow - plus the Earth.

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But there are two switches.
There is only a Red, Blue and Yellow to each switch

And they are probably on two different circuits, upstairs lighting and downstairs lighting.
When you joined the two circuits together it is not surprising one circuit breaker did not control the lights.

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What do you plan to do with the wires that go to the downstairs switch location?

What do you plan to do with the switch box itself?

You cannot plaster over the switch box and leave the live wires in the wall. That is a disaster waiting to happen.

There is a way to bypass the switch and remove it, but we need answers to the above questions first..

Taylortwocities said:

What do you plan to do with the wires that go to the downstairs switch location?

What do you plan to do with the switch box itself?

You cannot plaster over the switch box and leave the live wires in the wall. That is a disaster waiting to happen.

There is a way to bypass the switch and remove it, but we need answers to the above questions first..

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Thanks for all the responses. I know it sounds strange to do, but the reason is that I don't like where the switch is situated, and I don't need it.

I was planning to leave the cables in place, and place a blank cover over the top. I wasn't going to plaster it as I'd like it to be easily accessible in future.

Yes I want to be able to still operate the downstairs hallway light from the upstairs switch. It's a 2 gang switch so it can operate upstairs and downstairs. I then also have a remote downstairs (that acts on the upstairs switch) so I don't need the existing 2 gang 2 way switch downstairs.

I don't know if I'm explaining it well? This article also shows what I want to do: http://www.vesternet.com/resources/application-notes/apnt-58

Problem is I don't know what to do with the existing wires.

Blank plate is fine. This is what you do.

Each circuit at that switch has a cable. Red, yellow and blue.

For each cable, using a bit of insulated terminal block, connect the red and yellow together in one terminal and put the blue on its own in another terminal.
Then do the same for the other cable.

Then the upstairs switch will do all the switching.

PS if the upstairs switch now operates "upside down" swop the blue and yellow wires over.

Many thanks! That worked.

All done now.

ban-all-sheds said:

[SIGH]

Why are so many people unable to grasp the idea of not fiddling with things when they don't know how they work?

[/SIGH]

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