2-way switching means having two or more switches in different locations to control one light fitting. They are wired so that operation of either switch will control the light. This arrangement is often found in stairways, with one switch upstairs and one switch downstairs or in long hallways with a switch at either end.

3 core cable and intermediate switches

Switches are usually connected using a three core cable. If there are more than two switches on the circuit, e.g. over three floors on stairways, sometimes ‘intermediate’ switches are used in between the other 2-way switches (e.g. on the middle floors).

2-way Circuits using Generation 1 Dimmers

Once you know how, 2-way switching with Lightwave is easy. For circuits utilising Generation 1 dimmers, a single, standard Gen 1 dimmer always needs to be present on any 2-Way circuit (this must be installed before any other switches). Once this is in place, a Lightwave 2-Way dimmer can be added to the circuit using a 3-core cable as in a standard 2-way circuit, therefore, there is no need to re-wire.

Up to six 2-Way dimmers can be connected on the same circuit. These can also be ‘daisy chained’ together to cover multiple floors and replace the need for intermediate switches.

2-way Circuits using Generation 2 Dimmers

Generation 2 devices have been comprehensively redesigned to allow for wire-free 2-way switching. This method will replace the wired connection that would run between the S terminals of a Lightwave Generation 1 dimmer and Lightwave 2-way Dimmer as described above.

There is, therefore, now no need for a separate class of 2-way dimmers; you can simply wire any Lightwave Generation 2 dimmers into a 2-way circuit and all they require is live in and switched live out. Communication is carried out wirelessly and set up using the Lightwave App. This method also any number of dimmers can be used for multi-way switching.

Please refer to the L21 Dimmer instructions attached for information regarding how to wire any Generation 2 dimmer (the same applies for 20-way or multiway).

In order to set up two or more Generation 2 dimmers as 2-way or multi-way switches, please refer to the automations page of the Lightwave Link Plus App and select the 'group' option. By creating a new group containing the relevant dimmers, a new 2-way circuit can be established (please see the app for more details).