light switch,s 2 in to 1?

Question

i have knocked a wall down making 2 rooms in to 1 ,now i need the 2 lights to work off both socket,s, so both lights come on from either switch & would like to know if this is a easy job & how much would i expect to pay , i live in a bungalow

Answer 1

My advice would be to get an electrician to do this.
I would not expect it to cost more than £40 but ask friends and neighbour's to recommend an electrician of failing that ask your local electrical shop for a trustworthy electrician as there are lots of cowboys out there.

Answer 2

As you live in a bungalo & access above the ceiling is clear it shouldn't be to much of a problem. You would require an electrician to remove the existing wiring from one of your light fittings to the switch, install a 3 core & earth cable between the two switches, change the switches for 2 way ones, then link the two lights together with twin & earth cable.
I'm assuming that the wires can be pulled down the existing conduit in the walls, if not they would have to be surface or chased into the wall.
As you can see this is more than an hours work! but no more than 2 or 3.

Answer 3

If you all you want to do is replace 2 separate switches with a double switch then it is very straight forward.

This is provided that it does not involve some major re-routing of cable etc. , to get to the location you want your new socket. This would depend on if cables are set into plaster in a wall, go via attic (access) etc.. But the actual wiring of a double switch is just a few minutes and a straight forward test. It's sorting out the cable that will cost you.

I presume you have fairly modern electrics that dont need updating too!

Prices vary, but it's a small quick job and even with the new electrical rules it should be cheap. £30-100 depending cabling max.

Answer 4

This is not as easy as you think
At the moment you have single way swithes on your walls and these will need to be changed to 2 way which also involves replacing the cable down to them in 3 core instead of the twin & earth you have now.
Connecting them is quite easy once the wiring has been put in.
Sometimes you can pull the old cable through with the new so illiminating having to chase and replaster the walls.
The job should cost less than £100

Answer 5

As you live in a bungalow there should be few problems, an electrician could do the job in one hour. So expect to pay for a call out + 1 hour

Answer 6

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO CONTROL one fixture from two different switches. You will need two -two way switches and three conductors (wires) to copnnect the switches. ELECTRICIANS DO NOT COME CHEAP. Not knowing YOUR LOCAL RATES I would be surprised if you can get it done for less than $100.00