I'm trying to figure how to switch the following setup:


W --------- Blue ------------------------------------------------ L
A A 1
L --------- Brown --------------------\ ----------------------- M
L \ P
Switch 1




Switch 1 /
W --------- Brown --------------------/ ------------------------ L
A A 2
L --------- Blue ------------------------------------------------ M
L P



When either "switch 1" or "switch 2" is connected both lamps (1 & 2) should turn
on.

Can I just connect the brown wire at both lamps? Like this:


W --------- Blue ------------------------------------------------ L
A A 1
L --------- Brown --------------------\ ----------------------- M
L \ | P
Switch 1 |
|
|
|
|
Switch 1 / |
W --------- Brown --------------------/ ------------------------ L
A A 2
L --------- Blue ------------------------------------------------ M
L P


What if both switches are on? Is there a problem?

Reading this thru it sounds as though you would be connecting hot to
hot, which would blow the breaker. I think a 3-way switch may be in
order.

According to :
Reading this thru it sounds as though you would be connecting hot to
hot, which would blow the breaker. I think a 3-way switch may be in
order.

As long as both fixtures are on the same circuit (same hot),
there's no problem (technically). An inspector is likely to
get a little huffy tho.

This is a wired "OR" (switch 1 OR switch 2 required for lamps to go
on, both switches must be off before the light goes off).

This is a very unusual arrangement. Three way switches are used
in what could best be considered an "exclusive OR" (one OR the other,
but not both).
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

What if both switches are on? Is there a problem?


What you are describing will work, IF the two switches are
on the same circut.

A better way is if you follow the schematic at
www.goedjn.com/wires.gif (The top one),
using two-way switches. The safety ground is
omitted for clarity.

If the first switch is UP then power goes along the
line (a) to the center-pole of switch two, which is
pigtailed to the line leading to the lamps.

If it's DOWN then power goes along the other line to
the up-terminal of switch two, and if THAT is up,
then the lamps are on, anyway. Only if both switches
are down will the lamps be off.

The advantage of this is that: (A) it's fairly easy to
figure out whats going on, (B) it's hard to cross-connect
two circuts, and (C) the poor ******* who's coming along
after you can put the switches back into a normal X-OR
configuration by moving one end of wire 'a' at switch 'b'.