International Islamic University Islamabad

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Department of Electrical Engineering

Workshop Practice Lab (EE102L)

Experiment No. 7: Electric Bulbs Control using Two-way Switches and

Implementation of Staircase Lighting Scheme

Name of Student: ……………………………………

Registration No.: ……………………………………..

Date of Experiment: …………………………………

Submitted To: ………………………………………...

Experiment No. 7: Electric Bulbs Control using Two-way Switches and Implementation of
Staircase Lighting Scheme Page 1
Objectives:
 To control electric bulbs using two-way switches.
 To implement and analyze the practical staircase wiring circuit.
Equipment Required:
 Electrical Tester [Qty = 1]
 Cutting Plier [Qty = 1]
 MCB [Qty = 1]
 Two-way Switches [Qty = 2]
 Bulb Holders [Qty = 2]
 100W AC Bulbs [Qty = 2]
 Electrical Wires (3-29)
Part 1: Controlling of two electric bulbs using two “2-way” switches
Procedure:
a. Take some pieces of wire having suitable length and peel off insulation from their both
ends.
b. Construct the circuit of Figure 7.1. A phase wire is connected to the center point of
switch 1 (SW1). The lower ends of both the switches (SW1 and SW2) are connected to
each other. The upper end of SW1 is connected to the second point of bulb holder 1
(BH1) and the upper end of switch 2 (SW2) is connected to neutral wire.
c. The center point of SW2 is connected to the second end of the bulb holder 2 (BH2)
whereas the second end of BH1 is connected to the first end of BH2.

Figure 7.1

Experiment No. 7: Electric Bulbs Control using Two-way Switches and Implementation of
Staircase Lighting Scheme Page 2
d. Plug in both the bulbs (L1 and L2) into the bulb holders and make sure that, all circuit
connections are correct. Now, turn ON the main AC power supply (220V/50-Hz).
e. Fill in the Table 7.1 by changing the states of both the switches (SW1 and SW2).

Table 7.1

Position of Position of
Sr. Status of the Status of the
Switch 1 Switch 2
No. Bulb 1 (L1) Bulb 2 (L2)
(SW1) (SW2)
1 1 (UP) 4 (DOWN)

2 1 (UP) 3 (UP)

3 2 (DOWN) 3 (UP)

4 2 (DOWN) 4 (DOWN)

f. Comment on the working of circuit given in Figure 7.1.

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Part 2: Controlling of a single electric bulb using a pair of “two-way” switches

(Staircase Lighting Scheme)
Theory:
Figure 7.2 demonstrate the problem of staircase lighting scheme that is to be controlled
from two different locations (top and bottom of stairs) using two 2-way switches.

Figure 7.2

Experiment No. 7: Electric Bulbs Control using Two-way Switches and Implementation of
Staircase Lighting Scheme Page 3
 SW1 and SW2 are 2-way switches with a pair of terminals 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 respectively
as shown in Figure 7.3. When the SW1 is in position 1 and SW2 is in position 4, the circuit
does not form a closed loop and there is no path for the current to flow and hence the bulb
(L1) will be switched OFF. When SW1 is changed to position 2 the circuit gets completed
and hence the bulb (L1) starts to glow. Now, if SW2 is changed to position 3 with SW1 at
position 2, the circuit’s continuity is broken and the bulb (L1) is switched OFF again. Thus,
the bulb (L1) can be controlled from two different points.

Figure 7.3: Staircase Lighting Scheme

Procedure:
a. Take some pieces of wire having suitable length and peel off insulation from their both
ends.
b. Construct the circuit of Figure 7.3 carefully and verify all the connections. Then, switch
ON the main AC supply (220V/50-Hz).
c. Observe and record the status of bulb by changing the positions of 2-way switches (SW1
and SW2) as required in Table 7.2.
Table 7.2
Position of Position of Status of the Bulb
Sr.
Switch 1 Switch 2 (L1)
No.
(SW1) (SW2) ON/OFF
1 1 (UP) 3 (UP)

2 1 (UP) 4 (DOWN)

3 2 (DOWN) 3 (UP)

4 2 (DOWN) 4 (DOWN)

d. Comment on the working of circuit given in Figure 7.3.

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Experiment No. 7: Electric Bulbs Control using Two-way Switches and Implementation of
Staircase Lighting Scheme Page 4