Hi there. I’ve used this site and found it invaluable for a lot for my DIY projects… but this is the first time I’ve actually posted!
I feel comfortable to undertake a ‘cosmetic switch faceplate update’, but I want to make sure that I don’t breach any regs (or safety standards) in the change from two 1-gangs to one 2-gang set-up, so advice is appreciated.
The lounge in my 1987-build house still has its builder-original switch plates, which I want to update. Currently installed are two fittings: a ceiling light and a wall light, each being one-way. Each light fitting is switched on/off via a single gang (plastic) switch; the two switches sit adjacent to each other in a metal back-box that is sized/styled specifically for taking two, adjacent single switch plates. Each switch has three T&E cables into it – see this image:
To clarify, wiring (1.5mm) pattern is identical for each of the switches, as follows:
Two reds to two screwless ports marked “Common” and one red to the screwless port marked “1-way”; three blacks to one chock-block (left loose in the back box); three bare earths (sleeved) to the earthing terminal on the backbox. There is one earth terminal on each side of the back box to serve each of the switches.
I intend to have both lights still independently switched on/off (1-way), but want to swap the existing set-up to a single switch with 2 rockers. I will take out the old back-box and make good as necessary, and fit a deeper (35mm) back-box to aid wire management for the new single-plate switch. However, the new switch is metal, but the earth terminal on it too small to feed in the SIX 1.5mm earth wires I’ll have! So here are my questions:
1. Could I put each fitting’s trio of earth wires into one side of a single chock-block, and then lead a wire from the other side of that block to the earth terminal on the switch plate? ie I’d ultimately have just two wires going to the switch’s terminal, one from each block.
2. Should I put a ‘fly wire’ from the metal switch plate’s earth terminal to the earth terminal on the new metal back-box?
3. If the answer to ‘1’ above is “yes”, would it be better practice to put the three black wires for each gang into the port marked “LOOP” on my new switch? I kinda think having four chock-boxes floating around the back-box is, well, untidy at the very least!
Just for the record, it goes without saying that I will be turning off all power prior to changing the switch set-up. Thanks in anticipation for your help.
I feel comfortable to undertake a ‘cosmetic switch faceplate update’, but I want to make sure that I don’t breach any regs (or safety standards) in the change from two 1-gangs to one 2-gang set-up, so advice is appreciated.
The lounge in my 1987-build house still has its builder-original switch plates, which I want to update. Currently installed are two fittings: a ceiling light and a wall light, each being one-way. Each light fitting is switched on/off via a single gang (plastic) switch; the two switches sit adjacent to each other in a metal back-box that is sized/styled specifically for taking two, adjacent single switch plates. Each switch has three T&E cables into it – see this image:
To clarify, wiring (1.5mm) pattern is identical for each of the switches, as follows:
Two reds to two screwless ports marked “Common” and one red to the screwless port marked “1-way”; three blacks to one chock-block (left loose in the back box); three bare earths (sleeved) to the earthing terminal on the backbox. There is one earth terminal on each side of the back box to serve each of the switches.
I intend to have both lights still independently switched on/off (1-way), but want to swap the existing set-up to a single switch with 2 rockers. I will take out the old back-box and make good as necessary, and fit a deeper (35mm) back-box to aid wire management for the new single-plate switch. However, the new switch is metal, but the earth terminal on it too small to feed in the SIX 1.5mm earth wires I’ll have! So here are my questions:
1. Could I put each fitting’s trio of earth wires into one side of a single chock-block, and then lead a wire from the other side of that block to the earth terminal on the switch plate? ie I’d ultimately have just two wires going to the switch’s terminal, one from each block.
2. Should I put a ‘fly wire’ from the metal switch plate’s earth terminal to the earth terminal on the new metal back-box?
3. If the answer to ‘1’ above is “yes”, would it be better practice to put the three black wires for each gang into the port marked “LOOP” on my new switch? I kinda think having four chock-boxes floating around the back-box is, well, untidy at the very least!
Just for the record, it goes without saying that I will be turning off all power prior to changing the switch set-up. Thanks in anticipation for your help.