light switch replacement, 2 black & 2 red wires

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes there is a line as it is a double switch,
line goes

L2 L1 | com
com | L2 L1

Yo - sorry - dunno what I was thinking - for some reason I kept wanting to imagine the line going at a different angle.

Brain fade.

Not as bad though, as that suffered by whoever thought this would do something useful:

 

[dgoulston]

now see above voltages of the wires

 

[EFLImpudence]

Did you measure the wires one at a time (i.e. disconnected) with one probe on the wire and one probe on a known earth (i.e. back-box if properly earthed)?

CAREFULLY.

 

[dgoulston]

Did you measure the wires one at a time (i.e. disconnected) with one probe on the wire and one probe on a known earth (i.e. back-box if properly earthed)?

CAREFULLY.

yep

 

[EFLImpudence]

ACV ? Sorry, have to ask.

 

[dgoulston]

ACV ? Sorry, have to ask.

yep.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I don't know what else to say.

If the light is not 'very dim' then you must have 240V on the live (red ?) wire(s).

 

[dgoulston]

I don't know what else to say.

If the light is not 'very dim' then you must have 240V on the live (red ?) wire(s).

lol, ok now i am confused, did not think of that.
it is powering 2 roses with 5 9w energy savers, very very bright.

thanks again for everyone's help

Darren.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Battery OK in the meter?

 

[dgoulston]

Battery OK in the meter?

brand new meter with brand new battery
if I put it in a plug socket I get 242V

 

[noddy997]

as a novice to electrics (or cos im scared of them) i use a bleeper live tester - it bleeps and flashes when live connection found.

You would ideally have 1 permanent live in your switch (from the meter), another will BECOME live when the switch is turned on. Usually there is another wire that comes out the same cable where the permanent live is coming from and that is the netural..

CAREFUL tho... when you replace switches, they keep changing the backs of them and its a pain for a novice to work out i.e. the layout or which should be the netural for the main live and for the ring...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

as a novice to electrics (or cos im scared of them) i use a bleeper live tester - it bleeps and flashes when live connection found.

Throw it away and buy a proper tester.

You would ideally have 1 permanent live in your switch (from the meter),

From the meter?

Hopefully not.

another will BECOME live when the switch is turned on. Usually there is another wire that comes out the same cable where the permanent live is coming from and that is the netural..

No.

Usually there is not.

CAREFUL tho... when you replace switches, they keep changing the backs of them and its a pain for a novice to work out i.e. the layout or which should be the netural for the main live and for the ring...

What does "netural (sic) for the main live" mean?

And what ring?