Faulty Light Switch

[ragingtater]

Hi I have a double light switch in the kitchen controlling two lights, neither light is controlled by another switch.

The switch was very dirty and one light was flicking on and off with little pressure on its switch so I decided to replace but have now come up against a couple of problems.

Apart from the earth wires I have two pairs of cables.

The current switch is labelled across the top L1 L2 C which is repeated at the bottom. One of the pairs of cables goes to each.

At the top I have the black wire going to the C with the red hanginging loose although it appears it may have been in L2 before I unscrewed the plate from the wall.

At the bottom the wires are reversed with the black going in to L2 and the Red into C.

So the first question is am I right in assuming that the loose red should be in L2 ?

The replacement switch is completely different, its configuration is two individual blocks with L1 and L2 at the top of each and C at the bottom.

Can I use this and if so how should I wire it

Many Thanks in advance

 

[breezer]

you can. and it doesnt matter

 

[bongos]

What you suggest sounds right. The new switch is simply labelled in a different format.

There is a live and a switched live for both indivdual gangs from your description.

Put red sleeving on both black cables to show they are live and put the earths together in a terminal block.

 

[ragingtater]

So I am clear I still need to put one of each pair in the L2 and the other of each pair in the C.

Does it matter which is which ?

 

[electronicsuk]

So I am clear I still need to put one of each pair in the L2 and the other of each pair in the C.

Does it matter which is which ?

That would work, but generally we prefer to use C and L1 for one-way switching, otherwise the light will be on when the switch is in the off position and vice versa.

It doesn't matter whether red or black go in C or L1, but you should make sure you get the pairs right.

When you talk about the old switch as having two rows of contacts, these are usually arranged in a triangle formation so that C on the top row is connected to L1 and L2 on the bottom row, and then C on the bottom row goes to L1 and L2 opposite on the top row. Basically, one triangle is upside down. Perhaps that's where the confusion is coming from.

 

[TicklyT]

Have a close look at the old switch first, or you may mislead yourself. It is common to find the switch terminals are actually arranged in two triangles, one inverted, which just look like two rows of three. There is often a diagonal line moulded on the back of the switch to identify the two halves.

If one or both of the new switches works 'upside down', transfer the corresponding wire from L2 to L1.