Terminate Pull Cord Switch

[Steve Fryer]

We have just moved into a new house and the 3 bedrooms have a main light switch on the wall and also have a pull cord switch on the far walls.

Want to remove the pull switches as they're right where the coving needs to go and wife hates them!

There's 2 cables going into the pull cord: 2 red wires to L1, 1 blue and 1 black wire with red sheath to L2, yellow wire with red sheath to com and earth wire to pendant.

Loft has been insulated and no floorboards present, so is a real pain to do anything from above.

Will I be able to put them in a terminal block, and pop back into the ceiling from below? Need an idiots guide on what block to purchase and where to put the wires.

Many Thanks!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Get an Hager/Ashley J803
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ASJ803.html

They have 3 separate blocks - each with 4 terminals (two each end) which are connected.

Put the Blue and Black in one block.
The two Reds and the Yellow in another and
the two CPCs(earth wires) in the third.

Make sure you use the cable restraint clamps.

 

[Steve Fryer]

Get an Hager/Ashley J803
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ASJ803.html

They have 3 separate blocks - each with 4 terminals (two each end) which are connected.

Put the Blue and Black in one block.
The two Reds and the Yellow in another and
the two CPCs(earth wires) in the third.

Make sure you use the cable restraint clamps.

Many thanks for the quick reply, as a complete novice just want to check, put the two reds at one end of a block and the yellow at the other end of the same block, OR put 2 reds in 1 terminal slot and the yellow in slot next to it (in same block)?

Also, I believe there was only 1 earth wire, does this matter (I will double check tomorrow when at the house)!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Only one wire in each terminal hole, so put two in one end and one in the other end.

The wires just push in and lock.
There are instructions embossed on the inside of the lid regarding lengths of insulation to remove (11mm.).
There may be printed paper ones as well, I've never bought a single one.

There will be a CPC(earth wire) in each cable.
An idiot may have cut them off.
If so, you may have enough slack in the cable to pull enough through to use it.
If not, you should connect them both together in another connector block.

 

[EFLImpudence]

 

[Steve Fryer]

Thank you so much for the detailed replies

 

[sparkwright]

If you find the switch at the door works upside down, at the new junction box remove the yellow from the reds, and put it with the black and blue.

 

[winston1]

Looks like we have another with no idea about lighting circuits or electrics trying to DIY. Don't, 240 volts can kill. At least read the wiki on lighting circuits.

 

[Taylortwocities]

At least he is asking before undoing all of the wires and then asking for help!

 

[securespark]

Looks like we have another with no idea about lighting circuits or electrics trying to DIY. Don't, 240 volts can kill. At least read the wiki on lighting circuits.

Have you recently taken up an apprenticeship with Ban?

 

[securespark]

If you look for the snipped-off earth wire and cannot find one, it may be there are none in other cables either in which case you may want to consider rewiring.

Which of the cables at the pullcord has no earth wire?

I worked on a two way switch circuit once where the landing switch was wired in three core and earth, but I could not get an EFLI reading from it. I investigated and found that the three core and earth originated at the hall switch and there was no EFLI there either. It turned out that the circuit was wired in twin cable with no earth wire. The only lighting cable in the house with an earth was the three core between the hall and landing switch positions, so, while each switch box had an earth wire attached to it, there was no connection to the earth terminal of the installation.

 

[Steve Fryer]

Thanks for the replies, I will check the wiring situation. If I'm not sure about anything then the pull switches will remain, I wouldn't do anything daft as I value my life and those around me!

 

[securespark]

Don't forget SpongeBob...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Looks like we have another with no idea about lighting circuits or electrics trying to DIY. Don't, 240 volts can kill. At least read the wiki on lighting circuits.

Have you recently taken up an apprenticeship with Ban?

If he has he is due for a kicking for not pointing out that if someone actually understood how it worked, and actually knew what they were doing, then they would know that all they had to do was to replicate with JB terminals the connections provided by the pull switch when in the position where the wall switch worked as required, and that not understanding how it works and not knowing what they were doing were indications that they shouldn't fiddle with it.

 

[Steve Fryer]

All 3 cord switches done as shown, survived, but unfortunately so did spongebob!