Proud to be dangerously irresponsible, of having no concept of or interest in duty of care, and of acting against the best interests of people visiting the site.
Fair enough - if you want to flaunt your lack of morals and decency, go ahead.
-
Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.
Light Switch Help
- Thread starter James Edge
- Start date
Fair enough - if you want to flaunt your lack of morals and decency, go ahead.
Probably not, and certainly not without pointing out that it may not be correct.
As you imply, an awful lot depends upon how much information we are given (including piccies etc.). If we have been given sufficient information that we are pretty certain that we fully understand the situation, then I personally don't think there is a major problem with telling an OP 'which wire to put in which hole'.
When there is uncertainty, things are much more difficult. In terms of light switches, provided that there are no neutrals around (i.e. the common situation with one or two cables, all live cores of which are connected to switch(es), there is no harm to be done (to either people or equipment) - so that, if one can be sure that such is the situation, giving advice from afar which some might regard as 'trial and error' is, in my opinion, not necessarily all that unthinkable. Other situations can be more complication and/or difficult.
It's not unique to 'remote' advice about DIY electrics. Even the care provided by our NHS is partially moving towards a situation in which, in some cases, people are being told 'what to do' (comparable with 'put this wire into this hole') over the phone (or by other means of communication) by people who have received only limited (and not necessarily always correct) information provided by the person concerned (who obviously 'does not know what to do', since they're asking, and do not have the time or ability to go to Medical School in order to find out the answer to their immediate problem for themselves!). Just as with 'you need an electrician', they have the option of 'you need a GP/hospital/ambulance' - but they by no means always invoke that.
Kind Regards, John
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 45,845
- Reaction score
- 3,514
- Country
Thanks for your gracious permission, I will!
Heard of loose women, but never loose electricians!
Last edited:
That is because you have never personally understood how wrong it is to encourage and facilitate people to do things which they do not understand.
- Joined
- 9 Feb 2018
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
Info i should have provided originally...the lights are three groups of spotlights which are now controlled in separate groups by gangs 1, 2, and 3.
However I have not been able to figure out how the other single light switch in the room works. The red, yellow and blue wires, which feed to the single switch, are not connected in the main switch as I am unsure where to put them. They are also disconnected in the single switch on the other side of the room (pictured).
If anyone has suggestions as to how this should be wired to make the single switch on the other side of the room also operate the lights that would be appreciated.
So, what would be the purpose of posting it?
Why are you not advising James to put this wire in that hole?
James -
Well done.
Would you please disconnect the wire which goes to the right (next room), leave the link in place, and tell me if the lights still work.
Well done.
Would you please disconnect the wire which goes to the right (next room), leave the link in place, and tell me if the lights still work.
- Joined
- 9 Feb 2018
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
Ban-all-sheds, one of the easiest ways to learn and understand anything which is unfamiliar or unknown is to ask someone who has a good understanding of the subject. Hence my question on an electrics forum.
Given I know where each wires comes from, goes and which is the supply wire, I thought it may be straight forward to be instructed where they go in a switch.
If you are uncomfortable with the question or people offering their advice please direct your attention elsewhere. It is my risk to take if I want to attempt this and I do not require your disapproval.
Given I know where each wires comes from, goes and which is the supply wire, I thought it may be straight forward to be instructed where they go in a switch.
If you are uncomfortable with the question or people offering their advice please direct your attention elsewhere. It is my risk to take if I want to attempt this and I do not require your disapproval.
- Joined
- 9 Feb 2018
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
EFLImpudence - yes they do.
... disregard
I made a mistake.
Sorry about that. I confused myself.
I made a mistake.
Sorry about that. I confused myself.
D
Doggit
Well I suppose that level of arrogance pretty much sums you up BAS. I've said what's right, and that means you should listen, because I know better than you do.
As JohnW pointed out, that is the very reason for this site, so you think you know better, and the site shouldn't be offering such advice; then it begs the question of why you are on here, doing exactly what you say we shouldn't be doing. Or is it only your advice that is pertinent.
As I said, in most cases probably none. However, in some situations, it might be valid to post a diagram with text along the lines of "It might be like this (but might not), in which case you could try doing X" - provided, of course, you were confident that you knew enough about the situation to be fairly confident that "X" would not result in any harm, even if it transpired that your diagram was incorrect.
In my real life, I very often have to give advice along the lines of "the situation might (but might not) be X, in which case the conclusion (or 'action to be taken', or whatever) would be Y".
Even in situations in which I was as confident as I could be that I had received enough information to know 'which wire needed to be put into which hole', I gave up years ago giving such advice within the eyesight of contributors to this forum, because I became totally sick of having to put up with resultant and repetitive flak. Fortunately, PMs exist!
Kind Regards, John
D
Doggit
Boy do I know where you're coming from. And we wouldn't be having this conversation if that sort of person wasn't on here.
I would say "Put this wire in that hole" sounds like a demeaning phrase, but isn't that what a wiring diagram is - however simple or complicated? - but some knowledge should surely be a requirement; not the why is switch not working? - with just two wires in one terminal.
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 45,845
- Reaction score
- 3,514
- Country
James. Can you tell us which light(s) worked with the two way switch?
Were all four switches operative?
You say three of the switches operate separate groups of ceiling lights. Are there any lights that no longer work?
Just wondering about why only three switches are wired up.
Were all four switches operative?
You say three of the switches operate separate groups of ceiling lights. Are there any lights that no longer work?
Just wondering about why only three switches are wired up.
Last edited:
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
