Wiring light switch

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Going to change out old yellow light sockets. The existing 1 gang switch has common terminal at top, this has cable with grey sleeve on it, below this are L1 and L2 terminals. The new crabtree one i have has L1 at top, L2 at bottom where L1 was b4 and L3. The crabtree diagram shows yellow or grey going to L1 so i imagine thats what the grey sleeve is 4. Not sure of other 2 as both red, should i put L2 cable into L2 on new switch?
 

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That grey sleeve is the insulation and probably is just a single core cable not purposely made to match the current colour codes. I would mark the cables as they are now, common L1, L2 and put them into the new switch in their respectively names terminals common > common, L1 > L1, L2 > L2. Not all switches have the same arrangement of terminals. And ignore the colour codes as your wiring is not using the new colours.
 
The new switch does not have a common, it has L1, L2 and L3. L1 on the new switch is where the common terminal is on the old one.
 
Crabtree ones by the looks on it name the terminals differently. Looking at one of their switch instructions L1 is common, L2 is L1 and L3 is L2. Can you confirm the switch part number you got so I can double check the instructions for you? Just make sure to write on the existing wires with a sharpie or something so you know how they was in the original switch.
 
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Most manufacturers call them common (com) L1 & L2.
If Crabtree calls the L1 instead of common. And the other two L2 & L3 then no problem.

They are effectively the same terminals with different names i.e. Com is now L1
 
Thanks. I never saw the com next to L1, once i did i was fine. Done all the singles, now on a 2 gang that operates 2 separate lights. The existing switch plate has no markings as per photo, i got a 2 gang crabtree plate again. The existing plate has 1 live into 1 switch, then a wire from that switch to the other switch where it has a red cable into the same terminal ( is that the switch live) then a black cable underneath
 

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The existing plate has 1 live into 1 switch, then a wire from that switch to the other switch where it has a red cable into the same terminal ( is that the switch live) then a black cable underneath
No, it doesn't. How would that work?

It has a red live cable into the top terminal on the other switch with a wire taking live to the other switch.

There is a switched live from the middle terminal of each switch.
 
I have a 1core which has red to centre block of 1 terminal, then from the top of that terminal i have a small piece of sleeved wire going from top of one to the top of the other block, in this top there is also a red from a 3 core, the black from the 3 core goes to the centre terminal of the 2nd block.
Now i need to transfer this to the new plate which has 2 x L1, L2, L3, how do i go about this,
 
Come on swampy. It can't be much simpler.

You have two terminals used at each old switch.
Just transfer them to Com and L1 on the new switches.

The two centre terminals will be the L1s and
the two top (in the picture) connections will be the Coms.
 
Obviously does get simpler then because L1 is com on the new crabtree switches.
 
Ok. Sorry about that - but you have been told which are the equivalent numbers.

Still one at one end and one at the other.
 
Apologies for not knowing that, i'm not on here everyday, just when i need to know something for which i am grateful for the help i get.
 

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