Cooker switch

[seriesiii]

Hi, New to the forum and this is my first post.

I am currently doin up our kitchen, moving it into the old living room actually.

I have installed the wiring and had it inspected, which was passed OK. I am now putting on sockets, DP switches etc ready for testing next week. I've put in 10mm cable for the induction hob and fitted a 47mm deep double back box so that I have plenty of room for the cable. However, the cooker switch that I have, has the "mains in" at the bottom of the switch, and I have the cables coming in from the top.

There should be enough room to get the cables around inside the box, but I wondered, are all cooker switches set up this way, or are there some that have the "mains in" at the top?

 

[Twiggy00]

I wouldn't worry about it as you'll have plenty of space in a 47mm box.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If the switch doesn't have a neon you can wire it either way round.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

but I wondered, are all cooker switches set up this way, or are there some that have the "mains in" at the top?

They are manufactured both ways.

 

[seriesiii]

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I realise now I've dropped a clanger.

The switch does have a neon, but I never gave that a thought when I cut the cables, I thought I will just put it on upside down, it will be OK. But of course, the switch is in the wrong position, it looks OFF when it is ON and vice-versa.

I realise now that what I should have done was, leave the cables long and connect them to the switch upside down and then turn it the right way up and screw on.

After all that I will probably get another switch, making sure that the connectors are the way I need them, and swap it over.

I like to get things right and make a decent job, so a silly thing like this is so frustrating. Still, I suppose we learn everyday.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I don't see the/a problem.

Dress the wiring so that it matches the positions of the relevant terminals.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I think he's cut the cables too short.

 

[bernardgreen]

on some cooker switches the leads from the neon can be moved from the load terminals and connected instead to the input terminals. Then the switch can be wired backwards ( supply / load swapped ) and the neon operating only when the switch is ON

 

[Risteard]

If the switch doesn't have a neon you can wire it either way round.

Electrically speaking, yes. But it's unlikely to comply with manufacturers' instructions if they have the terminals marked a certain way so I would consider it a bodge.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

And with the current through the contacts changing direction 50 times a second it makes a difference why, exactly?

 

[Risteard]

I stated that it made no difference. I simply pointed out that it has not been connected in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and could theoretically lead to confusion.

I firmly believe that accessories should always be connected as marked.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

They should, but this is not a significant deviation. It is not dangerous, and the only people who would be confused would be those who should not be fiddling with it.

 

[Risteard]

I don't disagree with your sentiments in any way.

 

[RF Lighting]

Just had a look at a 50A DP switch by MK, and you can select wether the neon is connected to the top or the bottom pair of terminals, so the supply and load can go either way around.

My switch was metal clad, but I'm fairly sure the white plastic switches are like this too.