new light switch

[paulrob]

hi trying to swap a light switch in kitchen there are 2 more switches in kitchen besides this one , the problem i am having is the single switch i want to swap is different from the new one i have the old switch has 4 wire the new switch needs only 3
wire setup looking at switch from back
old switch top terminals= left terminal red right terminal black red sleeve between terminals is letters L1.
bottom terminals= left terminals red right terminal black red sleeve between terminals letters L2
new switch= top terminal com
bottom terminals= left terminal 1way right terminal 2way.
can i use the new switch or do i need one like the old one with 4 terminals
help appreciated cheers

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[DIYDANDY]

hi trying to swap a light switch in kitchen there are 2 more switches in kitchen besides this one , the problem i am having is the single switch i want to swap is different from the new one i have the old switch has 4 wire the new switch needs only 3
wire setup looking at switch from back
old switch top terminals= left terminal red right terminal black red sleeve between terminals is letters L1.
bottom terminals= left terminals red right terminal black red sleeve between terminals letters L2
new switch= top terminal com
bottom terminals= left terminal 1way right terminal 2way.
can i use the new switch or do i need one like the old one with 4 terminals
help appreciated cheers

Pictures plese...

 

[paulrob]

old switch


new switch

 

[333rocky333]

looks like you have brought a 2 way switch, but you need an intermediate switch

 

[londonboy]

Whats wrong with the switch you had on there originally?

 

[paulrob]

old 1 white plastic new 1 is crome

 

[Monkeh]

Looks like plastic to me, not chrome.

 

[DIYDANDY]

new 1 is crome

It's not, well not in the picture anyway.

Have a look here...
//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:intermediate

 

[paulrob]

pictures are examples

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So let's see if I've got this straight.

You had a switch with 4 terminals, but you went out and bought one with only 3.

You could see that they were different, you could see that all 4 terminals in the old switch were in use, but still you asked if you could use the new switch.

Why did you buy something different to what you already had?

And above all, why on earth did you think that it would be perfectly OK for you to fiddle with your wiring when you knew full well that you didn't have the first idea how it worked?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

PS

... left terminal red right terminal black red sleeve ... left terminals red right terminal black red sleeve ...

I hope that it is just that you didn't mention the earths for the sake of clarity. If it's not, i.e. if they aren't there, then you must not use a metal switch.

 

[paulrob]

PS

... left terminal red right terminal black red sleeve ... left terminals red right terminal black red sleeve ...

I hope that it is just that you didn't mention the earths for the sake of clarity. If it's not, i.e. if they aren't there, then you must not use a metal switch.

it is on the back plate

 

[1john]

make sure you connect the earth directly to the switch plate earth terminal too.

 

[sparkwright]

If you have bought the switches from a DIY shop, you may struggle to get an intermediate from them.

What make and range is it?