Pull cord light switch wiring

[purpleturtle]

Hi all,
I've looked thru the sticky diagrams but theyre all greek to me

I'm fitting a new pull cord switch in the bathroom after redecorating the ceiling. I think I've rewired the same as the old switch but I'd like verification b4 I turn the lecky back on. I've got 2 earths to the earth (duh!) the 2 blacks insulated and the 2 reds in L common and L1.

Is this right?

Thanks

 

[BJS_Spark]

That sounds fine. I assume the two blacks are joined and insulated?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Hi all,
I've looked thru the sticky diagrams but theyre all greek to me

Then perhaps you shouldn't be doing electrical work until you've learned to read them?

I think I've rewired the same as the old switch

So you rewired from memory, rather than making notes? Breezer will slap your legs for that...

but I'd like verification b4 I turn the lecky back on. I've got 2 earths to the earth (duh!) the 2 blacks insulated and the 2 reds in L common and L1.

Is this right?

No idea. Does it also control a fan? Why are there two cables going to it and not one? Does your lighting circuit loop at the switches or not, i.e. are these cables an incoming L&N and an outging one, or is one a normal switch cable and the other something else, e.g. a fan? Or is this one of a pair of 2-way switches? Basically what is at the other end of each of them? What does "the 2 blacks insulated" mean? Are they in any switch terminals? Connected together? What does "the 2 reds in L common and L1" mean? Sounds like 2 wires and 3 terminals...

More information needed.....

PS - please see http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=5569&highlight=#5569

 

[BJS_Spark]

As the subject is 'Pull cord light switch wiring' it would be safe to assume this is a light not shower and is wired from the supply through the switch.
As such the wiring described is fine by my understanding.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Bl**dy hell - that'll teach me to scroll down too far

It's probably karma for moaning about other people not reading things properly...

I'll go and edit what I wrote to avoid overloading the guy with pointless questions...

 

[purpleturtle]

"Then perhaps you shouldn't be doing electrical work until you've learned to read them?"

Sorry...its the technical jargon I'm not familiar with, 3 letter abbreviations etc that I try to avoid in my field - computing. The diagrams are fine and logical...I just couldnt find a relevant one.

Anyway for clarity of my own previous posting....

1. Yes the pull cord is for a light. (no fans showers or otherwise)

2. The 2 black wires are in a touching each other in a switch terminal.

3. 1 red wire is in L common port, 1 red wire is in L1.

 

[BJS_Spark]

2. The 2 black wires are in a touching each other in a switch terminal.

That doesn't sound right. If it is wired from the supply to the switch as I assumed then the blacks should be joined together in a terminal block and not in a switch terminal. Clarify which 'switch terminal' they are in and do not switch on yet!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Does your lighting circuit loop at the switches or not, i.e. are these cables an incoming L&N and an outging one, or is one a normal switch cable and the other something else, e.g. is this one of a pair of 2-way switches? Basically what is at the other end of each of them?

2. The 2 black wires are in a touching each other in a switch terminal.

If the backs are neutrals, and you've put them into L2, then when you turn on the electricity, one of the switch positions will create a direct short between Live and Neutral with the expected bloody great bang, flash, fuse blowing or MCB tripping and damage to the switch...

 

[purpleturtle]

The 2 black wires are connected in one of these. not sure what the little plasticy screw thing was called.

 

[BJS_Spark]

Then it should be ok to throw the switch. (That is a terminal block or chock block as sometimes called)
Be a little careful in future to properly describe what you have as we can only give advice based on what you tell us.

 

[Qedelec]

Phew! its called a terminal block and is ok.
Current regs require it is enclosed. Might be a good idea to add a Choc-box around it. cost about 99p

 

[purpleturtle]

Ta BJS_sparky and ban-all-sheds!

Switching on now. The wife nagged me into doin it....otherwise I'd have looked into it a bit more b4 starting. But at least if I go up in a flash,I'll get some peace

Thanks for responding