quick question changing light switch

[sirjojo]

Hi sorry for the basic question but confused as to were to put the neutral and live wires as both ends labeled l as hopefully you can see on picture. Also there is no earth wire from the mains only black and red does this matter?
Thanks

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• sirjojo
• 3 Jan 2015
• 1

 

[bernardgreen]

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• sirjojo
• 3 Jan 2015
• 1

You have an intermediate switch. Not a simple ON-OFF switch.

It will work as a simple ON-OFF switch if you connect one wire to either of the L1 terminals and the other wire to either one of the L2 terminals

The red ( brown ) wire is probably Live and the black ( blue ) wire is Switched Live and not Neutral.

Most important is that as the switch has a metal front the earth connection on the switch MUST be connected to an effective earth. If there is no earth wire in the cable then a metal faced switch cannot be fitted.

 

[sirjojo]

ok thanks for clearing that up, will have a look see if i can find an earth wire hiding somewhere, cheers.

 

[bernardgreen]

ok thanks for clearing that up, will have a look see if i can find an earth wire hiding somewhere, cheers.

Finding an earth hiding somewhere is not enough. You have to ensure it is connected to the main earth bar in the consumer unit and the impedance ( resistance ) is low enough to ensure protective devices will operate in the event of a fault in the switch. ( Protective devices are fuses MCBs and RCDs )

 

[sparkwright]

The earth wire may have been chopped off, but as said, if there is one is needs testing out, as it may be chopped the other end too.

It's very likely, if the property is over 50 years old, then the cable doesn't have an earth wire. In which case I suggest you get the whole installation checked out, as you can't have metal fittings where there is no earth present.

Best get a plastic, 1 gang 1 way switch.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Hi sorry for the basic question but confused as to were to put the neutral and live wires

Sorry to butt in, but you almost certainly do not have a neutral wire there, at all.

Post a picture of the existing switch and wiring.

 

[sparkwright]

The red ( brown ) wire is probably Live and the black ( blue ) wire is Switched Live and not Neutral.

 

[Taylortwocities]

sorry, Bernard. I missed that