how to fit new light switches onto unidentified cores.

[Robert Hone]

I’m currently redoing an old house, I am abit of an amateur when it comes to electrics.
The decorators have taken the light switches off and I have since bought new ones.
In the master bedroom there is a double switch that controls the dressing room and the bedroom (there is another single switch which also controls the bedroom)
Can anybody help with which cable should go in which hole on the switch.

Thanks in advance

 

[winston1]

Ask the decorators for the photo or drawing they took of the existing switch wiring. If they didn't do either tell them to pay for an electrician to sort it out.

 

[Robert Hone]

Thanks for your reply! The decorator has said they can return next week to put right, I was hoping that somebody would have a simple answer to get me some light in my bedroom

 

[EFLImpudence]

Post a picture of the wires at the other switch so we can see the cables they come from and the terminals to which they are connected.

 

[Robert Hone]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m at work at the moment, there are 3 red cables, 1 into ‘com’, and the other 2 into L1 (there is a green and yellow earth cable which is earthed).

 

[EFLImpudence]

That doesn't make sense. No other wires?

Did they work normally as two-way switches?
That is both off and on regardless of the position of the of the other switch.

 

[Robert Hone]

Hi, I have just came off a night shift, I will get a photo

 

[Robert Hone]

Just to clarify, the single switch has 3 red cables, one into L1 one into L2 and one into com, hope that helps

 

[EFLImpudence]

That's better.

I would still like a picture showing cables, wires and terminations at that switch, please.

 

[Robert Hone]

 

[EFLImpudence]

Really needed to see the cables - as I asked.

However, do the bottom two come out of one sheath and is the top one in one on its own?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Also...I see a metal switch and an earth terminal that has no earth connection. Is there one.?
A picture of the cable (as requested by EFLI) may answer this.

 

[winston1]

That appears to be a switch with a metal faceplate. Where is the green/yellow earth wire that should go in the earth terminal?

If there isn't one you can't use that switch, you have to use a plastic one.

 

[Taylortwocities]

So slow...........

 

[Risteard]

Not earthed and also an appalling amount of copper exposed.