Light Switch Change

[acepepper]

Hello, I've just bought a new switch and the it's different from the old one. I'm stumped as to what goes where. It's a triple 2 way switch and will be operating three separate lights in one room. Here's a pic of the old and the new. Any help appreciated.

Sorry, I just realised I took the photo of the new switch upside down.

//media.diynot.com/13000_12287_69317_35375394_thumb.jpg
//media.diynot.com/13000_12287_69318_30158542_thumb.jpg

 

[securespark]

I can't see the markings on the white switch.

Are they C or common, L1 and L2? Or are they L1, L2 and L3?

There should also be some marks on the white switch showing which terminals are grouped together, like there are on the silver one.

Just copy the connections over from one switch to the other, keeping them in their switch groups and ensuring they go in the correct terminal.

If you are unsure which terminal is which, you will have to take a better picture of the white switch with all the wires in place and post it here.

 

[Johnmelad]

Untitled

• acepepper
• 20 Nov 2013
• 1

Untitled

• acepepper
• 20 Nov 2013
• 1

 

[acepepper]

I can't see the markings on the white switch.

Are they C or common, L1 and L2? Or are they L1, L2 and L3?

There should also be some marks on the white switch showing which terminals are grouped together, like there are on the silver one.

Just copy the connections over from one switch to the other, keeping them in their switch groups and ensuring they go in the correct terminal.

If you are unsure which terminal is which, you will have to take a better picture of the white switch with all the wires in place and post it here.

The top connections are marked 1 and 2 and the wires are in 2. The bottom are marked 1c and 2. The wires are in 1c and there's an arrow pointing to them with the words 2 way.

 

[securespark]

The red wire looped across is the live feed to all the switches. These go in common.

The yellow or blue wire(s) on the other side go in L1 on the new switch. Just to clarify: there are no switches with wires in L1 and 2 are there?

 

[Taylortwocities]

And you MUST earth the faceplate on that switch. There is an earth wire in the cables, isn't there?

 

[acepepper]

And you MUST earth the faceplate on that switch. There is an earth wire in the cables, isn't there?

I thought the yellow wire was the earth?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I thought the yellow wire was the earth?

Dear god....

Please get an electrician - your knowledge is so flawed that you could kill someone.

 

[acepepper]

I thought the yellow wire was the earth?

Dear god....

Please get an electrician - your knowledge is so flawed that you could kill someone.

LOL, don't worry, I'm not going to do anything until I'm 100% sure. I may even cut my losses and leave it as it is. Knowing that the yellow wire is not the earth makes it a bit less confusing. I wondered why it would be there. Why two blue and a yellow? Anyway. to answer a previous question, no, there is no earth wire.

 

[Robin0577]

no, there is no earth wire.

Then you must not fit a metal switch.

 

[acepepper]

no, there is no earth wire.

Then you must not fit a metal switch.

I will stick with plastic then. Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

no, there is no earth wire.

What's that bare conductor near the top right of the back box, visible in the first photo?

 

[JohnW2]

And you MUST earth the faceplate on that switch. There is an earth wire in the cables, isn't there?

Where is the earth terminal on that switch? Is it that circular something at the side (on right, with the switch upside down) which has no obvious screw in it?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Taylortwocities]

As you look at the photo it is at the bottom right (to the right of the L terminal.) The photo is upside down.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

which has no obvious screw in it?

Perfectly obvious.

It really is past time you upgraded your display...