Light switch electrics

[Paul17088071]

Hi all.

I am replacing this switch, on removing the old one I came across this. I am assuming this green wire is the Earth and should be connected to the spare connection point in the switch?

Thanks

 

[SUNRAY]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

the green should be connected to the metal backbox

 

[ETAF]

no
thats just a live connection being connected to together - Red to Black (NOT Neutral) when switched - so the live is then connected to the light

So be careful, based on the question , you do not understand electrics - - beaware that electrics can kill

 

[Taylortwocities]

I am replacing this switch,

If your new switch is metal/has an earth connection then the green earth wire goes there.

 

[opps]

Either the red or black is the live from the ceiling rose. By convention the red would be the live, but that is not always the case. The other (black or red) is the "switched live" and it runs to the light fitting.

In the light fitting there will be a neutral wire(s) to complete the circuit.

As others have said, the earth should be connected to the metal back box. Without the earth connected to the back box- in the event of the live hitting the back box, the screws on the switch will become live.

If you are fitting a metal light switch, you will need to earth the switch, rather than simply earthing the back box. The earthing point will be on the reverse of the face plate. as per @Taylortwocities

Post a photo of the reverse of the new switch before fitting it and one of the electricians will be able to help you. It should be pretty straight forward.

 

[Paul17088071]

Thank you for all of your help, appreciate it.

I have connected the wiring to the new chrome face plate, picture is attached if someone is happy to check this for me please! I copied the old switch to this new one.

Am I right in saying this red wire is the switched live cable and the black wire is the live?

The only reason I say this is I thought the red wire is live, and on the instructions it says the red LIVE wire should go in to the COM, however on the old switch the red wire was in L1, and the black wire in to COM

Thanks for your help

 

[opps]

In reality, with a one way switch, swapping com and L1 doesn't make much of a difference.

Glad you got it sorted.

Personally, I would have run a return earth to the back box, but others might argue that is overkill.

 

[Paul17088071]

is this switch all good to use now?

 

[opps]

Looks OK, but if the red is the live, it should have gone in the the com and the black into the L1. Again, it really doesn't matter to much though, it just means that you might need to rotate the plate so that the plastic rocker switch is in the correct orientation.

 

[Paul17088071]

Great thank you, I fitted as per the picture, and all seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help @opps, appreciate it

 

[sparkwright]

Looks OK, but if the red is the live, it should have gone in the the com and the black into the L1. Again, it really doesn't matter to much though, it just means that you might need to rotate the plate so that the plastic rocker switch is in the correct orientation.

Choosing whether red or black should go in COM, and whether red or black should go in L1 makes no difference.

What DOES make a difference is whether COM and L1, or COM and L2 are used, as regards to the switch working upside down.

 

[opps]

Choosing whether red or black should go in COM, and whether red or black should go in L1 makes no difference.

What DOES make a difference is whether COM and L1, or COM and L2 are used, as regards to the switch working upside down.

I am happy to be corrected (honestly- I appreciate the help provided here).

If the "perm" live goes in to L1 and the switched live into com, how does that not change the orientation of the rocker switch compared to perm live in to com and switched live in to L1?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I cannot believe you have worded that correctly. Is that what you meant to say?

A switch merely connects two wires together:

It does not matter which way round they are.

 

[opps]

Choosing whether red or black should go in COM, and whether red or black should go in L1 makes no difference.

What DOES make a difference is whether COM and L1, or COM and L2 are used, as regards to the switch working upside down.

Yeah, I was having a senior moment.

Thanks for correcting me.