Need help wiring a new light switch

[Vadevious]

I finally got around to replacing an old light switch, but I'm stuck because there are 4 wires instead of the expected 3. The wire colors also don't match either the old or new standards (to me). I would appreciate some guidance.

So, being as my electric experience so far has been simply changing a drawstring light in the bathroom - I've got no clue what should go where and I don't even know what to google so I can read up on it. So I took the lazy-man's approach asking you lovely people. Maybe the light switch is incorrect? Worth mentioning that that the original switch is 2-gang, with one switch being 2-way and the other 1-way. I do have some earth sleeving that I will put on the stripped earths.

Here's how the old switch wiring looked. The one cable that is out - popped out randomly a while back and I've no idea where it came out of. Thing is - everything still worked fine with it not being in place...

Another angle here:

Photo of all the wiring:

Close-up of the old light-switch:

Light-switch I want to change to:

P.S - I've had to re-wire again after I gave up trying to figure it out; in the first photo the earth wire is for some reason sleeved brown - no idea why. Regardless, this is how the OLD switch wiring currently looks (and works fine/the way I need it to):

Hope someone can help!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Just copy and paste - or drag - pictures.

 

[Vadevious]

Just copy and paste - or drag - pictures.

Hi, I'm not sure what you are referring to - there's 6 links to pictures in the post?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes but we have to go to Imgur - just paste them so we can see them in the thread.

 

[Vadevious]

Yes but we have to go to Imgur - just paste them so we can see them in the thread.

View attachment 347105

Understood, I've edited the post with imbedded photos

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well, firstly this is the equivalent terminal markings:

The last picture looks correct except the CPCs(earth wires) should be connected together.

I don't understand the first picture wiring.

 

[Vadevious]

Well, firstly this is the equivalent terminal markings:

View attachment 347112

The last picture looks correct except the CPCs(earth wires) should be connected together.

I don't understand the first picture wiring.

Wow, thank you for labelling!

So, assuming I need one of the switches to control one light that isn't controlled elsewhere, while another to control a light in 2-way; how should I wire everything up please if you don't mind? Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[terryplumb]

If the current wiring in your old switch works fine ,it's a straightforward swap over, like for like. So I don't really understand your last posts question ?

 

[Vadevious]

If the current wiring in your old switch works fine ,it's a straightforward swap over, like for like. So I don't really understand your last posts question ?

The problem is that I don't know where the un-plugged gray cable is supposed to go. I also didn't know which was going to be the new "COM" terminal until the other poster kindly labelled my photo.

Also, turns out I didn't re-wire correctly in my last photo! It kept tripping out, I had to swap the black cables places. Now the wires cross over, which I assume isn't supposed to be right?! Also before I swapped the black cables places - the switch would alternate between turning one light on and the other off...

 

[terryplumb]

What tripped ,RCD ,or MCB if unsure post a pic of the breaker that tripped ?
Are both the cables in your pics part of the same circuit ( both protected by one breaker) or are they on separate circuits and breakers ?
Do you have any electrical testing instruments ?

 

[Vadevious]

What tripped ,RCD ,or MCB if unsure post a pic of the breaker that tripped ?
Are both the cables in your pics part of the same circuit ( both protected by one breaker) or are they on separate circuits and breakers ?
Do you have any electrical testing instruments ?

Hi Terry,

The fuse for the downstairs lights tripped, along with the RCD, here's a photo:

Yes both cables (should) be part of the same circuit. When I would turn off the fuse for lights, neither switch would work.

As for electrical testing equipment, I have one of these though I don't know how to use it...

 

[terryplumb]

I suspect one, or more, of the conductors is a neutral, and connecting a neutral to the switch would cause an mcb to trip as it would cause a direct short circuit.
The "loop" terminal on your old switch would be used to house neutrals,it doesn't connect to any other terminals, that terminal is just a place to " park" the neutral/s.
The fact that one of the earth conductors was sleeved brown is a concern, it shouldn't be !
You are going to have to do some testing !

 

[Vadevious]

I suspect one, or more, of the conductors is a neutral, and connecting a neutral to the switch would cause an mcb to trip as it would cause a direct short circuit.
The "loop" terminal on your old switch would be used to house neutrals,it doesn't connect to any other terminals, that terminal is just a place to " park" the neutral/s.
The fact that one of the earth conductors was sleeved brown is a concern, it shouldn't be !
You are going to have to do some testing !

Okay, just to reiterate - MCB didn't trip at all, only the lights fuse + RCD. Apologies if that's the same or whatever, just wanted to clarify as I don't know what any of this means

Any advice on how one would go about doing testing and is my equipment sufficient? Sorry - I'm obviously out of my depth here

 

[terryplumb]

It's an MCB ,not a fuse.

 

[Vadevious]

Ah sorry! I just saw the "SPD MCB" label on the unit and assumed that was the only "MCB", oops!

Also worth mentioning, the tripping that happened earlier - happened when I tried to switch the light on from the 2nd switch (one I haven't touched at all)