Old 2 Way Light Switch with only 2 Red / 1 Black wire

[Beanmachine]

Hi,
After some help if possible. I have an old 2 way 1 gang light switch to replace, but the one currently fitted has 2 red wires & 1 black wire, as opposed to the three different wires as shown on most sites that i checked out. Thinking about it, it may have been 2 blacks and 1 red, but either way there are only the two colours.
Logically, they would go in the same positions, one in top, the two in the bottom, but assumed logic could result in me blowing the whole thing up, so figured best to ask for help before i did anything.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ian

 

[ricicle]

As long as you follow the same configuration for the new switch then you shouldn't have any problem. New ones tend to be C(om), L1, L2. Older ones could be L1, L2, L3. (Com would be L1)

 

[RF Lighting]

Yep just transfer the wires across to the new switch connecting them to the same terminals as they are now.

Don't worry about having two reds and a black, this is quite normal.

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

Ian, as long as you have three wires to that 2-way switch, then the replacement is bound to work OK.

Follow your former logic and connect the wires accordingly. If you get it wrong, there won't be banging and flashing - it simply won't work as it should do. Just stick one wire in the top and the other two in the bottom and it will work well.....


Lucia.

 

[Beanmachine]

Thanks for your advice, will do it tomorrow morning when it's, hopefully, light out. Thanks for letting me know it wont go bang!

Another point i forgot to ask, the new switch says 10ax but the old one is 5ax. Again, using my own logic i take that as meaning the switch can take up to 10amps, so has no implication on the wiring itself?

Thanks again,
Ian

 

[AndyPRK]

The switch should have 3 terminals (for 2 way setup)

The single red wire on it's own will probably goto COM (common)

And the remaining red/black to L1 L2

But carefully check this before you take the old one completely off.

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

Yes that's right, Ian. Your old switch is rated at 5A and your new switch is twice that amount. I won't bother to explain about the 'X' rating, because it's clearly of no interest to you.

Rest assured, that no matter how you connect those three wires to your new 3-terminal switch, it won't go BANG!


Lucia.

 

[Beanmachine]

Many thanks for your help, light switch now changed and working!
Ian