The light in my bathroom is on the way out as I have to pull the cord multiple times before it comes on so I decided to try and replace it. After buying a replacement and then taking the cover off the old one they look very different. The old one has the wires attached to the base plate that is attached to the ceiling while the new one has a base that attaches to the ceiling but doesn't even have holes in for the wires to come through. I'm guessing i'm supposed to drill holes through it for them(?) As for the wire connections, I know where the Earth wire connects but does the 'live' wire connection to COM and can the neutral go to either L1 or L2?
Replacing bathroom cord light switch
- Thread starter Colaris
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The base plate has a centre piece which can be broken out ,for cable entry. There is no neutral ,the black wire is switched live ,and goes into L1, should have a small piece of red sleeving over it to denote what it is, and the red wire goes into the com terminal.
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As above.
2 core cable (red and black) so comes from light as a red but returns as a black and should have a red sleeve on the wire to show it should be red not black.
People go badly wrong on lighting with returning switch wire being the wrong colour and thinking it's neutral.
Com is in and so red, and black can go to either l1 or 2.
It's straight through so actually will work whichever wire you put in com but that should be live in.
2 core cable (red and black) so comes from light as a red but returns as a black and should have a red sleeve on the wire to show it should be red not black.
People go badly wrong on lighting with returning switch wire being the wrong colour and thinking it's neutral.
Com is in and so red, and black can go to either l1 or 2.
It's straight through so actually will work whichever wire you put in com but that should be live in.
Why?
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As Wayners has said, and we all know, it doesn't matter if the feed or the load goes in the common on a 1 way switch.
But TRADITIONALLY I would say it is preferred that the permanent live goes to the common.
When you have a 4 gang switch, one might 'common up' the permanent lives, so it seems logical to the link the permanent lives into each common terminal.
I think it's just something the more discerning electrician might do for the sake of consistency.
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So if pro looks at it he won't stop and say diy work, then start to think what else is wrong. If you are doing diy then do it right because you probably should not be touching it
But it is not wrong is it? No reg about it?
No but, you must remember, that your LIFE’S MISSION has been to correct the poor uneducated DIYer who dares to step onto this forum.
usually you belly ache about the “correct” way to do things. And yet, now it’s suddenly not important.
What is the matter with you??. Is it that you have nothing constructive to say and gain contentment from sniping from the sidelines at anything that moves?
PS. Got any New Year resolutions in mind?
I had another look and the red wire in mine is in L2 and the black wire is in COM(??) Is this bad?
No. Either is ok. Just move thd wire from 1 to 2 if the switch operates “upside down”.
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Won't operate upside down as a pull switch not a wall switch.
One of the reds in light should travel to switch? Your saying its a black from light?
Fuse box to light is one red. Then to next light then next light then next light then back to fuse box accounts for 2 permanent lives in each light. Ring..Same goes for power sockets. Ring main because it's a ring of wires stopping off at each light or socket.
Then another red goes from light to switch and comes back to light as a black switch wire with red sleeve on.
Any difference in this needs looking at to check. It's all simple enough but some get in major pickle.
One of the reds in light should travel to switch? Your saying its a black from light?
Fuse box to light is one red. Then to next light then next light then next light then back to fuse box accounts for 2 permanent lives in each light. Ring..Same goes for power sockets. Ring main because it's a ring of wires stopping off at each light or socket.
Then another red goes from light to switch and comes back to light as a black switch wire with red sleeve on.
Any difference in this needs looking at to check. It's all simple enough but some get in major pickle.
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Lighting circuits are not typically wired as a ring in domestic properties ,but are radial circuits .
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