Electrical Wiring Help Needed Urgently! (House)

Electrical Wiring Help Needed Urgently! (House)

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Discussion

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Whilst stripping the wallpaper in our hallway, I unscrewed the lightswitch to get behind it. Unfortunately, the last person to wire the lightswitch up, didn't do a very good job of tightening the screws. Because of this two wires have come out of the switch...

Does anyone have an idea which holes to put them into?


anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
I think you just screw them all in the same hole and see, not as complex as people would make out this electrical lark

JC2012

517 posts

217 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
take another one off in the house it'll be wired exactly the same smile

Thanks

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Which hole? Forgot to say it's a double switch

Neither light is working at the moment

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

210 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
TURN THE MAINS OFF FIRST!!!

HTH

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
JC2012 said:
take another one off in the house it'll be wired exactly the same smile

Thanks
Nope, tried three others the same, and they all have an extra wire.

anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Efbe said:
Which hole? Forgot to say it's a double switch

Neither light is working at the moment
I was joking you 'tard smile

I was trying to highlight the daftness of asking people who you do not know about something quite dangerous

Get onto google and try searching for Light Switch Wiring Diagram, sure something will come up wink

GarryA

4,700 posts

165 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Probs summats like this,


Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
GarryA said:
Probs summats like this,

You sure? smile

The two wires in at the moment both go to "common"
So you're saying one to l1 and one to l2?

B17NNS

18,506 posts

248 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Efbe said:
Does anyone have an idea which holes to put them into?
hehe sorry

GarryA

4,700 posts

165 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Remember in the switch you only have a live, the live feed comes in one switch and is jumpered to the other, so what you need to do it put a live feed on each of the wires that are displaced when the switch is pressed.

So yes L1 and L2 should be right. Each light having an L* and a common.

mk1fan

10,523 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Turn the power off. Do you have a electrical testing screwdriver?

My initial thought would be that the two loose wires are switched lives - as the [attached] third wire is looping across / over the switch.

Are the 'empty' holes marked L1 and L2 and the used holes marked with a C?

Using the electrical testing screewdriver I'd check that the connected wire is live (you'll need the power on) - and also check it's properly fixed. If it is live then check the other two aren't live.

If they are not live then put them into either L1 or L2 (as it's two gang the holes will mirror each other hence the looping wire across the switch). That is put one of them into to either the L1 or L2 hole on the top of the switch and the other wire into either the L1 or L2 hole on the bottom of the switch.

If you don't know how to use an electrical testing screwdriver then call round your friends till you find one that does and let them do it.

Failing that, call out a sparks.

ETA: Slow typing!

If the two fixed wires are currently in 'C' then follow the above.

Electrical work is very simple but also very easy to hurt yourself or worse!

Edited by mk1fan on Wednesday 5th January 16:54

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Yep, current ones in c.

Will try the black in l2 and the red in l1 on opposite sides then.

If I don't reply... You killed me;)

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
I'm Alive!!!

It worked, kind of. For some reason one of the switch has reversed, so its now at the off position when its on, but who cares, it works:P

GarryA

4,700 posts

165 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Efbe said:
I'm Alive!!!

It worked, kind of. For some reason one of the switch has reversed, so its now at the off position when its on, but who cares, it works:P
Well at least you're alive, I can go have my tea now hehe

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
GarryA said:
Efbe said:
I'm Alive!!!

It worked, kind of. For some reason one of the switch has reversed, so its now at the off position when its on, but who cares, it works:P
Well at least you're alive, I can go have my tea now hehe
haha, my wife says i'm bloody stupid trusting you lot of nutters :P

MonkeyHanger

9,198 posts

243 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Efbe said:
I'm Alive!!!

It worked, kind of. For some reason one of the switch has reversed, so its now at the off position when its on, but who cares, it works:P
Swap it over to the other terminal, job done.

It's a 2 gang, 2 way switch being used to control 2 x 1way lights. 1switch will appear to be "upside down" as they're made like that so The switch fits on a single face plate.

andy43

9,730 posts

255 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
GarryA said:
Probs summats like this,

Wow - that's amazing - can you do plastering over the internet too? I've a ceiling that needs doing... shall I post a pic?

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
MonkeyHanger said:
Efbe said:
I'm Alive!!!

It worked, kind of. For some reason one of the switch has reversed, so its now at the off position when its on, but who cares, it works:P
Swap it over to the other terminal, job done.

It's a 2 gang, 2 way switch being used to control 2 x 1way lights. 1switch will appear to be "upside down" as they're made like that so The switch fits on a single face plate.
you'll have to be more descriptive. complete electrical idiot here.

which wire will I have to switch?

Efbe

Original Poster:

9,251 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
andy43 said:
GarryA said:
Probs summats like this,

Wow - that's amazing - can you do plastering over the internet too? I've a ceiling that needs doing... shall I post a pic?
don't mock it, worked for me!

annoys me that I don't know anything about household electrics though. going to have to read up on it.