harrycatcat1 Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 First if all let me say I hate electrics with a passion. The wires are too small and tight it's fiddly getting them into the brass fittings. Anyway I attempted to change this double switch, one light works the other doesn't. Can anyone identify what I've done wrong please before I fetch an electrician in to sort it out. Thanks for looking. I admit the pictures are not great. Two before and three with the new switch. How can these 5 minute jobs turn into a marathon 😫 🤣🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 Its wired wrong harry, Its red to black, Then black to red, Then blue to HELL! 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoli 12 guage Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 it's hard to make out pal tbf,but what's the craic with the earth sheathing? AND,i don't think giving advice via tinterweb is a good idea especially as the advisor could be held liable for any damage etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 24 Author Report Share Posted January 24 44 minutes ago, billytheghillie said: Its wired wrong harry, Its red to black, Then black to red, Then blue to HELL! 😁 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍 24 minutes ago, Zoli 12 guage said: it's hard to make out pal tbf,but what's the craic with the earth sheathing? AND,i don't think giving advice via tinterweb is a good idea especially as the advisor could be held liable for any damage etc. Couldn't tell you about the earth sheathing I've not touched that 🤔🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 44 minutes ago, Zoli 12 guage said: it's hard to make out pal tbf,but what's the craic with the earth sheathing? AND,i don't think giving advice via tinterweb is a good idea especially as the advisor could be held liable for any damage etc. Craic is, that’s how earthing used be done, twist wires together, bit of sleeving over top if you’re lucky, jobs a goodun. Still done that way in some countries, they actually sell wire twisting tools, similar to aviation lock wire twisters. Annnyway, doubt you’d get very far trying to sue for bad advice, especially as the op has clearly so far managed to turn the power off. So, having isolated the circuit, locked out/tagged out & proved dead (cough). The issue is you need to match the wires going to the right terminal designations, not their positions on the back of the switch, as they can change. So the wire in the ‘com’ terminal has to go in the ‘com’ terminal again, L1 to L1 etc. Don’t just swap the wires over. Fortunately you have pictures of the ‘before’ situation on your phone to reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 24 Author Report Share Posted January 24 24 minutes ago, udderlyoffroad said: The issue is you need to match the wires going to the right terminal designations, not their positions on the back of the switch, as they can change. So the wire in the ‘com’ terminal has to go in the ‘com’ terminal again, L1 to L1 etc. Don’t just swap the wires over. Fortunately you have pictures of the ‘before’ situation on your phone to reference. The com bits seem upside down though 🙃 This is the old one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 4 hours ago, harrycatcat1 said: The com bits seem upside down though 🙃 I don't follow. Just match the com and L1's L2's? If you mean that on MK switches, the wire at first glance should go in the hole where you stick your terminal screwdriver, I agree. However, it does route the wire to a slightly better place in my experience. If you're struggling, why not just buy an identical MK 2 way switch? That way the wiring is identical. Here's the thing though, looking at the wire colours, and the twisted earths, and your original switch, I'd bet that switch has been changed before. Might not be the switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 Belloc's poem couldn't be more apt. "Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric LightHimself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!It is the business of the wealthy manTo give employment to the artisan." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 25 Author Report Share Posted January 25 8 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said: I don't follow. Just match the com and L1's L2's? If you mean that on MK switches, the wire at first glance should go in the hole where you stick your terminal screwdriver, I agree. However, it does route the wire to a slightly better place in my experience. If you're struggling, why not just buy an identical MK 2 way switch? That way the wiring is identical. Here's the thing though, looking at the wire colours, and the twisted earths, and your original switch, I'd bet that switch has been changed before. Might not be the switch. Thanks, I will have another look today 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 1 hour ago, harrycatcat1 said: Thanks, I will have another look today 👍 Let me know how you get on, I've got one needs wiring. It was crackling. Its a 2 way switch, 2 lights, and 2 many wires for me. Oh and I'm colour blind 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 25 Author Report Share Posted January 25 Electrician called, many thanks to @udderlyoffroadfor trying to help 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 34 minutes ago, harrycatcat1 said: Electrician called, many thanks to @udderlyoffroadfor trying to help 👍 Under the circumstances, the sensible thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 54 minutes ago, harrycatcat1 said: Electrician called, many thanks to @udderlyoffroadfor trying to help 👍 Let us know what he finds 13 hours ago, amateur said: Belloc's poem couldn't be more apt. "Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric LightHimself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!It is the business of the wealthy manTo give employment to the artisan." Poetry is the last refuge of saints and scoundrels, and the only place where telling which is which becomes almost impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 25 Author Report Share Posted January 25 1 hour ago, udderlyoffroad said: Let us know what he finds Will do 👍 but he might not get until early next week. Doesn't really matter as its only the outside light not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 I tried wiring a fan into the same wiring and found out there is no negative wire so I had to wire fan into the fuse box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 On 25/01/2024 at 12:39, udderlyoffroad said: Let us know what he finds Just for completeness the electrician has been. Apparently there was nothing wrong with the wiring in the switch but the ceiling light that was working from the switch (which I had changed) had a loose "negative" that had stopped the outside lights working but allowed the interior light to work from the switch. He did say that it got him scratching his head at first but I think that he was just saying that to save my embarrassment 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 On 24/01/2024 at 22:50, amateur said: Belloc's poem couldn't be more apt. "Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric LightHimself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!It is the business of the wealthy manTo give employment to the artisan." Hilair Belloc ....is that where the word "Hilarity" comes from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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