change plastic light switches to metal ones

[walrus]

hi guys probably been asked a thousand times before but i wanna change plastic light switches on wall to metal ones but there are only 2 red wires inside metal back box with no earth wires so do i need to stick with plastic switches?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Yes plastic

Unless you can some how suitably earth it

 

[westward10]

Can you see how the cables enter the back box is it through steel conduit, is it possible to show a clear pic.

 

[walrus]

Can you see how the cables enter the back box is it through steel conduit, is it possible to show a clear pic.

not through conduit and as i said only 2 red wires cant send pic not at house

 

[westward10]

If they are steel back boxes then they have problems all insulated light switch or not.

 

[walrus]

If they are steel back boxes then they have problems all insulated light switch or not.

so basically stick with plastic or get an earth wire brought into each light switch?

 

[Dave OCD]

Yes that's right, and with metal boxes in behind I'd check carefully that there's no damage at all to the insulation on the switch cables, make sure connections are properly secure with no copper on show at the terminals and also consider using switches with white plastic screw caps to minimise any risk.

 

[walrus]

Yes that's right, and with metal boxes in behind I'd check carefully that there's no damage at all to the insulation on the switch cables, make sure connections are properly secure with no copper on show at the terminals and also consider using switches with white plastic screw caps to minimise any risk.

thanks

 

[brianmoooore]

If it's a cable coming into the box, rather than singles, then it's at least half a century old, an probably time to be thinking of a re wire.

 

[Vortigern]

Two red wires sounds unusual. First, due to the relative age of the cables and second it suggests singles which in turn suggests conduit as @westward10 had suggested. Something is not right. Maybe it is two twin and earths just using the reds of each? If T&E then the earth may be further up the conduit?