Help with light switch

[Deano82]

Hi,

I am new here and am a complete noivce when it comes to electrical work

I needed a new light switch which is to be used just to switch one light on and off. By accident i have picked up an intermediate switch!

My question is can i use this as a one way switch? Or will i have to take it back to the shop?

Thanks in advance

 

[desward]

its a switch with 4 ports ,bring the feed in the top port and the switch wire out the port below

 

[dim_bulb]

if you put the brown or red colour cable at the top left put the black or blue (sleeve brown) cable in bottom right port.

the switch will work but the cables will need to go in diagonally i.e top left bottom right or vice versa

tried to explain as simply as i can hope it helps

 

[Hawk81]

It will work but each make of intermediate switch works differently it will be a case of trial and error to get it right. not that many options to go through.

 

[Deano82]

Thanks for the replies.

I have done a search on google and some people say to wire them up diagonally and others say to use the ports directly above one another.

Im guessing it will be a case of trial and error. What if i get it wrong will it cause any prolblems? Or will it just be a case of the light wont work?

Thanks

 

[Octopus]

By definition you are trying to set up the switch to make and break a circuit. It'll either work or not and try top to bottom (on the same side) first - this should work.

 

[Deano82]

Thank you.

I will give it a go later

 

[Adam W]

Is it really that much hassle to take it back to the shop and get 'the right tool for the job?'

 

[Des 56]

Your working with 2 wires,a live and a switch live
As Hawk 81 said
There should be no problem connecting to the switch whichever way you decide
Its not normally good advise in electrical work ,but in this case trial and error should cause no problem

Do not forget to switch off the supply before working on the circuit

 

[Deano82]

Ok i have taken the faceplace off which is metal (i am replacing it with a metal faceplate also) so i understand that it needs to be earthed with the back box, which it is.

I am a little confused as there is only one single earth wire running from the faceplate to the backbox. Should there also be another earth wire going with the main feed wires? Basically there doesnt seem to be a mains earth wire

 

[telectrix]

yes, there should be a cpc in the cable from the switch, connected to the faceplateand the back box.. if not, then you must fit a class2 ( plastic ) switch.

if there is no cpc on the lighting circuit, then you seriously need to consider getting it rewired and , as the installation would be around 40 years old, getting a full test/inspection.