Light switch wiring

[jaylockwood1978]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is a stupid question. We are having a room skimmed so loosened the switches and sockets at the plasterers request. The main light switch which is the only switch that controls the main light, as I pulled it away from the wall, a wire must have come out of it’s fixing. (The light was working prior).
The only holes left for it to go into are either L1 or L2. I know it’s old style wiring but is it ok for neutral (black) to go in COMM and then have two live (red) wires, seemingly wound together to go into L1 or L2?

thanks in advance

 

[Deleted member 267285]

The black wire will not be neutral, it’ll be live in (just not sleeved red). Looks like a 2 way switch, being used as a one way. Also a tip, if one terminal is still, screwed down, then it’s likely to be the one that isn’t.

Have a look here: https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Single-way-lighting

 

[jaylockwood1978]

Oh ok, so the black is live but not sleeved and the two red wires are also live? Told you I was stupid

 

[jaylockwood1978]

Good tip with the screwed down terminal. Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Told you I was stupid

Not stupid, just obviously didn’t know. Yes a lived and switched live basically.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Black will probably be what is know as the 'switch wire', only live when switched on. The two reds can be tried in either L1 or L2, if its wrong, the switch will simply be upside down, turn it over or swap to the other terminal. It is also bad practice to twist solid cored wires, it makes them liable to break. Just push them in the terminal and tighten the screw, settle them, them recheck tight.

 

[jaylockwood1978]

That’s great, thank you for your help. Just wanted to make sure it was safe for now. Really helpful, thanks a lot