Pull-Cord Bathroom Switch - Red Wire And Black Wire With Brown Sleeve

[Not-a-bright-spark]

We have a bog standard 2D 4-pin flourescent bulb in the bathroom, with a pull-cord switch. The light stopped working the other day.

Tried a new bulb and it flashed briefly and went off.

I thought it may be the pull cord so I turned the power off, took the bottom part off and noticed the earth wire had snapped but was still touching the brass fitting. I re-attached it but it still didn't work.

I bought a new unit (2 way although L2 not needed) and just as I took the old one off and was going to write which wire went in which port my nipper came in, I had to get down and see to him, and I completely forgot!!

I have one red wire and one black wire - so far so easy. I assumed the red was live (COM) and the black neutral (L1). However, the black wire has a brown sleeve on it and I read somewhere that the colours may not mean Red/Live, Black/ Neutral as it depends how the sparky set it up!

Does it matter which goes in which on a simple switch like this?

Would it be safe to try them both ways, and switch the wires that go in the COM and L1 ports?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[zak 1990]

Black is the switch live hence the brown tape

Doesn't really matter if u mix the 2 up

Put red in common and black in l1

Has the light fitting got starters in it could well be that with the flashing

 

[Not-a-bright-spark]

When it first stopped working and I went to take the bulb out it flashed on briefly.

Then when I put a new one in it did the same.

After that I checked the fitting and spotted the Earth wire snapped - would this have blown both bulbs? I have refitted it and it still doesn't work.

^Refitted the Earth wire I meant.

Would it be the fuse? Is it a bog-standard fuse on these things? Not at home right now and was doing this last night

 

[kerching]

Look for a starter switch in the fitting....usually visible without dismantling insides of fitting

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Your problem is you have a bog standard switch, but your using it in the bathroom. What you need is a bathroom standard switch ]

Seriously, sound like its the starter