Not-a-bright-spark
New member
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.
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.