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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Standard British Inline Wiring Question https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1357369017 Message started by fighterflea on Jan 5^th, 2013, 6:56am

Title: Standard British Inline Wiring Question
Post by fighterflea on Jan 5^th, 2013, 6:56am

I am replacing a switch for a table top appliance which has 4 internal contact points. Here in the U.S. switches conventionally have 2. I think the switch to be replaced is from a Commonwealth country. Am I correct in assuming that conventional British wiring of switches for table top lamps and the like have 4 contact points? (I've already spliced the wire and for reasons I won't go into prefer not to replace it and start over with wire and switches available to me here in the U.S.)

I'm ready to order a switch from the UK but am uncertain whether the inside will reveal 2 or 4 contact points. Can someone shed light on this matter, so to speak?

Title: Re: Standard British Inline Wiring Question
Post by Lectrician on Jan 5^th, 2013, 7:57am

Not sure what you mean by 'contact point'. I assume this means terminal? Most inline switches in the UK have a single switch pole, having two terminals. Some include seperate terminals to loop the neutral and earth.

Going by the picture on this site, this has a looping earth terminal, and two pole switching (so 4 terminals, or 4 contact points).

http://www.collingwoodlighting.com/cnb/shop/collingwood?productID=682&op=catalogue-product_info-null&prodCategoryID=120

[gallery fullsize]Lectrician/1357372921.png[/gallery]

Title: Re: Standard British Inline Wiring Question
Post by fighterflea on Jan 5^th, 2013, 8:11am

This is very useful and much appreciated. In the U.S. we actually run part of the cord intact through the switch while the other part is cut and connected to contact points. From what you loaded, it appears that that is not how it is done in the U.K. Am I right?

Title: Re: Standard British Inline Wiring Question
Post by Lectrician on Jan 5^th, 2013, 8:48am

There are many different switches available from many manufactgurers, some have a a double pole switch (as above), some have terminals to joint the un-switched cores, and some only have the single pole switch and you leave the inner cores uncut, as you say.

Title: Re: Standard British Inline Wiring Question
Post by fighterflea on Jan 5^th, 2013, 11:32pm

Again, thank you very much for your timely, helpful response. I come up at these problems pretty much self taught and I'm not a very good teacher. Found what I needed and have made the order.