change plastic light switches to metal ones

[walrus]

hi guys probably been asked a thousand times before but i wanna change plastic light switches on wall to metal ones but there are only 2 red wires inside metal back box with no earth wires so do i need to stick with plastic switches?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Yes plastic

Unless you can some how suitably earth it

 

[westward10]

Can you see how the cables enter the back box is it through steel conduit, is it possible to show a clear pic.

 

[walrus]

Can you see how the cables enter the back box is it through steel conduit, is it possible to show a clear pic.

not through conduit and as i said only 2 red wires cant send pic not at house

 

[westward10]

If they are steel back boxes then they have problems all insulated light switch or not.

 

[walrus]

If they are steel back boxes then they have problems all insulated light switch or not.

so basically stick with plastic or get an earth wire brought into each light switch?

 

[Dave OCD]

Yes that's right, and with metal boxes in behind I'd check carefully that there's no damage at all to the insulation on the switch cables, make sure connections are properly secure with no copper on show at the terminals and also consider using switches with white plastic screw caps to minimise any risk.

 

[walrus]

Yes that's right, and with metal boxes in behind I'd check carefully that there's no damage at all to the insulation on the switch cables, make sure connections are properly secure with no copper on show at the terminals and also consider using switches with white plastic screw caps to minimise any risk.

thanks

 

[brianmoooore]

If it's a cable coming into the box, rather than singles, then it's at least half a century old, an probably time to be thinking of a re wire.

 

[Vortigern]

Two red wires sounds unusual. First, due to the relative age of the cables and second it suggests singles which in turn suggests conduit as @westward10 had suggested. Something is not right. Maybe it is two twin and earths just using the reds of each? If T&E then the earth may be further up the conduit?

 

[brianmoooore]

T&E with two brown wires exists, but I've never come across any. Did T&E with two reds ever exist?
Something I have come across (in the house I'm living in now, amongst others) was switches wired in 1.0mm2 6181Y, or more likely the imperial equivalent.

 

[Vortigern]

Ah that could be it the old single cores. Probably a borrowed neutral then lurking about with the old type of wiring that involves.

 

[nicebutdim]

T&E with two brown wires exists, but I've never come across any. Did T&E with two reds ever exist?
Something I have come across (in the house I'm living in now, amongst others) was switches wired in 1.0mm2 6181Y, or more likely the imperial equivalent.

Yes.

 

[telectrix]

T&E with two brown wires exists, but I've never come across any. Did T&E with two reds ever exist?
Something I have come across (in the house I'm living in now, amongst others) was switches wired in 1.0mm2 6181Y, or more likely the imperial equivalent.

T/E with both conductors in red insulation was common back in 70's and 80.s. made it a doddle to ID the switch wire in a ceiling rose.

 

[brianmoooore]

T/E with both conductors in red insulation was common back in 70's and 80.s. made it a doddle to ID the switch wire in a ceiling rose.

I'm (almost) as old as you, and have been wiring domestic properties since the 70's, but I've never set eyes on twin brown or twin red T&E, either in an existing installation or in stock at any of the wholesalers I've dealt with. It just doesn't exist in my part of the country.

 

[telectrix]

think it has been very popular in Ireland. was not all that common here, but available and used on some new builds back then.

 

[pirate]

I have a full drum of twin red in my garage, and some old colours, white sheathed t&e, left over from my very early days of DIY. It helps to disguise the date of any additions (in my own property only!).
I have been told that I can get a good price for it on e-bay...