Double light switch: no live wire?

[Rudeboy]

Hi,
Complete newbie here, could really do with some advice.
I was changing a double light switch for a new face plate (brushed steel in this case).

I disconnected the old switch and went to wire up the new switch then discovered there is no live wire?
I am now at a loss for how to wire this switch back up as I have no live wire.
The other problem is that I have three red wires and an earth.
Everything worked properly before I disconnected it, and nothing has been damaged / moved.

So this is what I know to do in my limited knowledge:
Live to com 1
Bridging wire to com 2
Incoming to L1 on first switch
Outgoing to L1 on second switch

Is there some knowledge I am missing about not needing a live wire?
I am a total novice, so welcome being corrected and any advice before I have to call out an actual electrician.
I hope I am missing something obvious to one of you, and you can keep me right.

Thanks!
Jason

 

[James]

Did you take a picture BEFORE you took the old switch off?

also, what makes you think there is no live wire?
is this down to testing for voltage or a google search that says live is brown?

 

[westward10]

From what you say if you had a bridge across the Comms then one red is incoming line and the other two are outgoing lines. You have three options one red must go into the Comms, with the bridge and each of the others into each L1. Trial and error should solve it.

 

[Rudeboy]

Did you take a picture BEFORE you took the old switch off?

also, what makes you think there is no live wire?
is this down to testing for voltage or a google search that says live is brown?

Hi James,
Sadly I didn't take a picture before and am kicking myself.
I am using a normal tester screwdriver to detect the live, but none of the wires is detected as live.

 

[Rudeboy]

From what you say if you had a bridge across the Comms then one red is incoming line and the other two are outgoing lines. You have three options one red must go into the Comms, with the bridge and each of the others into each L1. Trial and error should solve it.

Thanks; I am kind of suspecting that it may come to that! Wanted to check in with people who actually know what they are doing before I resorted to that

 

[westward10]

Assuming the old switch was a double with the link across the Comms you just need trial and error.

 

[Rudeboy]

Assuming the old switch was a double with the link across the Comms you just need trial and error.

OK, I have made it safe for tonight and will come back at it fresh in the morning. I'll report back when I have done some trial and error.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[westward10]

Yes let us know one way or the other.

 

[Timbo]

OP has electrocuted himself.
RIP???