German light wiring

[Dallychris]

Hello campers,

I'm currently in Germany visiting family, I served my time in the UK and my dad has asked about wiring a 2 gang light switch feeding two separate lights switching independently.

I have done a little digging and since I haven't come across german wiring before it seems you are switching the neutral? Has anyone got any wiring diagrams or an explanation on how best to go about this?

This is more about saving my sanity than actually doing the job.

 

[telectrix]

Germany uses same cable colours as us so do it same. either switch looped or kight looped. anyway always switch the Line, not the Neutral, unless using 2 pole switches.

 

[Dallychris]

Germany uses same cable colours as us so do it same. either switch looped or kight looped. anyway always switch the Line, not the Neutral, unless using 2 pole switches.

Ahhhhh ok that makes sense I've been looking on Google and getting mixed messages.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I'm a bit late to this one...

Germany uses same cable colours as us

They do now, but before harmonised colours, Germany used black as line and grey as neutral, so it is normal to see black wires in the switch. On older installations care is needed to identify red wires as they could be switched line or earth according to era.

Another caution is that some TN-C (either deliberate or sneaky) was used historically, e.g. where a metal fitting is earthed to the neutral when existing wiring is 2-core without a CPC. In that situation you definitely do not want to switch the neutral even with a DP switch.