Upside down light switch

[claire_r]

Hey all, i have a question that has been bugging me all day as i just cant work it out!?

Changed a faulty dimmer to a light switch as it was a 500w one and I didn't have one at the time.

Put power back on.....switch was upside down......i often do this so laughed it off and moved the wires round the other way.....it was still upside down!?!

I cannot think of a reason why....or am I having a blonde moment? hehe

 

[sparks1234]

Blonde moment maybe!!

Why not turn the switch round

Was it one of those cheap switched that have a common at the same end as L1?..poxy things caught me out one, cant remember what make it was maybe volex

 

[andyb]

If it was a one way switch, then blonde moment it was as you need to turn the switch up the other way.
If it was a two way switch and you swapped L1 for L2 then youve got me. But it's normally easier just to turn the switch round.

 

[chocolate]

Everyone has days like these . . . . don't we ????

Do a simple continuity test on the disconnected switch itself - with no conductors present. Find out which terminals are disconnected and connected when the switch is the right-way up and the in the position you want it to be . . . and doing.

How many conductors were present at the switch box ?

 

[Risteard]

A one-way switch is either open or closed. Swapping the wires will achieve nothing. Don't worry - I had to explain the science behind this to my boss once! He seemed to think that swapping the wires would change it and didn't believe me when I told him that it would achieve nothing.

 

[claire_r]

ahhhhhh thanks all, yes it was a 2 way switch but i was only using L1 and common

changed the wires around when i should have just turned it!

ah well as I always say....in this job you learn something new everyday....even if it is something obvious hehe.