3 Pull Cord Light Switches packed in, in as many weeks! Help!

Bexm

Hi

We're in the process of doing up our house an have redone our bathroom and replaced the old pull cord light switch, but we don't know what's going on as we're on our 3rd already as they keep stopping working.

It's not that the light won't come on, the switch looses the ability to be pulled! One day it will be working fine, then the next you go to pull it and it won't click or anything!

The first two switches were from Wilkinson but as they both broke we bought another one from Wickes, so it's not as if they are from the same shop!

The only thing I can think of is that our bathroom has no extractor fan and we don't always have the window open so it gets steamy but surely they are meant to survive that?

Any ideas?

Bex

mrstaypuft

Have you changed the light fitting?
It is possible to get a short circuit at the switch if the wrong switchwire is used and cheaper switches are prone to not working after this.
If not just get a decent make MK , Crabtree etc they will only be a couple of quid more.

Bexm

@mrstaypuft thanks for your reply!
Would that actually stop it pulling? or would it just not work?

We have changed the light fitting too, but all wires are the same. What do you mean by "switch wire"?

Biggles

You may be onto something with regards to condensation. My current pull-cord, though cheap, has worked OK for years.

But last weekend, after a long and steamy bath (not me), I found that it had stopped working. I could still pull it but it wouldn't 'click' on or off. I was all ready to get a replacement but found that, after a day with the bathroom window open, it worked again fine and has continued to do so since.

Bexm

@Biggles hmm.. interesting! OK, will leave this one a few days and see what happens! Maybe we should install an extractor fan!

mrstaypuft

Yes that could stop it from pulling as the insides could be stuck together from the short circuit.
If the light fitting has 3 red(or brown) wires and 3 black(or blue wires) then one of the black/blue wires will be the switched live and the other 2 Neutral.
If it is wrong then when you pull the switch you wil get a Live/Neutral short circuit but this should take out the mcb.

Bexm

thanks mrstaypuft!

I shall check these, but the mcb has never tripped, so likely not the problem by the sounds of it!
We have had some wiring done recently too and a new leccy box put in, and it's quite sensitive as we've managed to trip it a few times, so if there was a short I'm sure it'd go off!

Maybe it is the condensation.. :huh::huh:

zax47

As an electrician this is a fairly straightforward diagnosis. Stop buying cheap tat bits! As someone earlier said, get a decent make, (MK, Crabtree) from an electrical wholesaler like CEF and it will last you - the "sheds" (B&Q, Wickes etc.) flog any old crap! Cheap, yes, but also crap.

muckybutt

mrstaypuft wrote: »

from the short circuit.
If the light fitting has 3 red(or brown) wires and 3 black(or blue wires) then one of the black/blue wires will be the switched live and the other 2 Neutral.
If it is wrong then when you pull the switch you wil get a Live/Neutral short circuit but this should take out the mcb.

If its been working in between swapping them then it isnt a short circuit ! if it was a short cct then you would have noticed a bang, possibly a flash and the lighting circuit would have tripped or blown the fuse.

As has been said use a decent branded name like MK and not cheapo garbage.

Bexm

Jeez!!
Well I'm sorry for being badly informed..! How the frig was I meant to know Wickes and ALL my local DIY stores sell garbage?!

As a DIYer... pray tell where should I be buying my light switches from as I have no clue as it's not from any shop I can go to?

Ebe_Scrooge

Bexm wrote: »

Jeez!!
Well I'm sorry for being badly informed..! How the frig was I meant to know Wickes and ALL my local DIY stores sell garbage?!

As a DIYer... pray tell where should I be buying my light switches from as I have no clue as it's not from any shop I can go to?

I understand your feelings :-)

I'm a bit surprised that Wickes don't stock quality parts.....

Anyhow, be that as it may, the easiest thing is to look in yellow pages for "Electrical Factors". Most likely to be found on industrial estates if you have one near you. A lot of people assume they'll only deal with the trade, but every one I've ever visited will happily sell to the public as well. The big advantage is that the staff there will really know what they're talking about and can advise you, and the prices will probably be cheaper as well.