extending wires from light switch

magali

I have a cable connecting the light swich too short since I renoved the build-in wardrobe where the swich was.
I would like to extend it but the wires inside are 2 red and earth, I never saw this before .
Do you know if I can buy this kind of wires in shop or it is too old and need an electrician doing the job?

Tallymanjohn

Light switch wiring is different from socket wiring, it's no more complicated, but if you don't know the difference then get in an electrician. Don't want to appear unhelpful, it's just that with new electricity regulations all jobs like this should only be done by certified contractors. The reason for being 2 red is simply that they are both 'live' wires - the switch is in the positive side between the junction box & light, it's the other side of the light that will have the black wire - think of it as the switch just being a break in the positive link to the light - hope that makes sense.

knightstyle

This is a realy simple job. The two wires are red as they are both live ( connected to the phase) when the light is on.
First switch off the supply at the fusebox.
Ues 3 connectors in the existing light switch, use similar cable to extend the wires, if you can't find any use normal lighting cable and cover the black cable with red sleeving, so you should have the same colours as the rest of the installation.
Then connect the two wires to the new switch as before, connect the earth to the backbox.
These colours recently changed and you may find only black/blue cable, but the principal is the same. You need two black cables, but the colour is only to comply with the regs. the colour does not affect the operation of the switch.
If you want to work the light with two switches it is more complicated but can easily be done, ask for more info.

ormus

not all electrical jobs have to be done by a certified electrician.
some can still be done by the diyer.
search the net for wiring diagrams (in color!) for lighting circuits etc...

djohn2002uk

knightstyle wrote: »

These colours recently changed and you may find only black/blue cable, but the principal is the same. You need two black cables, but the colour is only to comply with the regs. the colour does not affect the operation of the switch.

This is confusing! The new cables are now Brown & Blue.
Two Black cables??? WRONG!
Please, Please, Please. If you are going to give advice on here about electrical work you must make sure it is absolutely correct or you could be endangering someones life.
If you are not competent yourself, and it doesn't sound as though you are, then refrain from giving advice which could be dangerous.

knightstyle

Sorry, been working in France too long! Yes I should have said brown for the phase, not black.
Why after several colour changes can't we be the same as Europe?

Inactive

knightstyle wrote: »

Sorry, been working in France too long! Yes I should have said brown for the phase, not black.
Why after several colour changes can't we be the same as Europe?

I thought we were, it is France that is out of touch, certainly Spain uses the same brown/blue as us.

knightstyle

OK, but why aren't we all using the same? a few years ago I did a contract in UK, Architect got Italian lights with red, yes red earths, and we used UK multicore SWA with brown and black phase wires! Confusing or what!

Hobbit_X

The two red wires are live (or phase) from the light fitting and the return live to the light fitting. This is known as double red and is how switch wiring should have been done. Of course now it is double brown.

I would extend the cables as someone else has previously said or if you are confident, replace the entire switch wire from the light to the switch as that way will have no joints in the cable.

Incidently, although double brown is the best cable for the job (1mm or 1.5mm), ordinary brown +blue twin and earth may be used so long as you clearly identify the neutral (blue) as a phase using brown sleeving or tape.