How can I tell if these light switch wires are live

matelodave

https://medium.com/@multimeterpro/how-to-use-multimeter-safely-3fe4bd418ce9

forgotmyname

Thats quite funny, howto use a meter safely then shows them using test leads that

are less than safe.

Picture and diagrams show long exposed probes yet further down they state ensure the probes are shrouded

which may give the falso impression that the leads shown are adequate and the correct ones to use.

Your more likely to touch the probes than the mains wiring.

pbartlett

have followed this thread from the beginning and suggest you get an electrician in and stick to what you know. 
 

Heedtheadvice

^^^ that is what I say too!

FrankFalcon

Thanks everybody.  I have literally contacted 3 electricians in the past week.  Two of them have got too much work on and can't get to us for "a few weeks".  The other guy didn't reply.  As an aside to this something VERY worrying happened yesterday tea time.  The fluorescent light fitting sitting on top of the fitted cupboard started buzzing loudly.  I gave it the ... I'll have a look at that after tea...  An hour later it was smoking and smelling of burning rubber.  I immediately turned off the power at the unit and then literally cut the feed to the light but in the process burned my hand on the hot metal of the light fitting.  The problem in this house is the idiot (I'd love to use stronger words) who had the house before us.  Every tap is dripping, every toilet leaks but more importantly there's something wrong with lots of lights and switches.  I can tell you we will definitely get the house COMPLETELY rewired but for now we just can't get a sparky to turn up.  They are literally all fully booked here in Manchester.  So, if there's any Sparkys out of work anywhere in the country, pop on down to Manchester.  In the meantime it is vital I learn to properly use a mains tester.  

Farway

From this it sounds from above ^^^^^^^^ that leaving it to a trained electrician is best and not trusting any switches to really cut the power

An acquaintance of mine found out the hard way that a previous owner had run an extension lead such the the exposed plug pins were live & not the recessed sockets