Fitting metal light switches/sockets

travel_freak

Hi,

Please can anyone tell me if it is safe for me to replace light switch "fronts" myself? At the moment there are gold/brass coloured metal switches which I would like to change for silver ones.

I know that if you use metal ones they have to be earthed otherwise you can get a shock - and I'd like to live to see in the New Year!!

If I turn off the electrics and open up one of the existing ones would it be safe to put in the silver one as long as I follow the wiring of the current one? I vaguely remember there should be an earth wire tailing off somewhere inside.

I'd also like to replace some of the plug socket fronts.

To check if safely installed should I turn the electrics back on and not touch the metal plate but test it first with one of those special screwdrivers for testing for current?

Any advice gratefully received.

Regards,

flang

Under par P regs you can replace sockets/switches etc, however reading your post it would appear your not 100% sure how to do it therefore i would recommend you get a confident DIYer to do it for you.
Theres nothing worse then blowing yourself up just after christmas!!

travel_freak

Thanks Flang, no I'm not confident about it - I'm just super paranoid about doing anything electrical. If anyone is able to comment on the earthing that's the only bit I'm worried about. I did change a dimmer switch once which had broken but this was plastic and it was just a case of following the wiring but I have heard you need to be careful that metal plates are properly earthed so any guidance on how to double-check this would be really useful. As I say, there are metal switches already in place, I haven't opened one up yet but I'm assuming these are already earthed and, to replace safely, I need only follow whatever system is already in place when putting the new ones on.

Regards

yorksguy11

Im an electrician and dont think you should have a problem.
Switch off first or remove the lighting fuse or switch off the circuit breaker
Make a drawing of where the the wires go and mark the wires before you remove the old one. If your fitting metal switches yes you need to earth them. get a short peice of earth cable 1.00mm dia and connect it to the swich front and the steel back box (the terminal will be in one of the corners and have earth cables coming into it from the incoming cables)
For gods sake dont bother with one of those neon screwdrivers they will light up on any thing from 12 volts upwards so give you false readings

travel_freak

Hi,

Many thanks Yorksguy11 for your helpful reply.

I'll try opening up one of the switches tomorrow and take a look.

Regards,