The neutral wire should also have a brown sheath or brown tape wrapped around it to indicate that it’s the switched live, but this will depend on the wiring setup. As long as you wire it up the same as the old switch, all will be well. Undo the screws on your new switch where the wires will go – feed the main cable through the base and screw the base into the ceiling. Now you can connect the wires – just make sure you tighten the screws properly and if the earth wire is present that you put a sleeve on it and connect it to its place on the base plate. As you can see in this picture whoever installed it they never bothered connecting the earth to its place for some reason. Some pull switches feature a light which indicates when the switch is on. These are ideal for applications like electric showers as it is not obvious when they are switched on or off otherwise. Types of Pull Switch For the first part of this guide we will work through replacing a standard 6 amp pull cord light switch. From step 6 we will explain changing a 45 amp isolation switch. Step 1 – Isolate the Switch and Circuit

As stated, in the majority of cases they are used in areas subject to water and moisture as the fact that you have a pull cord to turn the light or appliance on and off you are no where near any electrical internals that could easily have water splashed onto them causing serious electrical injury. If this does not work, then the switch must be replaced (see Replacing the switch section above). Repairing a 45 amp Pull Switch

Regulations for Installing Pull Cord Switches

Form a knot and then lower the finial to cover it. Other types of finial are available, such as timber or porcelain/ceramic, from hardware or DIY stores. Step 1 – Before doing anything, turn off the circuit you are working on in the consumer unit or fuse box by turning off the MCB or pulling out the fuse. Most of these types of switch include a neon indicator, which will glow red or orange. If you have switched off the supply correctly the indicator will not be lit.

The very first job to do before anything is to ensure the electricity is isolated for the circuit you will be working on. Step 3 – Spray the switch area with the a little maintenance spray or WD40 and attempt to loosen the spring to make the switch work properly. Hold it with one hand and pull the cord with the other Again, if this has does not work, the whole unit must be replaced. Replacing the Cord From a Pull Cord SwitchAny work other than this must be carried out by a professional electrician with the necessary knowledge to do the work to the regulation standards and also be able fully test it and then issue a minor works certificate once completed. Adding additional lighting, light fittings and switches, to an existing circuit – As long as not in a kitchen or bathroom One thing to note however is that the switches do differ slightly. Whereas the 6 amp switch is single pole, the 45 amp switch will be double pole as it needs to be able to isolate both the live and neutral.

Pull cord switches can be used to control an electrical circuit. Popular uses include bathroom lights, electric showers or fans. Pull cord switches are also used for disabled toilet alarms. Using a flat blade screwdriver, loosen each terminal for each wire and pull them free, ensuring terminals are loose enough to easily pull them out. Step 4 – Supporting the switch with one hand, try to operate the pull cord with the other hand to see if the maintenance spray has freed up the spring and therefore the switch should work properly again Standard 6amp pull cord switch Tools and Materials Needed for Repairing and Replacing a Pull Cord Switch Step 3 – Using some maintenance spray such as WD40, apply the lubricant to the inside of the switch, where the wires are connected, especially in around the pull cord sectionIf you want to try and save your broken switch, rather than throw it away and replace it with a new one, work through the steps below for your chosen type of switch. Repairing a 6amp Pull Cord Light Switch Before you disconnect any wires always test the wires and make sure that they are not live – you don’t know who installed it and if it’s installed properly so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Standard cord switches are usually white. There is often a handle at the end of the cord to enable you to pull the cord downwards easily. The electronic part of the switch sits within a plastic housing which fixes to the ceiling by screws. These rules absolutely do apply to DIY activities, so anyone carrying out notifiable work (anything other than the points listed) will have to submit a building notice to the local authority before starting the job and pay a fee to have the work inspected and tested, or simply avoid all the hassle and get a Part P electrician to do it.Step 2 – Undo the two retaining screws holding the switch in place and carefully pull it down a little. There should be sufficient wiring to allow you to do this as with the lighter duty switch above To save a little time and fatigue, loosen the terminal screws on the new switch also. Step 4 – Connect New Switch