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Old 19th Jan 2019, 7:31 pm   #1
YoungManGW
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Default Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

I need to wire a Gewiss IP55 outdoor light switch. It is a one gang, one way switch, and will be used as such. I'm used to the labels COM, L1 and L2 but, instead, this is marked just 1, 2 and 3. Obviously, it's the Live that should be switched, but does anyone know, please, what should go where?

(No reminders please of how out of date I am referring to Live!)

Many thanks.

regards,
Richard
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 7:46 pm   #2
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Can you provide a picture of the terminals, please, Richard? It might just help us to see what's what!

We like pictures!
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 8:02 pm   #3
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Buzz it out but I think 1 is common.
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 8:10 pm   #4
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

That was my first thought, too.
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 8:30 pm   #5
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Just been thinking, Richard, there's a forum called diynot, where I am sure they will provide the answer to your question.

Just post it in the electrical section. There are some really knowledgeable people on there.

But, obviously, all the really clever people are on here!
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Last edited by Lancs Lad; 19th Jan 2019 at 8:43 pm.
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 9:07 pm   #6
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but what does 'buzz it out' mean, please?

Is it electrician sparky-speak for some sort of testing?

Obviously I'm not an electrician!
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 9:15 pm   #7
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Many thanks. Will post a photo in the morning. I find electrician forums to be rather unhelpful at times. As Peter says, the really clever people are on here.

Regards,
Richard

Last edited by YoungManGW; 19th Jan 2019 at 9:23 pm.
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 9:22 pm   #8
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lancs Lad View Post
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but what does 'buzz it out' mean, please?
Older slang term for performing a continuity test by means of a dry battery and a buzzer or bell.
Sometimes known as "bell it out" or simply bell it.
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 10:09 pm   #9
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Thanks for that, broadgage. I'm a bit wiser now!

We never stop learning, do we?

And thankyou, Richard, I know exactly what you mean about electrician's forums! There's a chap on diynot who is exceedingly prickly.....!

Makes for some very entertaining reading sometimes, though.
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Last edited by Lancs Lad; 19th Jan 2019 at 10:22 pm.
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 11:01 pm   #10
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Not sure "live" is simply out of date. AFAIK it's long been used interchangeably with "line".

Technically, neutral is also a "live" wire and is treated as such for things like suppression capacitors.

Calling it "positive" would definitely be dated (as well as wrong) not to mention three wire dc where line could be negative as well!
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 11:23 pm   #11
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Our American friends just say "hot" and "neutral"

You know when you are out-of date when someone pops up to remind you that the "earth wire" should properly be called the "CPC" (Circuit Protection Conductor), but I wouldn't do that
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Old 19th Jan 2019, 11:59 pm   #12
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

I really do not like the term 'line' at all. Whenever I see it I always wonder if it's a typo error and it was actually supposed to say 'live' in the first place.

After all, it's just common sense plain English to call it 'live'. Well it is in my book anyway! It perfectly describes exactly what it is, doesn't it? There's no confusion at all.

And as for calling it 'hot', and calling good old Earth 'ground'! Well, words fail me!

Sorry! Bit of a traditionalist here.
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Old 20th Jan 2019, 1:02 pm   #13
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Photo, as promised. Advice gratefully received.
Regards,
Richard
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Old 20th Jan 2019, 1:43 pm   #14
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

The modern terminology is actually quite sensible. 'Line' has always been used in various ways to indicate a current-carrying wire that is not at earth potential, but 'live' was used interchangeably. Now, the term 'line' is used exclusively, with line and neutral being collectively called the 'live' conductors i.e. the ones that form a source of energy and that must be protected against being touched.

Contrasted with the 'live' conductors are 'protective' conductors which are there only for safety reasons. The one leading to the earth (spike or incoming earth facility of whatever kind) is still called the earthing conductor. Where a protective conductor belongs to a particular circuit in an installation it becomes the 'circuit protective conductor.' There are situations with different earthing arrangements present for different circuits and functions, hence sometimes a rather pedantic approach to naming the different functions (e.g. earthing vs. bonding) is necessary.

WRT electrical forums, people with suspect-looking credentials often pop up to ask questions which, if answered, could lead to a lot of problems and liabilities, so contributors, myself included, sometimes 'test' newcomers rather aggressively before assisting. There is a lot of site-style banter too!

WRT light switches, yes, bell it out!
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Old 20th Jan 2019, 3:43 pm   #15
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

#(No reminders please of how out of date I am referring to Live!)

Any thoughts on the wiring please?

Regards,
Richard
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Old 20th Jan 2019, 3:48 pm   #16
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Just use your meter to find any two terminals that will complete a circuit, and connect incoming line feed to one of them and outgoing switched line to the other.
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Old 20th Jan 2019, 8:09 pm   #17
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

I swapped a dimmer for my daughter a couple of weeks ago. the replacement looked identical.
I very nearly missed the fact that the old one had the terminals in the order
L1-COM-L2 and the new one L1-L2-COM.

Assume nothing!
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Old 22nd Jan 2019, 7:51 pm   #18
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

if you're struggling I've got some of those gewiss switches at work, I can soon buzz one through.
Look on the bright side, you're unlikely to do any harm if you get them the wrong way round.

Live Neutral and earth here by the way, don't even know anyone who calls it line except on the internet where they think someone else will correct them.

Line to me means line-level ie audio
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Old 23rd Jan 2019, 7:34 am   #19
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

Thanks Kevin. All done. For my purpose, 1 was live in, 2 was switched live out.
Regards,
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Old 26th Jan 2019, 11:13 am   #20
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Default Re: Wiring Gewiss Outdoor Switch

If you are running in a supply, then they are 'Leads' and 'Returns'.
Easy to remember, too:
Leads to the Left, Returns to the Right.
(Facing AWAY from the dynamo).
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