Oven wall switch and light switch sitting incorrectly

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Daynger

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#2994907 11-Nov-2022 21:05

Where to start.

I guess ill just work in the order they were posted.

OldGeek:

With switches I have seen, the switch itself is held in place behind the plate by two friction-fit mounts on each side of the switch hole - push the switch back to remove, push forward (until it clicks) to install to the plate. From the picture it looks like one side has been pushed back. If the mount on that side is broken then the plate (but not the switch) will need to be replaced. If the mount is intact, just push the switch forward to correctly re-install.

Make sure you have isolated the switch first before attempting anything.

Not in this case, as pointed out above it is the actual rocker of the switch mech. If you keep using it like this eventually the white plastic rocker pops out and a couple of bits of copper follow leaving a nice hole into some live bits of copper.

Daynger

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Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 313

#2994908 11-Nov-2022 21:06

reven:

its a very easy job to replace, usually 3 wires.

1. turn off power

2. take it off

3. take photo

4. go to bunnings and buy a replacement

5. replace it

you should know at step 3 if its too complicated for you, but its usually a single screw driver job.

Power point is three wires, all colour coded, not so much for a switch as there can be all sorts extra colours, two way switching, 3 plating etc.

Normal process would be:

Source replacement.

Isolate power supply to switch.

TEST POWER IS ACTUALLY OFF (you cannot see it and it always sucks), usually with a death stick or just, you know, use the switch.

Take switch off wall.

TEST POWER IS ACTUALLY OFF (you cannot see it and it always sucks), this time with a contact tool like a multimeter or duspols.

Replace wiring as you go one by one into new switch, making sure the conductors dont snap, are twisted nicely and terminated correctly with the screw contacting the bare copper not the insulation. Screwed up tight enough not to come loose but not too tight to cut into the copper conductors too much.

Screw switch back to wall.

Turn power back on.

Try light switch out, see if it goes bang or ZzzzZZZzzzzzzZZzZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.

Daynger

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#2994909 11-Nov-2022 21:08

k1w1k1d:

Pretty sure those are PDL 600 switches. Bunnings, M10 etc don't usually have them, so will need to get from one of the wholesalers like Ideal.

As above, you can legally replace the switch, but don't do it if you have any doubts.

Old HPM excel or Clipsal 2000 series.

richms

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#2994936 11-Nov-2022 22:33

k1w1k1d:

Pretty sure those are PDL 600 switches. Bunnings, M10 etc don't usually have them, so will need to get from one of the wholesalers like Ideal.

As above, you can legally replace the switch, but don't do it if you have any doubts.

No, its not PDL, and doesn't look like a proper band, it looks like the econo-shyte that got sold by one of the bottom tier depot like places for trade supplies.

The non fallen out switch dolley has bad gaps around it that show it wasn't properly designed to actually look good.

Deta from the green shed holds up better than the off brand junk that costs $4.50.

Edit: Also if one is a multiway switch there may be feeds from 2 circuits in the same plate, and the wiring colours may be "creative" as for some time it was legal to sleeve a green earth wire as a live for a switch traveller, and the sleeving often never happened when it was wired up so you could have greens and blacks that are actually live.

Richard rich.ms

k1w1k1d

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#2994941 11-Nov-2022 23:18

OOPS, you're correct, it's not a PDL 600. Just checked and see that the switch I looked at is an HPM one. All the rest of the house has PDL 600 switches. They have a square bezel around the switch element.

OllieF

85 posts

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#2995004 12-Nov-2022 08:35

Thanks for all the responses. Am going to get an electrician in next week. The house was completely rewired in 2010. The same electrician supplied all the fittings and given all the power points have broken, I was suspicious of the quality. The broken switch is indeed a two way switch.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

neb

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#2995502 13-Nov-2022 15:55

reven:
1. turn off power

2. take it off

3. take photo

4. go to bunnings and buy a replacement

5. replace it

The same procedure works for heart replacement surgery:

1. anesthetise

2. cut chest open

3. take photo

4. go to hospital freezer and get replacement heart.

5. replace it

It's the finicky details that get a bit awkward.

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