My problem is that i have three wires; red, black and yellow/green. The fitting has a comm postion on one side and two postion on the opposing side. I already know (by experience) that red in the comm position and then black directly opposite and the yellow/greem wire in the remaining postion fused my circuit. What should I be doing?

Teefax, February 2009

Job done. Thanks for the advice and Peccavi I hear what you are saying. cheers

Teefax, February 2009

the yellow/green wire is earth and connected to the earth terminal not into switch circuit, red should be common and black switched live either marked L1 or L2 so only one terminal (L1 or L2) will have a wire connected to it unless you are using 2way lighting (2 switches controlling one light) the earth terminal is the large brass terminal on the base of the pull cord switch.

gumbel, February 2009

By connecting the Yellow/Green (EARTH) wire to one of the three switch terminals (Com, L1, L2) the switch will be connecting Live directly to Earth and if you do this it is normal for the light circuit to blow a fuse.

Remove the yellow/green - the switch may well have a place for an Earth connection - try and find it.

You may be wiser to call in a qualified person. Connecting EARTH to a switch is a pretty basic kind of mistake suggesting little appreciation of what you're doing (others might be ruder).

Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light
Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!
It is the business of the wealthy man
To give employment to the artisan.

Peccavi, February 2009