any tips
Thank you
Good morning , I am trying to connect up new ceiling lamps and dimmers but the Swiss wires look pure Chinese to me ,got yellow,purple,grey,red,and earth in the switch outlet where I want to install the dimmer,
It's fireworks night tomorrow, just twist 'em all together and stand well back when you switch on.
Migos Do-IT, OBI and Co-op Bau + Hobby have leaflets for DIY enthusiasts with hints and tips on such topics as electrical wiring. I am looking at an old one now which I got from the Co-op entitled "Elecktrobedarf". This is approximately what it says about cable colo(u)rs . . .
Green/Yellow = Earth
Light Blue (or yellow in old systems) = Neutral
Black, White or Red = Live
All colours (except green/yellow, Light Blue and Yellow) = Switched Live.
With the mixture of colo(u)rs you have found, it seems that there could be a 2-Way circuit, that is multiple switches which control the same light or lights.
But anyway, you could try the following, without any guarantees . . .
1. Extend the Earth (green/yellow) to the new light fitting.
2. Extend the Neutral (yellow) to the new light fitting.
3. Take the Red through switch to the new light fitting.
If you get it wrong, you could have any of the following effects:
1. Fuses blow
2. The new lights don't work at all
3. The new lights only work with certain combinations of other light switches.
4. The lights come on at half brightness in combination with another light.
However, if you are in any doubt, it is best to get the work done by an electrician and anyway, you are supposed to have any electrical work, which you do your self, checked professionally.
Thank you so much , but after getting zapped by a grey neutral wire today I am now in the market for a good electrician in the Zurich area, any takers?
If you read what is written above your post you could work out grey is switched live.
Buy and use an electrician's screwdriver, to avoid getting zapped - for just a few francs ..... much cheaper than an electrician.
Or maybe, flip the breaker to off before pawing at (apparently) unknowns wires?
I dunno, just a thought...
Getting an electrician to do this after getting zapped is a good idea.
In the future...
1. Turn circuit breaker OFF.
2. Test wires to make sure there they are not live with an electricians screwdriver AND with a detector.
Use the electricians screwdriver and detector with another curcuit in the house before you start, which you know to be live just to make sure they are operating correctly!
Electricians screwdrivers (CHF10) are available at OBI etc as is the detector (CHF80) which will also detect pipes inside the walls and that's good for also drilling holes for shelves and pictures etc.
good luck!
Here it is...Bosch PDO 6
[](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.conrad.de/medias/global/ce/8000_8999/8100/8140/8147/814711_BB_00_FB.EPS_250.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.conrad.com/Metal-%2526amp%3B-Live-Wire-Detectors.htm%3Fwebsale7%3Dconrad-int%26ci%3DSHOP_AREA_17593_1510013&usg=__FfL3hPJyeV1W37QAkm2yoxTSkNI=&h=250&w=250&sz=10&hl=en&start=10&zoom=1&tbnid=hnFqwmEw58JrQM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&ei=uVqXUO2oJ8mq0QX4koDgAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbosch%2Bpdo%2B6%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26rlz%3D1W1ADFA_deCH482%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1)
Two and three way systems...
[](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.diynot.com/wiki/_media/electrics:lighting:2waysw.jpg%3Fw%3D%26h%3D%26cache%3Dcache&imgrefurl=http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D217089&usg=__yQvX9SyHMIfHTXLGi-zUQUPCcHw=&h=585&w=373&sz=40&hl=en&start=42&zoom=1&tbnid=TXSofk24LWiE2M:&tbnh=135&tbnw=86&ei=G1uXUIDwAsSe0QXWlYDYCg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtwo%2Bway%2Blighting%2Bcircuit%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26rlz%3D1W1ADFA_deCH482%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1) [](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.flameport.com/electric/lighting_circuits/switchwires_3way_both_oldcolour.png&imgrefurl=http://www.flameport.com/electric/lighting_circuits/lighting_switchwires_multipleway.cs4&usg=__AtD1ypZyTZBTmU0spLUbafTBV5U=&h=1438&w=787&sz=213&hl=en&start=30&zoom=1&tbnid=TeuxqIaS08KoEM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=82&ei=o1uXUM74FMjX0QX_94DwDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthree%2Bway%2Blighting%2Bcircuit%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26rlz%3D1W1ADFA_deCH482%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1)
Non, no, no! I strongly advise against buying these Bosch "metal/ wire detectors". They are useless, I got one a few weeks ago, showed green -> drilled right into a metal reinforcement barely 2cm into the wall. Then on the other wall, apparently the entire wall is under AC current (even though I earthed the wall and let the device calibrate).
It went right back to Jumbo.
According to reviews, even much more expensive ones are a hit and miss.
The document I quoted from was dated 2006. Apparantly, there have also been changes in the meantime, so here is an update.
The following is a Beobachter (Swiss consumer magazine) article dated 8th July 2010. I put it through Google Translator and it is more or less understandable. See the section "Core Colors" . . .
http://www.beobachter.ch/wohnen/baue...ht-der-schlag/
8th July 2010
Residual current device (RCD)
RCD switch interrupts an electric circuit, if a so-called fault current occurs - ie when current flows out, for example, over the body of a human. This protection is a long time. Provision for bathrooms, in new installations since 2010 for outlets in all rooms As additional security for all rooms in the home retrofitting is recommended. The RCD can be usually installed directly in Sicherungsverteilkasten - then all outlets protected. Cost point: 200 to 300 francs.
fuses
In technical language it means properly "circuit breaker"; prevent backups that the wires and cables are too heavily loaded (fire hazard in case of failure or short circuit). Fuses are matched to the cross sections of the conductor. So we can not replace a 6-amp fuse with a 10 amp for just because the iron always trips the fuse.
core colors
Depending on their age and origin of cables and connectors, a large proliferation of colors can be found, as a result of EU standards, there was another change. Phase conductors (live) today are usually brown, sometimes black or gray, formerly white, red and black. The neutral wire can be identified by the blue color (formerly yellow), the protective conductor, respectively, the ground is yellow-green (formerly yellow-red). Caution: Even when a lamp is lit, the wires are not always properly connected - leave control in doubt.
Lamp and lamp connections
Horrible translation - see the original german
Thank you for all the input ,but I will leave it to a sparky as it is very different to what I am use to.
Very helpful thread, thanks. Can someone verify the following?
I have 2 blue wires which were electrically connected already when I moved in. There's a separate red wire.
The lamp I purchased has one wire marked N and the other L (no third wire).
What I plan to do is to connect the L wire to the red wire. And I'll connect the N wire to the two blue wires.
Is that correct?
You have moved into an apartment and found wires dangling from the ceiling where you would have expected to find a light fitting?
In that case, what you have described will work. Turn the electricity off at the main switch board and ideally also check that it safe with a neon screwdriver before you start.
These Neon electrician's screwdrivers are not trusted by electricians! They can give a false indication!
Either buy a proper meter that can show exactly how much voltage is on the wire, for example 230 volts, or get an electrician to do the job. Yes they are expensive, but you came here to earn a good salary didn't you, and you can afford it can't you?
It is not always the electricity that kills you, it is the shock that knocks you off the chair you were standing on, and landing on your head, that kills or maims you.
Be sensible, do like Vegan Chef says, get an electrician.
I despise this statement, it's incredibly condescending and demonstrates a complete lack of ability consider scenarios outside of ones' own.
[rant]
Not everyone gets to benefit from the wages - some are students and some just can't get the same level position here, for whatever reason. Believe it or not, some actually make less in Switzerland than they did "at home".
Never-mind that some prices are just so comically disproportionate that if one were to simply comply, all but the top earners would soon find themselves bankrupt.
[/rant]
But yes, the screwdrivers are garbage - get a multimeter. I have a quite nice digital one that tells the exact power that will be coursing through the body, should one act on the inexplicable urge to lick the wires.
Every time there is the slightest opportunity to make a small-minded comment this guy goes for it. Every - efffing - time. No matter what topic, no matter what day, what circumstances. He goes for it. Like a 16 year old going through puberty, like lousy researcher publishing the same stuff over and over again, like a typical amateur league striker trying to nail it from midfield, like a snowdrop meticulously pushing up trough the frost. He just goes for it.
Well, well-done Sir, I acknowledge your persistence.
Yes, exactly, thanks! ok, will think about getting a multimeter too.
Yes, but look at all the greenies he has. Don't question EF's collective wisdom
Here is my response to the insults mentioned above.
The question of electrical wiring arises time and time again. Don't any of you search the Forum, or Google before you post? If you did I would not have to write the same drivel everytime would I?
Are my postings correct? YES. Do my posts hurt some people? YES. What am I going to do about it? Well should I keep quiet and let people electrocute themselves, or should I point out their failures? Think about that Mr wise guys! I should have groaned you, but I reserve that for really bad situations.
I have been repairing electrical equipment with voltages up to 32'000 volts, I am qualified to work by myself, since 1963. I am still here, so I must be doing something right!
My son is a qualified Swiss electrician working in Bern. He told me not to trust the electricians' neon screwdrivers, and I pass this tip on to you free of charge. Don't ask him to come round and fix your lights, his working contract specifically forbids working for other people.
Maybe some of you are students, then you have landlords or you are in a WG, who would be fitting the lamps for you. And don't talk to me about low wages, I draw social security, so I earn less than nearly everyone here.