L 1 2 switch wiring

[JackNewcastle]

Hello,

Though I live in France, I’m hoping someone here can answer a question about L 1 2 switches. I’m asking here rather than in a French forum because 1) I speak English and it’s easier to explain the situation and understand the answer, and 2) I live in France, where straight answers are far and few between.

So, here’s the situation. I hired a contractor to renovate our apartment, and, unfortunately, mucked up a lot of things that I have to fix myself. One of them is this outdoor light circuit. I asked him to install two lights. The first is a doorway/porch light, and the second is one that points to a small garden area. He did do that, but he didn’t think ahead and so they are both on the same circuit and are controlled by the same indoor switch. The problem with this, naturally, is that I don’t always want the garden light on when I want the porch light on.

Thus, I bought a switch that I can place between the indoor switch and the garden light, which I can keep off until I actually want it on. The problem for me, though, is that I can’t find a diagram from the manufacturer, Hager, that clearly details the connection. There is an “L” connector, which I know is the Live / Com in the UK, and then there are two connectors marked 1 and 2. I don’t believe I actually need the 2, and I’m fairly certain the 1 is the neutral/blue connection. There is also a jumper connector to the left, which I suspect is the ground, but perhaps not.

So, can anyone determine from the photos how I need to connect this switch?

Thanks and kind regards,

Jack

[Someone-Else]

Since you know so little, and I for one, would like to see you post again, I would suggest you get him back and do it the way you want it, not the way he wants it. Just because it works does not mean it is safe.

But then again, looking at the picture, best get an electrician to do it properly.

[ericmark]

I would put my meter in the terminals to find what it does. Even switched bought in UK some times don't do as expected.

[JackNewcastle]

Thanks for the info and the advice. My wife and I have been in France for 6 years, and I was surprised to learn when we started the project that France doesn’t required electricians to be licensed! Hence, all the bad work around here. Unfortunately, the builder was a disaster and he has pretty much abandoned the work, leaving us with, among other things, dodgy outlets, a leaky toilet, and crooked floors. Looks like we’ll have to take him to court.

As a result of our experience, and similar experiences other ex-pats have had with French builders, I’m hesitant to pay another one to come in and do more damage. I can do that myself for a lot less!

[ericmark]

UK also does not require electricians to be licenced, however England and Wales have Part P regulations which require some work to be registered, and there are two methods, either a scheme member electrician or vie LABC.

The switch has maintenance free terminals, I expect L is what we call com, and 1 is L1 and 2 is L2 and unmarked is for parking wires, but I would want to test first, France is different to UK, we are in the UK rather unusual with polarised sockets, fuses in our plugs, and BA22d lamps, so our consumer unit tend only to switch the line, but in France often the supply is split phase, and although French sockets are polarised often they use German ones which are not, and don't use ring finals, and their distribution boards are far larger than ours, and also their earthing system is often what we call TT (uses an earth rod) so you need to test the switch and confirm it is a two way switch.

I would expect L and 1 are standard on/off terminals but I would want to confirm that with a meter.