old toggles

[jambogee74]

Hi there i am looking for your thoughts on something, i have been asked to rewire a 3 bed house which by the looks of things has'nt been touched for a good few years. the owners would like to keep the old style toggle switches,they have plastic fronts and lock rings but the rest is the old ceramic toggle type.

Are these ok to use as long as i run an earth wire to the box or would i need to get an earth spot welded to the brass part of the toggle?????

What do you think guys,, Cheers

 

[scousefowler]

your having a laf

 

[DiscoDave]

steer clear of using the original fittings, once rewired, you'll have no end of problems when things stop working, and you could spend hours chasing your own backside trying to sort them out.

there are modern alternatives and although they may not be as cheap as a white plate switch they are bard new and fit to modern back boxes with earth tags.

Fancy old style light switches

have a look on this website for an idea of what's available, and show the customer, nice shiny brass! hmmmm

 

[Sintra]

Definately fit new accessories.

The Wandsworth Group: Classic Series 2

 

[jambogee74]

I think its a money thing with the client,,no price on saftey though i suppose

 

[Mark42]

I like the old switches too.

I fitted some of these in my own place last week. Not cheap at twenty-odd quid a pop, but they look the dog's wotsits in the right place.

Beautifully tactile too. A lovely feel to the switch: just wipe your hand up the wall, nice thunk! No faffing about looking for cheap bits of plastic to press.

The internals are a clipsal plastic switch module. The rest is brass and ceramic.

The wooden pattress comes separately, available in several styles.

What I'm not sure about is whether you are still meant to fit a back box. It's not actually necessary.

 

[Guest123]

You'll probably find those old bakelite switches contain asbestos in one form or another, so when you rip them out and get rid of them, dont just chuck them in any old bin.


WHERE ASBESTOS MIGHT BE FOUND IN YOUR HOME


ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Materials in older lamp socket collars, electric switch and round pin socket outlets (bakelite), liners for recessed lighting, backing for switchboard panels, fuse boxes, and old-fashioned "knob & tube" wiring have all, at times, been found to contain asbestos. Normal use of these items should not pose a hazard. Replacement products in these categories do not contain asbestos. Dispose of these items, when they are replaced, in an approved manner.

 

[Spudnik]

I was under the impression that the backs of switches etc should now only be accessible with the use of a tool.

 

[nickblake]

I was asked to do the same ,rewire but the guy wanted to keep the old switches i said sorry dont comply , didnt get the job , didnt like the guy any way , and belive it or not the old brown round bakalite switches are on ebay ,and they state they are in good useable condition ... ye right