Replacing single gang plastic switch plate - HELP, PLEASE!

[Kevin]

all depends on if you know what to do with it in the first place, bloody dangerous if you don't, after seeing the remains of one burnt to a crisp

[Dave Plowman (News)]

You would normally disconnect it and use the continuity setting if checking the parameters of a switch.

[Kevin]

continuity what's that? where do the leads go on the meter? I get reading on these two connectors but not these two, why do I get a reading when the probes are not connected ETC to some one who has no idea what to expect or how to use a meter these are the sort of questions you get(my father for one)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Perhaps anyone that stupid shouldn't be fiddling with electricity?

[Andy Wade]

ICBW but it just /looks/ to me like the back of an MK 4875 intermediate switch (old Logic range), or a clone thereof, and the wording in question definitely ends in "ate".

If it were a DP switch it would have a 20 A rating and the terminals would be larger. I don't think MK ever did a 6 A DP plate switch in that range. Also a DP switch would usually have L and N markings on the terminals.

Of course an intermediate switch would usually be wired using 3C+E cable, with the (old) core colours to the switch being red and blue. Here we have blacks, so the cables must be T&E and the wiring done with the line feeding in to one of the associated 2-way switches and the switched line take from the other 2-way.

[Kevin]

which is why I questioned "slap a meter across it" ,you don't need to be stupid not to know how to use a meter, or an oscilloscope or any other piece of test gear, just because its obvious to you or me its not for everybody

[The Natural Philosopher]

two pole isolators are available. Meant to ensure you don't get killed when working on circuits where someone has flipped live and neutral..

But I do think its an intermediate..which IME are always avialable in te same style as normal switches.

[John Rumm]

It looks like the switch is one of (at least) three that control a single light position. Have a look at the "three way" section here:

will need to get an intermediate switch to replace it. Any good electrical wholesaler will have these, they may not be as common in ordinary shops thought.

[John]

Clean the paint off it and refit it. I think you will struggle to get a matching intermediate switch.

Perhaps look at the MK Gridswitch range - you may find something.

[John Rumm]

They should be easy enough to find:

slightly rounded corners: a bit more curvy:

[Tim Downie]

Tim

[Kevin]

the op wanted funky metal ones I seem to remember

[Martin Bonner]

Can't remember /which/ metal faced one the OP wanted, but a /very/ quick google gave:

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Pretty well all the major makes will do a one gang intermediate in all their ranges - but it may not listed on wholesalers's websites, etc.

If you've gone for shed specials, the lack of range is something you ultimately pay for in their reduced range.

[Andy Burns]

He told me via email that intermediate switches were available in the desired range