light switch query.

[Shedhand]

I had a blue flash in my bathroom last night as i turned on my lights. Pulled the LV Halogen out of the ceiling and its a blown light. Whether this was the blue flash or not I don't know. Anyway, while I'm fooling around with things electrical I thought I'd check out a light switch which isn't working but did until about 3 months ago. I pulled the cover off and springs and points and little contacts tumbled out onto the floor. Its an old (about 1948) Ring Grip Bakelite rocker switch common in houses of the period. OK! I thought, I'll put a new one on. Trouble is the wiring is old too (rubberized covering). There are 2 black wires and 1 red wire. The old switch is wired as per the top drawing. The red and black wires on the left side of the old switch are from twin core flex while the black wire on the top right is from a separate single core flex.Can some-one tell me which wire goes where in the new Clipsal switch in the bottom drawing (No liability will attach to any advice I get).
I know a sparky should do it but he's in a boat somewhere spending my money and SWMBO wants some lights pronto. And it seems such a simple thing. The power is off and I'm using the properly insulated tools. I don't need to strip any wiring or re-route. Simply swap switches.
Cheers

[echnidna]

The old rubberised wiring is dangerous,
this type of wiring causes houses to burn down-
you should get a quote from your sparky to rewire the house.

[Shedhand]

The old rubberised wiring is dangerous,
this type of wiring causes houses to burn down-
you should get a quote from your sparky to rewire the house.

He has except for this one light switch because when we finish the additions the doorway, architrave and switch will be removed.

[Barry_White]

Hi Shedhand.

I would hazard a guess that the red wire is the active and it would go in the common terminal on the new switch. The other problem is which black wire is the switch wire and the only way you will know is to insert the black wire that is on the left of the old switch into the No 1 terminal on the new switch and put the other wire into the loop terminal on the new switch and try it.

If that doesn't work you would have to swap the two black wires.

The terminal with the plastic 2 blocking is only for two way switching and unless the old switch was a two way switch where you could turn the light on and off from two different switches. That is a whole new ball game.

Please read my disclaimer at the bottom.

[Shedhand]

thanks guys. Its a two way switch Baz. My sparky just arrived so all is well and I'm still standing. Bloody electrons...bring back candles...