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[Shaggyind]

I an attempting to replace some ols light switches in my house. The old ones have 3 screws and 4 wires. The end screws have an arrow and one end has a 3 and the other end has an arrow and a 2. The center screw and 2 wires and is not labeled. All the wires rinning to the existing switch are white. How would they connect to a 3 screw new switch?

Thanks for the help.

[kbrownie]

Do you live in the uk?

[moggy1968]

what colour 'wires' go to what

[Shaggyind]

[quote="moggy1968"]what colour 'wires' go to what[/quote]

They are all white wires

[Shaggyind]

[quote="kbrownie"]Do you live in the uk?[/quote]

No. Wisconsin. House is about 90 years old

[kbrownie]

The core colours of electrical installation are different to that of the UK.
In the uk the colours are as follows
Brown=line (usa hot)
Blue= neutral (neutral)
Green/Yellow or bare= earth (ground)
I understand that a switch in the USA should have a white, black and bare cores.
So we need to indentify the cables first, can you inform us which ones are hot, neutral and ground.
and do you also know what he terminals on the switch plate are used for/
In the UK we have COM or L which or line conductor would go to and the earth would go to earth terminal and the spare to L1 or L2
So we really need to know what your version of these terminals are.
But maybe best using a USA based diy website try google electrical-online maybe more informative. Don't want hurting yourself.
KB

[steve the plumber]

Sounds like you need a re-wire!