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Electrical
3 wire Elkay timer but 3 core wires
Anonymous user 1 March 2024 - 2.57 PM
I have bought an Elkay timer (3875A-1 3-wire) switch from Screwfix to replace the existing switch that turns our Megaflow ECO water heater cylinder on and off. The existing wiring is a pair of 3 core cables coming from the fusebox (red, black, green/yellow) and going to the cylinder (blue, brown, green/yellow) but the new timer has only 3 terminals, 2 Live (L-in & L-out) and one Neutral, and no earth connectors. So I've got 6 wires but only 3 terminals to use.
I assume that the live wire from the fuse box cable (red) and the live wire from the water cylinder cable (brown) go into the 2 'L' connectors in the timer switch.
This leaves a single 'N' connector in the switch but do I attach the neutral wire from the fusebox cable or the one from the water cylinder cable?
Also what do I do with the unused earth wires and the single leftover neutral wire?
Many thanks
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Cable from your fuse board (red) goes into the live in connection. The cable from your water heater (brown) goes into the live out connection.
Both neutral want to be connected into your neutral connection and connect both earths into a connector block
Assuming I read this correctly this will allow you to press your elkay timer switch and power up your heating for a set time according to what you set your dil switches to.
Hi. You are correct in terms of the live cores, they will go in the incoming and outgoing L terminals respectively. The neutrals go together in the singular N terminal, and the earths must be connected together using a piece of block or wago connector. Ensure the supply to the circuit is properly isolated before working on it
There's not enough information to give acurate answer.
Are the 3 core wires red , black, green/ yellow or Red, Blue, Yellow.
It could be a 3 phase circuit, which is unlikley. Or the old switch has neutral terminal and new one dosent.
I think your best to get an electrician to take a look