What Is a Switch Wire

A 2-wire system includes two wires – Live and Switched Live. … The brown wire is Live (also know as permanent live), this brings the live supply to the switch. The blue wire is known as the Switched Live and takes power to the light. Switched Live is only live when the switch is on (this is where it gets its name from).

What wires do you need for switch?

Three wires will be attached to your switch: a hot (black) wire, a neutral (white) wire and a ground (copper) wire.

Do you switch the live or neutral?

Hello, the switch should always break the live/hot connection or both live & neutral (double pole switch). Failing to break the live connection means that the light or appliance still has mains voltage when it is switched off, potentially a life threatening situation.