Some of the instruction manuals from the Far East take some beating for their "unique" use of English. Some of their translations are quite hilarious!
"crown connection", "step connection", "neutral clips" and "ignition wire"?
Ignition wire makes me think of the H.T. leads used in a car. Staying with the automotive train of thought, I wonder if they're using
crown connection to mean some sort of master lead or main connection. The main H.T. from a car's coil to the distributor is often called the "King lead" in English, and I believe that some languages use the same word for King/Queen/Crown.
What do you call the wire going from a switch to the lamp? Switch return wire?
Switch return, or switch loop, or switched feed. There doesn't seem to be any consensus on a single term.
What do you call a wire going between 2-way switches? Traveler?
Correct. British usage more commonly uses the spelling
traveller, but either is acceptable.
Is "intermediate switch" the proper British term for a 4-way switch?
Yes.
What do you call a switch with two buttons?
Do you mean a single switch operated by separate on and an off buttons, or two switches on a single plate each with its own toggle or rocker?
What do you call a terminal on a socket outlet or switch that isn't connected to anything? (You just use it as a connector)
These aren't really found on British devices.
Spare terminal would be as good a term as any. If it's any help, in electronics work spare pins on a tube base or integrated circuit are often labeled NC, meaning No Connection. (Unfortunately, the N.C., n.c. n/c etc. marking on a relay refers to the normally closed contact.)
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 08-25-2003).]