I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.


Parts

:
I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.

Yes. In fact that seems to me to be the obvious and easiest way to wire
it up and I can't see why you've done it differently, or how proximity
is relevant, unless I'm missing something.

--
Mike Barnes

wrote in message
...
I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.


Parts

I would guess that despite you using a DP switch you have only used one
pole, the reason that the neon is not glowing is that it is wired between
the L and N on the switched side and you are probably lacking the neutral.

Peter

expressed precisely :
From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.

If I understand you correctly - yes. If you wire both L and N through
the switch and wire them at the correct ends of the switch, it should
light up when on.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

wrote:
I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.


Parts
What you can do with a neon is connect it across the switch and it would
glow when switch is off making it easy to find in the dark.

"F Murtz" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.


Parts
What you can do with a neon is connect it across the switch and it would
glow when switch is off making it easy to find in the dark.

If you want a neon to glow when the light is OFF and you are using an
incandescent bulb - just bridge the 2 contacts of a normal single pole
switch.

"John" wrote in message
...

"F Murtz" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.


Parts
What you can do with a neon is connect it across the switch and it would
glow when switch is off making it easy to find in the dark.

If you want a neon to glow when the light is OFF and you are using an
incandescent bulb - just bridge the 2 contacts of a normal single pole
switch.


Sorry - already said - and I meant to say bridge the contacts with the neon.
You used to be able to buy surround plates that fitted behind the switch and
incorporated a neon or an electroluminescent panel. I bet they are still
around.
Need to use a conventional bulb in the main light ideally to allow the neon
to 'get its neutral return path'

"John" wrote in message
...

"F Murtz" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I have just wired a couple of lamps in my loft over the garage. I have
taken the power from from a redundant power plug on the ceiling that
was put there for an electric garage door. I used a switch ( Marbo 20A
DP ) with a neon in the hope that this would glow when the loft lights
were on. it doesn't. The switch is located next to the power plug..

From reading I gather that neons dont glow in a single wire circuit ,
given the proximity of the power source would it possible to pass both
sides of the circuit through the two paths of the switch to achieve
a glowing neon.


Parts
What you can do with a neon is connect it across the switch and it would
glow when switch is off making it easy to find in the dark.

If you want a neon to glow when the light is OFF and you are using an
incandescent bulb - just bridge the 2 contacts of a normal single pole
switch.



Someone is capitalising on the idea:

http://www.litswitch.com/about/

"John" wrote in message
...



Someone is capitalising on the idea:

http://www.litswitch.com/about/
ooh I do like those..
--
Vass

You used to be able to buy surround plates that fitted behind the switch and
incorporated a neon or an electroluminescent panel.

Standard MK part:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK3041.html

IIRC, other manufacturers too.