Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end is
marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the top?
I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has two and
I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a reason I
can't install it upside down?

TIA

On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end is
marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the top?
I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has two and
I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a reason I
can't install it upside down?

TIA

Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2 way)

In message , nicknoxx
writes
On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end is
marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the top?
I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has two and
I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a reason I
can't install it upside down?

TIA

Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2 way)

That was much first response, but Fred says 'patress box' not switch.

So no, I can't see any reason not to mount it the way he wants.
--
Chris French

nicknoxx wrote:
On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end is
marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the top?
I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has two and
I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a reason I
can't install it upside down?

TIA

Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2 way)

He's talking about the backbox, not the switch. You can fit the switch
on the backbox either way up.

Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end is
marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the top?
I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has two and
I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a reason I
can't install it upside down?

TIA

There's no obvious reason why the manufacturer elected to print "top" on
the architrave patress. You can mount it either way up, unless Crebtree
live in a strange universe where you can only mount the switch one way
up relative to the patress.

Basically, if you can mount the switch either way (which I expect you
can) then you can mount the patress either way.

Dave Osborne wrote:
nicknoxx wrote:
On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end
is marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the
top? I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has
two and I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a
reason I can't install it upside down?

TIA

Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2 way)

He's talking about the backbox, not the switch. You can fit the switch
on the backbox either way up.

I am not sure that you can on the Crabtree ones! Zoom in on the picture and
look at the lug under the earth tag
http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=29025

I don't have one to check it with.

Unless you are fitting a retractive switch then it really does not matter as
you will use a 2 way switch
--
Adam

ARWadsworth wrote:
Dave Osborne wrote:
nicknoxx wrote:
On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end
is marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the
top? I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has
two and I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a
reason I can't install it upside down?

TIA
Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2 way)
He's talking about the backbox, not the switch. You can fit the switch
on the backbox either way up.

I am not sure that you can on the Crabtree ones! Zoom in on the picture and
look at the lug under the earth tag
http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=29025


Ah, well spotted. As you say though, with a two way switch and a one way
circuit, the problem can be overcome by installing both the patress and
the switch upside down.

Dave Osborne wrote:
ARWadsworth wrote:
Dave Osborne wrote:
nicknoxx wrote:
On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end
is marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at
the top? I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the
bottom has two and I would like to drop two cables through the
top. Is there a reason I can't install it upside down?

TIA
Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2
way)
He's talking about the backbox, not the switch. You can fit the
switch on the backbox either way up.

I am not sure that you can on the Crabtree ones! Zoom in on the
picture and look at the lug under the earth tag
http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=29025


Ah, well spotted. As you say though, with a two way switch and a one
way circuit, the problem can be overcome by installing both the
patress and the switch upside down.

Or an angle grinder on the lug!

--
Adam

In message , ARWadsworth
writes
Dave Osborne wrote:
nicknoxx wrote:
On 01/11/2010 10:58, Fred wrote:
Hi,

I have a crabtree patress box for an architrave switch and one end
is marked "top". Is there any reason it has to have this end at the
top? I ask because the top only has one cable entry; the bottom has
two and I would like to drop two cables through the top. Is there a
reason I can't install it upside down?

TIA

Because the switch will be 'on' in the 'off' position? (unless 2 way)

He's talking about the backbox, not the switch. You can fit the switch
on the backbox either way up.

I am not sure that you can on the Crabtree ones! Zoom in on the picture and
look at the lug under the earth tag
http://nextday.diy.com/app/jsp/product/productPage.jsp?productId=29025

Ah yes, could be.
--
Chris French

On Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00:24 +0000, Dave Osborne
wrote:

if you can mount the switch either way (which I expect you
can) then you can mount the patress either way.

Thanks for all the replies. I have mounted the box upside down. The
lug is a bit of a red herring, it does not foul the switch, so it
seems the switch can be fitted in either direction.

TBH I'm not sure which way up my switch is fitted, I didn't realise
until today that they had an "up" and a "down".

I can understand the need to have a top on other switches (e.g. FCU or
20A switch) that have a red bar painted on the rocker or the word "ON"
to show that the switch is on but I've never seen a light switch with
either of those markings; if wired 2-way, either position could be on
or off on a light switch. Perhaps it's just cheaper for carabtree to
print "top" on the backs of all their accessories whether they need it
or not?

I've also fitted a crabtree 3-gang light switch this afternoon. I
carefully trimmed some of the wires longer than others, only to find
that the switch had "top" marked onto it and I had trimmed the wires
to suit it the other way around. I was going to ask does it matter if
I install the switch upside down to save me re-doing the wires but
from the answers given already, it seems I will be fine to do so,
which I have done.

Thanks.

On Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00:24 +0000 Dave Osborne wrote :
There's no obvious reason why the manufacturer elected to print "top" on
the architrave patress.

It saves numpties phoning them up to ask which way up the box goes!

--
Tony Bryer, Greentram: 'Software to build on' Melbourne, Australia
www.superbeam.co.uk www.eurobeam.co.uk www.greentram.com

Also some foreign parts reverse our convention for light switches