Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth.
The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway |
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Dec 26, 5:34*pm, PeterC wrote:
I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway Why would you need a neutral at the light switch? |
#3
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
harry wrote:
On Dec 26, 5:34 pm, PeterC wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway Why would you need a neutral at the light switch? To provide a neutral for the new light fitting? -- Adam |
#4
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
PeterC wrote:
I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? Yes. -- Adam |
#5
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Dec 26, 5:34*pm, PeterC wrote:
I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? Yes, its normal practice. It beats using an enormous pith ball. NT |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Dec 26, 5:34*pm, PeterC wrote:
I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway Or if it's easier, just run an extra single blue (6181y double insulated) http://www.meteorelectrical.com/cabl...00m-coils.html You could run it via the light switch, or just directly to the new light fitting. A |
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:23:19 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote:
I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. Why would you need a neutral at the light switch? To provide a neutral for the new light fitting? I'm struggling to understand what is different about the fitting that it requires a neutral. Don't all fittings require a neutral? How do those that don't, work? I suspect it has just two terminals marked L and N and the OP has got confused. Fitting are not normally marked at all. -- Cheers Dave. |
#8
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Dec 26, 10:13*pm, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote: On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:23:19 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. Why would you need a neutral at the light switch? To provide a neutral for the new light fitting? I'm struggling to understand what is different about the fitting that it requires a neutral. Don't all fittings require a neutral? How do those that don't, work? I suspect it has just two terminals marked L and N and the OP has got confused. Fitting are not normally marked at all. -- Cheers Dave. Yes, I agree - and to go one further I would say that if the OP really doesn't understand about wiring lights and their associated switches, then he shouldn't be doing it. I did think of extending this comment to say how it should be done, but that lays me open to the legal responsibility of the OP misinterpreting the guidance. Rob |
#9
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On 26/12/2011 22:13, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:23:19 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. Why would you need a neutral at the light switch? To provide a neutral for the new light fitting? I'm struggling to understand what is different about the fitting that it requires a neutral. Don't all fittings require a neutral? How do those that don't, work? I suspect it has just two terminals marked L and N and the OP has got confused. Fitting are not normally marked at all. a light fitting will need a neutral, a light switch won't unless it has a neon indicator or suchlike. Nevertheless, a neutral may well pass through the switch back-box on the way to the fitting. -- Graham. %Profound_observation% |
#11
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:32:59 +0000, Graham. wrote:
On 26/12/2011 22:13, Dave Liquorice wrote: On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:23:19 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. Why would you need a neutral at the light switch? To provide a neutral for the new light fitting? I'm struggling to understand what is different about the fitting that it requires a neutral. Don't all fittings require a neutral? How do those that don't, work? I suspect it has just two terminals marked L and N and the OP has got confused. Fitting are not normally marked at all. a light fitting will need a neutral, a light switch won't unless it has a neon indicator or suchlike. Nevertheless, a neutral may well pass through the switch back-box on the way to the fitting. Pecisely! This fitting, as I said, has 2 wires and is effectively hard wired (it actually has a lead of about 2m with a plug for the fitting, so the bare ends need L & N - simples!). The nearest N is in the ceiling, so too far away for the supplied lead, but the lead will reach the switch so passing a N through will do the trick. All I want to do is get the N to the switch. -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway |
#12
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:24:15 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote:
PeterC wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? Yes. Thank you! -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway |
#13
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
PeterC wrote:
On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:24:15 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote: PeterC wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? Yes. Thank you! And good practice is to use the grey wire with blue sleeving as the neutral. -- Adam |
#14
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Need a neutral to a light switch
On Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:14:35 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote:
PeterC wrote: On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:24:15 -0000, ARWadsworth wrote: PeterC wrote: I've a light fitting to wire in that has just L and N - no Earth. The 1-way, 1-gang switch is in a convenient position (! - had to happen eventually) but there's no neutral. I'll replace the switch with a 2-way 2-gang plate and wire the new light into that. Would it be OK to replace the switch cable from the existing ceiling rose with flat 3 & E and use one of the wires as N, suitably marked of course? Yes. Thank you! And good practice is to use the grey wire with blue sleeving as the neutral. Cheers Adam. I was about to check which it should be but as grey is the least related to normal wiring colours that did seem logical. -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Converting SINGLE light switch to MULTIPLE light switch usingWIRELESS control? | Home Repair | |||
Use ground as neutral on a switch | Home Repair | |||
New light fitting - Live and Neutral wire question | UK diy | |||
Lighting circuit...switch live or neutral | UK diy | |||
how to rewire bathroom pull switch to regular light switch | UK diy |