Might be a silly question this but is there a standard convention
concerning the routing of wires in a house? I would like info
specifically on light switches; so if I am looking at a light switch
in my lounge, would the wires go straight up, straight down or what?
Are the upstairs switches different? My house has a concrete floor so
the wiring cannot go under the floorboards - don't know if that makes
a difference or not.

The reason I ask is that I need to do some drilling and although I
will use a cable detector first, I would like to avoid any obvious
pitfalls.

Many thanx,

Andy.

"Andy" wrote
| Might be a silly question this but is there a standard convention
| concerning the routing of wires in a house?

Yes. But don't rely on it :-)

| I would like info specifically on light switches; so if I am looking
| at a light switch in my lounge, would the wires go straight up,
| straight down or what?

Wires may be run

horizontal or vertical from an accessory
or
within 150 mm of the top (but not the bottom) of a wall
or
within 150 mm of the angle formed by two adjoining walls

Cables may be run diagonally but must then be protected eg being in conduit
or having an earthed metal sheath eg mineral insulated cable.

Owain

On 14 Jul 2003 12:16:33 -0700, (Andy) wrote:

Might be a silly question this but is there a standard convention
concerning the routing of wires in a house? I would like info
specifically on light switches; so if I am looking at a light switch
in my lounge, would the wires go straight up, straight down or what?
Are the upstairs switches different? My house has a concrete floor so
the wiring cannot go under the floorboards - don't know if that makes
a difference or not.

The convention, for what it is worth, is straight up or straight down.
Except where the electrician has been inventive.

Downstairs light and socket fittings are invariably dropped from above
in my experience - but that doesn't mean they should be in every case.
Upstairs is pretty much the same game plan.

But use that metal detector to make sure!

Andrew

Do you need a handyman service? Check out our
web site at http://www.handymac.co.uk

(Andy) wrote in
om:

I would like info
specifically on light switches; so if I am looking at a light switch
in my lounge, would the wires go straight up, straight down or what?
Are the upstairs switches different? My house has a concrete floor so
the wiring cannot go under the floorboards - don't know if that makes
a difference or not.

Yes, the wires will go straight up, (0r possibly down if the floor's not
concrete, check how they leave the back box) and so should all fittings; I
believe some short horizontal runs are allowed for spurs etc, but I don't
know the regs.

Try not to be a silly billy like me when fitting wall lights and nearly
drill through the cables because I somehow forgot - it was a daft place to
put a mounting hole anyhow!

Mike R

In message ,
"Owain" wrote:

"Andy" wrote
| Might be a silly question this but is there a standard convention
| concerning the routing of wires in a house?

Yes. But don't rely on it :-)

| I would like info specifically on light switches; so if I am looking
| at a light switch in my lounge, would the wires go straight up,
| straight down or what?

Wires may be run

horizontal or vertical from an accessory
or
within 150 mm of the top (but not the bottom) of a wall
or
within 150 mm of the angle formed by two adjoining walls

Cables may be run diagonally but must then be protected eg being in conduit
or having an earthed metal sheath eg mineral insulated cable.

Owain

Or at least, they *should* do (On Site Guide fig 7.3.2 p53). Don't take
it for granted that they actually do, especially if any previous owner
has done work on the system.

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove (it's Cornish for "Smith") - ARM/Digital SA110 RPC
See the Aber Valley -- http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/abervalley.html
.... The surest way to be late is to have plenty of time.

"Owain" wrote in message ...
"Andy" wrote
| Might be a silly question this but is there a standard convention
| concerning the routing of wires in a house?

Yes. But don't rely on it :-)

| I would like info specifically on light switches; so if I am looking
| at a light switch in my lounge, would the wires go straight up,
| straight down or what?

Wires may be run

horizontal or vertical from an accessory
or
within 150 mm of the top (but not the bottom) of a wall
or
within 150 mm of the angle formed by two adjoining walls

Cables may be run diagonally but must then be protected eg being in conduit
or having an earthed metal sheath eg mineral insulated cable.

Owain

Can anyone tell me the reasoning for this? I can understand no
diagonals unless shielded, but is it just so people can make an
educated guess about where the wires are?

And also, why not in the bottom 150mm? Is it to protect against
flooding?? If so, I would have though you would be in enough trouble
anyway if the water got even close to there and the cables were run
under the floorboards!!

David.

In message ,
(David) wrote:

"Owain" wrote in message ...
"Andy" wrote
| Might be a silly question this but is there a standard convention
| concerning the routing of wires in a house?

Yes. But don't rely on it :-)

| I would like info specifically on light switches; so if I am looking
| at a light switch in my lounge, would the wires go straight up,
| straight down or what?

Wires may be run

horizontal or vertical from an accessory
or
within 150 mm of the top (but not the bottom) of a wall
or
within 150 mm of the angle formed by two adjoining walls

Cables may be run diagonally but must then be protected eg being in conduit
or having an earthed metal sheath eg mineral insulated cable.

Owain

Can anyone tell me the reasoning for this? I can understand no
diagonals unless shielded, but is it just so people can make an
educated guess about where the wires are?

Probably. I think there used to be a requirement to protect all cables
buried in plaster, but now, so long as you stay within the guidelines
you can bury them "bare".

And also, why not in the bottom 150mm? Is it to protect against
flooding?? If so, I would have though you would be in enough trouble
anyway if the water got even close to there and the cables were run
under the floorboards!!



Probably to avoid skirting board nails being hammered through your ring
main every 3 ft. :-)

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove (it's Cornish for "Smith") - ARM/Digital SA110 RPC
See the Aber Valley -- http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/abervalley.html
.... Psychoceramics: The study of crackpots.