intermediate switching

[spirited away]

planning on having some two way switching put in but controlled from four places so will need to have intermediate switches I'm planning on controlling six rooms from different places inside a house so can turn downstairs room lights on from upstairs so not only two way switches but intermediate switches in between needs installing that would mean six pairs of strappers at each intermediate switch using 1.5mm three core and earth now the question is would that be too many cables at the intermediate switches or would it be ok planning all this work for security and wife's peace of mind.
many thanks for any advice.

 

[7029 dave]

Deep boxes, as long as the strappers an common are continuous 100 switches fire away.

 

[buzzlightyear]

planning on having some two way switching put in but controlled from four places so will need to have intermediate switches I'm planning on controlling six rooms from different places inside a house so can turn downstairs room lights on from upstairs so not only two way switches but intermediate switches in between needs installing that would mean six pairs of strappers at each intermediate switch using 1.5mm three core and earth now the question is would that be too many cables at the intermediate switches or would it be ok planning all this work for security and wife's peace of mind.

IMO I think you should get a spark in to see if possible it can be done .

 

[spirited away]

thank you for quick replying I've been doing electrics for 42 years and never blown a fuse i thought i would double check that there would be too many cables in the one switch.

 

[Tony Reidy]

planning on having some two way switching put in but controlled from four places so will need to have intermediate switches I'm planning on controlling six rooms from different places inside a house so can turn downstairs room lights on from upstairs so not only two way switches but intermediate switches in between needs installing that would mean six pairs of strappers at each intermediate switch using 1.5mm three core and earth now the question is would that be too many cables at the intermediate switches or would it be ok planning all this work for security and wife's peace of mind.
many thanks for any advice.

 

[Tony Reidy]

thank you for quick replying I've been doing electrics for 42 years and never blown a fuse i thought i would double check that there would be too many cables in the one switch.

Madness, just get plug in sockets connected to your phone(various types) and plug in table lamps

 

[Charlie_]

Why do you need 3 cores for intermediates, can you do it with twin instead?
1 mm instead of 1.5 ?

Have you considered using technology?
Loads of options available, rf switches are probably the cheapest and easiest option..
Or if you have loads of money there is even better options

 

[spirited away]

Deep boxes, as long as the strappers an common are continuous 100 switches fire away.

I'm thinking of using 35mm back boxes do you think they will be deep enough.

 

[spirited away]

Madness, just get plug in sockets connected to your phone(various types) and plug in table lamps

have to go down this route health condition prevents me from having a mobile phone and because of wife's mental illness she wants to be able to turn the main light on before entering the room. Thanks for replying

 

[7029 dave]

I'm thinking of using 35mm back boxes do you think they will be deep enough.

I would say so.

 

[spirited away]

thank you for all the brilliant reply's.

 

[Charlie_]

Would the position of the switch be an issue to your wife?
For instance, due to the amount of switches one could appear to be in the on position when it is a actually off..

 

[telectrix]

i think some form of smart switching would be the answer.maybe quinetic? or remote control?

 

[Risteard]

As alluded to above, three core & Earth cable is not necessary for two-way and intermediate switching. Just don't wire it in the conversion method but use the traditional method.

 

[spirited away]

Would the position of the switch be an issue to your wife?
For instance, due to the amount of switches one could appear to be in the on position when it is a actually off..

no it wouldn't bother her because she would see if the light was on or not.

 

[Charlie_]

Oh ok, I thought she was going to be switching downstairs rooms on from upstairs

 

[Tony Reidy]

As alluded to above, three core & Earth cable is not necessary for two-way and intermediate switching. Just don't wire it in the conversion method but use the traditional method.

But watch out for the borrowed neutral

 

[Charlie_]

But watch out for the borrowed neutral

I meant no 3 core so no permanent or sw live return..

 

[spirited away]

Oh ok, I thought she was going to be switching downstairs rooms on from upstairs

yes she would be doing that but mainly in the winter its more for security if I'm out and she thinks she can hear a noise downstairs she can turn lights on and frighten any one away.

 

[telectrix]

yes she would be doing that but mainly in the winter its more for security if I'm out and she thinks she can hear a noise downstairs she can turn lights on and frighten any one away.

a rampant rottweiler will do the job of frightening away.

 

[spirited away]

a rampant rottweiler will do the job of frightening away.

had one had to do the kindest thing she had massive cancer tumours. And was very soft.

 

[Tony Reidy]

As alluded to above, three core & Earth cable is not necessary for two-way and intermediate switching. Just don't wire it in the conversion method but use the traditional method.

But watch out for the borrowed neutral

yes she would be doing that but mainly in the winter its more for security if I'm out and she thinks she can hear a noise downstairs she can turn lights on and frighten any one away.

MK do a switch that connects to a sensor that you fit in the light fitting, no wiring multiple switching options, last time I bought one the sensor was about£50 and the switch was about £40. You could do this with all your lighting in the house no mess

 

[magnoliafan89]

As alluded to above, three core & Earth cable is not necessary for two-way and intermediate switching. Just don't wire it in the conversion method but use the traditional method.

I was only ever taught and shown the three core method so imagine my surprise when i come to an eicr last week to find twin and earth....absolutely baffled me until i called a switched on..pun intended colleague who educated me on the like

 

[Pete999]

I was only ever taught and shown the three core method so imagine my surprise when i come to an eicr last week to find twin and earth....absolutely baffled me until i called a switched on..pun intended colleague who educated me on the like

Nothing like being switched on is there?

 

[Risteard]

I was only ever taught and shown the three core method so imagine my surprise when i come to an eicr last week to find twin and earth....absolutely baffled me until i called a switched on..pun intended colleague who educated me on the like

I would think it's the most common way of it being wired here. The conversion method's not as popular here as in England.

 

[goasis]

I was only ever taught and shown the three core method so imagine my surprise when i come to an eicr last week to find twin and earth....absolutely baffled me until i called a switched on..pun intended colleague who educated me on the like

Same, Im going to have to think about this....!

 

[goasis]

I'm guessing... Jb or 3plated at light, perm live down to one switch in common, switched live down to common at other switch, 2 core s trappers between switches

 

[Charlie_]

Doesn’t even need to be 3 plate system..
Works same way with LN loop through switch method.. Saves having unnecessary wires and connectors in back boxes

 

[magnoliafan89]

I would think it's the most common way of it being wired here. The conversion method's not as popular here as in England.

It was annoying i drew it out and everything and kept saying logically....it should work....but i kept telling myself as i had never seen a two way without 3 core as strippers it had to be wrong...always good to keep on learning

 

[coolsparx]

I'm thinking of using 35mm back boxes do you think they will be deep enough.

Personally I would play safe & go for 46/47mm. Also why not 1.0mm?