Neutrals at switches

[Guest 004]

Went to a job today, twin and earth, and it had been wired 2 plate, which of course meant that all the switches had the neutral taken to them.

WTF, if I had done that in my apprenticeship I would have been kicked off site.

Is this how things are done now, god I hope not.

 

[londonlec]

Whats wrong with it then?

 

[Adam W]

It's a more convenient way of wiring downlighters, wall lights, or any other fitting without a 3 plate rose.
That said I'm not too keen on doing that in houses if I can help it.

 

[Engineer54]

Why not ask yourself ''what's right with it'' ??? Unless there is an actual need for a neutral at the switch point, then there shouldn't be any neutral conductors there, really very simples!! lol!!!

 

[malcolmsanford]

It;s been done like this for years..................agreed I was taught loop in/out at the ceiling and that is considered the norm, but would have no problems with an installtion done with neutrals in a switch ...........

Is there a reason you don't like it?

 

[Mr Mike]

Some new switches available where the neutrals can be made off at the switch. Not sure what make they are

 

[RWJ]

Some new switches available where the neutrals can be made off at the switch. Not sure what make they are

Hager I think

 

[Engineer54]

It;s been done like this for years..................agreed I was taught loop in/out at the ceiling and that is considered the norm, but would have no problems with an installtion done with neutrals in a switch ...........

Is there a reason you don't like it?

If there's no need for a neutral at the switch, then No i don't like it. A lot of this looping neutrals at the switch is more by laziness than for any real need. If you were wiring an outside light , fine bring a neutral to the switch. For down lighters, what's wrong with keeping the neutral conductor in the ceiling void??

 

[RWJ]

It's the Hager Sollysta Range

sollysta White Moulded Hager


Although I doesn't mention it on the website it is in the PDF brochure.... PAGE 9

http://download.hager.com/hager.uk/files_download/general_catalogue/7_sollysta.pdf

 

[Guest 004]

I don't like neutrals at switches if they are not needed, and you will have to block it, which I totally disagree with.

 

[londonlec]

Its much easier and safer making off terminations at switch height as opposed to hanging off steps ten foot in the air.

 

[Electricalserv]

Never came across this....anyone got any pictures of how its done? Doesn't sound good to me...

 

[malcolmsanford]

Its much easier and safer making off terminations at switch height as opposed to hanging off steps ten foot in the air.

I was just writing that. As I said I was taught the conventional way, but there as been many a time when you have a loop in, loop out, and S/l/live up in a ceiling rose, where I wish there was just the one cable there, and I can mess about at the switch doing this.

 

[Engineer54]

Its much easier and safer making off terminations at switch height as opposed to hanging off steps ten foot in the air.

As i said ...more laziness than any real need for a neutral in a switch box...

 

[Electricalserv]

I was just writing that. As I said I was taught the conventional way, but there as been many a time when you have a loop in, loop out, and S/l/live up in a ceiling rose, where I wish there was just the one cable there, and I can mess about at the switch doing this.

Is it o.k takeing a Zs measurement at the switch though......

 

[Adam W]

For down lighters, what's wrong with keeping the neutral conductor in the ceiling void??

Why not ask yourself ''what's right with it'' ??? If you don't loop the neutral at the switch you'd have to loop the live at one of the downlighers.... But which one?

 

[aptsys]

IMO it works better, especially when you consider that a lot of decorative light fittings make no allowance for loop-in at the rose. I can't see how you could consider it lazy though, if anything it is more work.

 

[Electricalserv]

I have never ever seen this....Is it really so common....I was always taught loop in ceiling rose.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Is it o.k takeing a Zs measurement at the switch though......

You still have the CPC at the light, all you have is the S/L and Neutral and CPC. So even with the 2 plate system I would do the Zs at the light fitting.

 

[High Tower]

If there's no need for a neutral at the switch, then No i don't like it. A lot of this looping neutrals at the switch is more by laziness than for any real need. If you were wiring an outside light , fine bring a neutral to the switch. For down lighters, what's wrong with keeping the neutral conductor in the ceiling void??

Yeah cracking idea!, loop the Neutral in a JB or some other nastiness and then hide it somewhere in the ceiling void! top idea that