woah! Danger present with BG outdoor light switch

[D00DY_T00DY]

Kinda interesting to see how the tide is turning with the neutrals in switches debate.

I thought everyone would be against it aswell

 

[Leesparkykent]

Schneider lisse range has a loop/neutral terminal as well.

 

[daveb]

seriously only the way to wire lights. The other way is completely wrong in my opinion!

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

seriously only the way to wire lights. The other way is completely wrong in my opinion!

I'm glad you're so passionate about the movement

Okay I'll stop.

 

[Toneyz]

We always used to 3 plate ceiling roses but started to feed switch for show houses then started to wire this way as when people moved in to their new home was taking ceiling rose down and making a pigs ear of installing their own fitting up like there have been on this forum.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

We always used to 3 plate ceiling roses but started to feed switch for show houses then started to wire this way as when people moved in to their new home was taking ceiling rose down and making a pigs ear of installing their own fitting up like there have been on this forum.

Much easier on 2nd fix as well. One cable at the fitting and just 2 wires in common rather than one and a connector block for neutrals.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Both methods have there advantages. When we do new builds 9/10 times the switch is fed. When doing rewires with a pendant in each room we normally 3 plate the light as less to get down to the switch.

 

[davesparks]

Thought i'd share this one that happened to me today....

Was wiring up a customer gazebo with BG weatherproof fittings (light switch, sockets, JB and mains board). Anyway, all went fine and was on to testing the circuits.... circuits all tested fine.

The lighting cables were terminated into a JB for the time being as the customer does not have the lights yet. So, once I had finished and just by chance i thought i would use my voltage pen on the connectors just to prove the light switch was off. Pen lit up but the switch was off? Scratched the head..... used my voltage tester and was getting 108 volts with the switch off!

The BG outfdoor light switch has a neon on it via a resitor on the lead between common and one way terminal..... guessed that this was the problem rather than a faulty switch so removed it which in turn completely removed all voltage when the switch was off.

Very dangerous if you were relying on the switch to isolate the power so thought i would share.

Anyone else come across this before??

Perfectly normal, it's the way these locator neons have worked for a long time, MK weatherproof are exactly the same along with others. The only time it will be a problem is when idiots who don't know how to safely isolate atttempt to work on it, and then they might just learn a lesson.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Neon power indicators are a trap for younger inexperienced electricians
But most experienced electricians know about them
So it surprises me you have not come across this before
the current levels are usually very small
but yes they can make LED's and even some CFL'S
produce a faint glow.

 

[DPG]

Perfectly normal, it's the way these locator neons have worked for a long time, MK weatherproof are exactly the same along with others. The only time it will be a problem is when idiots who don't know how to safely isolate atttempt to work on it, and then they might just learn a lesson.

About the sort of reply we've come to expect.

 

[HandySparks]

About the sort of reply we've come to expect.

Ha ha! True. davesparks doesn't believe in sugar-coating the truth.

 

[daveb]

think someone thinks he's more superior than the rest of us on here

 

[Dave OCD]

I think I started wiring lighting looping feeds through switches around 20 years ago, probably more. At the time older sparks would frown upon it saying people could connect sockets etc from a light switch but times have changed.

 

[Rpa07]

A single socket at 1200 - sounds like a dream, no bending down ever again!

 

[Dave OCD]

Both methods have there advantages. When we do new builds 9/10 times the switch is fed. When doing rewires with a pendant in each room we normally 3 plate the light as less to get down to the switch.

What I find easier still for rewiring ground floor lights Lee is a central JB with a cable from each light,switch and the supply back to it. A proper old fashioned method but of course I'd use a maintenance free box with Wagos or Ideal push in connectors and glands. If it's a normal adaptable box I might write 'MF' on it.

 

[Dave OCD]

A single socket at 1200 - sounds like a dream, no bending down ever again!

Always used to say 4' 6" or 't!t height' for light switches.

 

[daveb]

arghhhhh!!!....... i've come across one of these on a job a couple of times. They've been called an "octopus box". Complete nightmare trying to suss them out!!!

 

[Dave OCD]

arghhhhh!!!....... i've come across one of these on a job a couple of times. They've been called an "octopus box". Complete nightmare trying to suss them out!!!

They're ok if done methodically and neatly Dave, I'd also put a label at the CU detailing the location and method used, it could be in an upstairs cupboard if available rather than under the floor.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

Always used to say 4' 6" or 't!t height' for light switches.

Shins to ----. There's ya zones.

arghhhhh!!!....... i've come across one of these on a job a couple of times. They've been called an "octopus box". Complete nightmare trying to suss them out!!!

Spider method. Seen a few spots wired like that. Never a full floor!

 

[davesparks]

arghhhhh!!!....... i've come across one of these on a job a couple of times. They've been called an "octopus box". Complete nightmare trying to suss them out!!!

Why s nightmare? Lighting circuits are very simple to work out, it's just a few switches and lights.
If you find a central JB on a lighting circuit to be a complete nightmare then how on earth do you cope with simple control systems?