Neutrals in light switch

[Dazza]

I was wondering what folks do with their neutrals when three plating at switch? I've been using wagos, but I was chatting to another sparks and he was saying that he had been pulled up for not securing the neutral in the box. What are people's thoughts?

 

[trev]

Crikey! WTH is wrong with tape? Far cheaper
Hi Ho Silver Away

 

[Amp David]

I've always use the good old choc block.

- - - Updated - - -

How are you to secure any connection other than the cpc in a back box anyway

 

[iamelectric]

wagos is a good call you wont get much better than that , if a got pulled for tha i would tell them too F off

 

[Silly Sausage]

What about the 3rd core in an intermediate switch?!
My response would be the same as iamelectric's.

 

[staggie65]

I use wago too. No probs

 

[DL electrician]

Been using these...

http://www.hager.co.uk/products/wiring-accessories/sollysta/unique-neutral-loop-terminal/12367.htm

 

[telectrix]

Been using these...

Hager - sollysta

posh git!

 

[telectrix]

Been using these...

Hager - sollysta

posh git! should stick 'em in L2. give the tester a headache.

 

[DL electrician]

A thing of the future! Although apparently Hager have patented it!

No floating connections in my switches....! (dust's dirt of shoulder)

 

[shagbite]

you could always crimp them, though you'd only be able to do this once or twice. personally, i'd just choc 'em.

 

[amo]

never had any issues with a choc block. inspectors have checked and given the green light

 

[telectrix]

nothing in BS7671 against wagos or choc blocks. bet there's something against in the niceic rules though.

 

[Silly Sausage]

nothing in BS7671 against wagos or choc blocks. bet there's something against in the niceic rules though.

Oh well, in that case, I stand corrected! :smilielol5:

 

[Engineer54]

I don't have the need, as i've never looped through the switches and never will!!

 

[Guest55]

this all sounds very familiar.......... :-/

 

[tom79bmth]

nothing in BS7671 against wagos or choc blocks. bet there's something against in the niceic rules though.

That means it will be time for a new niceic book ching ching

 

[Guest55]

only a complete effing moron would spend money on a nic publication.

the famous 5 go camping series is more factually correct.

=_=

 

[Olec]

Choccy wocky doo daa for me

 

[7029 dave]

This was a grey area many years ago, from memory my old college tutors and sparkies, said never have neutrals in back of switch box, have done it myself a few times.If I did a job and it got knocked back I would fit a 20amp dp switch.

 

[Octopus]

Wagos for me - as long as the box is 25 or 35mm!

 

[Engineer54]

This was a grey area many years ago, from memory my old college tutors and sparkies, said never have neutrals in back of switch box, have done it myself a few times.If I did a job and it got knocked back I would fit a 20amp dp switch.

Nothing against a neutral in the switch back box, but only as and when it's required. Looping a complete circuit through switch boxes is another matter altogether!

 

[7029 dave]

Forgive me all, been out of contracting a long time now, never heard of the term wagos,is that crimps? cheers Dave

 

[trev]

Just for you 7029Dave. I'm sure you can figure them out mate.

 

[iamelectric]

google it they are the best thing since sliced bread

 

[iamelectric]

i cant remember the make but i was in cef the other day and another company has ripped off the idea

 

[trev]

google it they are the best thing since sliced bread

Before sliced bread what was the best thing?

 

[7029 dave]

Thanx trev never seen em, used use the blue and red tubes with crimpin tool you know the ones I mean!!

 

[trev]

These things are much easier Dave.

 

[telectrix]

push in for solid or stranded cables e.g. 1.5mm, 2.5mm. lever type for flexes. just bear in mind that they're not like choc blocks where you fit L,N, and E in. they're called 2 pole, 3 pole etc., but should be called 2 port etc.

 

[iamelectric]

starts getting expensive when wiring 3 phase , 5 wagos thats about 2 quid 5 bits of connector block 50p

 

[trev]

starts getting expensive when wiring 3 phase , 5 wagos thats about 2 quid 5 bits of connector block 50p

5 bits of tape, priceless

 

[Sharpend]

So using insulated tape on the neutrals to separate them from the earths when fixing in the rear of backbox is wrong?????

 

[amlu]

no need for tape with wagos

 

[Adam W]

I don't have the need, as i've never looped through the switches and never will!!

I suppose in that case the question would be "how do you connect the live loop in a fitting where there the manufacturer has made no provision for it?"

 

[Sharpend]

But the assessor asked for the neutrals to be fixed to back box. Wago won't achieve this!

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Nothing against a neutral in the switch back box, but only as and when it's required. Looping a complete circuit through switch boxes is another matter altogether!

Presumably you also have nothing against looping a perm live through a 3 plate light as long as it's required......oh,it isn't though is it?....

 

[amlu]

if assesor wants to be pain then get some self adhesive cable tie mounts (toolstation stocks it),
fix them into boxes using a screw each and hold the wires with a cable tie.

 

[Amp David]

But the assessor asked for the neutrals to be fixed to back box. Wago won't achieve this!

Grip fill, super glue or even velcro.

Why use any kind of tape to wrap the choc block, if you aint got strands hangin out then you'll be reet

 

[Adam W]

Before sliced bread what was the best thing?

Beer? Cheese?
I would say those two are much better than sliced bread, in fact sliced bread is pretty rubbish in comparison.
I think 'the best thing since sliced bread' relates to 'the best thing in recent times' rather than 'the best thing ever', otherwise people would compare things to 'the best thing since beer'.

 

[Adam W]

But the assessor asked for the neutrals to be fixed to back box. Wago won't achieve this!

In accordance with which reg?
The lives aren't fixed to the backbox either, the terminals in the switch are fixed to the switchplate, not the backbox. Until you screw the plate back they're in a similar predicament to neutrals in a bit of terminal block or a wago.
The reason cpcs are terminated in the backbox is to earth the backbox, not because they need to be secured; if I were terminating cpcs in a plastic backbox with a plastic switchplate I'd have no problem terminating those in a bit of connector block or wago as well.

 

[shagbite]

it sounds like your assessor's been sniffing the conduit adhesive.

 

[telectrix]

don't they thread conduit anymore?

 

[Dazza]

As mentioned, I couldn't think of a reg that prohibited a neutral in a switch box. The point made about fixing to cable tie base is a valid one at least the neutrals are attached to a fixed point. As also mentioned I think the schemes like to think up these things so they can at least pick us up on something in our assessments!

 

[telectrix]

I think the schemes like to think up these things so they can at least pick us up on something in our assessments!

got it in one! BS7671 rewritten by scam providers.

 

[iamelectric]

i answered this thread on the forth post y is it still going TELL HIM TO F OFF

 

[MDJ]

To make the thread more interesting----------------I always wire feed and neutrals to the switches and only have switch wires and neutrals at lights, I wago the connections in the switch boxes and also always use a minimum 10 amp rated switch in domestic situations, pick the bones out of that :smilielol5:

 

[iamelectric]

always handy to have a neutral at the switch

 

[jamesBoater]

Maybe the assessor should be asked where in BS7671 it says what he/she is asking. How can they pick you up on what is just their personal opinion?

 

[Darkwood]

Ironic that there are thousands of so called qualified spakies out there doing poor work and all this assessor seems to be fussed about is something that is neither against BS7671 nor IMHO of any concern if in a suitable connector etc.... looks like they are trying to justify the extortionate charges the command.