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Strange 2-way wiring

Discuss Strange 2-way wiring in the Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations area at ElectriciansForums.net

J

Judd

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Came across some bizarre wiring for a 2-way recently in a old house. Anyone ever seen this before? Was this ever the done thing many moons ago? (Sorry for the rough sketch)[ElectriciansForums.net] Strange 2-way wiring
 
So the lamp gets,
L - N or
L - L or
L - N or
N - N

Interesting, but I've never seen or heard of it.
Maybe goes back to the days of D.C, especially as you've labelled it + / -
 
There's several ways a 2-way system can be wired and this is one of them. It will work fine but it's unorthodox.
 
530.3.2 ..... In single-phase circuits an independently operated single-pole switching or protective device shall not be inserted in the neutral conductor alone.

 
Shoei said:
530.3.2 ..... In single-phase circuits an independently operated single-pole switching or protective device shall not be inserted in the neutral conductor alone.
Click to expand...
Hmm, sounds like a grey area to me. By the letter of that reg as it's written the switching arrangement in the OP would be fine. If the reg said 'operate' instead of 'inserted' then it would apply but both live and neutral are 'inserted' so it could be argued it doesn't apply.
 
Was shown this wiring diagram over 30 years ago when an electrician asked how many two switching I could draw. I could draw a couple but not this one. I'm impressed it is out there. It does work. It would confuse today's electricians. So it obviously exists out there.
 
I've seen this method twice, all wired in single red wires one to each switch insulated and sheathed
don't know if there is a proper name for it both properties wired in sixties I think

I was a new spark when I came across it 18 years ago and it did confuse me a bit as I was supposed to just fit a jb and change to a couple of downlights
And of course didn't see anything like this at college
 
potentially dangerous as when both switches are with common switched to L, the light is off, so Mr. layman would think it was safe to stick his sausage fingers in there.
 
Hi

This is a functional montage. Some electricians do it to save wires from common poles between the two SPDT switches. So instead of having two wires between each switch, a live wire to the lamp and a neutral, you need only two wires for the lamp support terminal. Bear in mind that there is a need to have L and N inside each surface mounted electrical box (pvc/...) to feed the switches. When this is not appropriate /possible they use the wiring you have in your head.


Dj
 
Marvo said:
Hmm, sounds like a grey area to me. By the letter of that reg as it's written the switching arrangement in the OP would be fine. If the reg said 'operate' instead of 'inserted' then it would apply but both live and neutral are 'inserted' so it could be argued it doesn't apply.
Click to expand...
My thought is the intention of the reg is the N not be disconnected unless its coordinated with the L being disconnected, as per DP switching. Whereas the drawing allows N to be disconnected when L is continuous.
 
Judd said:
Yes I'm sure, why do you ask?
Click to expand...

When I was an apprentice, (many, many moons ago) we used to run a twin red/black between switches, live down to one switch and switchwire to the other switch. Don't think my boss had heard of 3c & earth :D
 

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