Are these wires neutral?

Stevieg2 · Dec 4, 2018

I'm currently in the process of running neutral wires around my house to all the light switches so that i can install some of these new wifi smart switches to control all of my lighting.
One of my light switches has a black and a blue wire connected together separately from the switch shown in the attached photo.

How can i tell for sure if they are neutrals?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Are these wires neutral?

ferg · Dec 4, 2018

Basic test equipment and basic testing skills will identify the wires.

Stevieg2 · Dec 4, 2018

I've tried putting a multimeter to them and between live and the unidentified wires i get zero volts.

ferg said:
Basic test equipment and basic testing skills will identify the wires.

What would you suggest?

ruston · Dec 4, 2018

Time you have the switch off a tidy up would not go amiss

Stevieg2 · Dec 4, 2018

Dug out an old multimeter with longer wires to test the continuity between the switch and the light. Turns out they are neutral.

Win for me as i don't have to run a neutral to this switch now!

Silly Sausage · Dec 4, 2018

I'm curious on how you are going to run Neutrals everywhere.
(without ripping your house apart!

)

Stevieg2 · Dec 4, 2018

Archy Styrigg said:
I'm curious on how you are going to run Neutrals everywhere.
(without ripping your house apart! )

All the switches are on stud walls. Downstairs are close to the landing which I'm waiting to carpet and then upstairs I'm going to try running them down from the loft. Will be interesting to see if it is possible or not.

Silly Sausage · Dec 4, 2018

Ah, OK.
Trouble with stud walls is them damned noggins!

westward10 · Dec 4, 2018

What type of wiring are you using for these new neutrals.

Stevieg2 · Dec 4, 2018

westward10 said:
What type of wiring are you using for these new neutrals.

1.5mm single core cable

westward10 · Dec 4, 2018

They will require suitable enclosure/protection if they are not pvc/pvc insulated.

Stevieg2 · Dec 4, 2018

westward10 said:
They will require suitable enclosure/protection if they are not pvc/pvc insulated.

This should be ok.

westward10 · Dec 4, 2018

Yes but not 16.0, you can get 1.5 though but can be hard to source.

Risteard · Dec 4, 2018

westward10 said:
Yes but not 16.0, you can get 1.5 though but can be hard to source.

It's an off-the-shelf item here at wholesalers, though from what I gather is extremely uncommon in England.

Deleted account · Dec 4, 2018

Stevieg2 said:
This should be ok.

I've put a funny because I though you where joking. Now I've thought about it I'm not sure if you were!

MJPD29 · Dec 4, 2018

Risteard said:
It's an off-the-shelf item here at wholesalers, though from what I gather is extremely uncommon in England.

I actually thought it was on the shelf everywhere what do you do in England when you require it?

Risteard · Dec 4, 2018

Matthewd29 said:
I actually thought it was on the shelf everywhere what do you do in England when you require it?

AFAIK many contractors there would run a T&E with unused cores. Perhaps someone from England could clarify?

MJPD29 · Dec 4, 2018

Risteard said:
AFAIK many contractors there would run a T&E with unused cores. Perhaps someone from England could clarify?

Interesting, there also seems to be a lack of twin brown from what I've gathered on here

MFS Electrical · Dec 4, 2018

Matthewd29 said:
Interesting, there also seems to be a lack of twin brown from what I've gathered on here

Can get twin brown in Scotland ok but most of the wholesalers round my way need a few days notice to get it as it isn’t often used. Usually when you ask for it you get normal t&e and a lump of brown sleeving.

Risteard · Dec 4, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
Can get twin brown in Scotland ok but most of the wholesalers round my way need a few days notice to get it as it isn’t often used. Usually when you ask for it you get normal t&e and a lump of brown sleeving.

And here it's unheard of to wire switch drops in brown & blue.

telectrix · Dec 5, 2018

Stevieg2 said:
This should be ok.

16mm????you running lights or a cannabis farm?

Sherlock ohms · Dec 8, 2018

Im confused, you had zero volts from the perm live at your switch to your suspected neutrals at the switch, but continuity from the suspected neutrals at the switch to neutrals at your light? or were you testing from an unenergised switched live? hence no voltage at the switch!!!

chris gray · Dec 8, 2018

If it’s all 3 plate lighting it might be as easy to swap the switch leg for a 3c

Toneyz · Dec 8, 2018

Archy Styrigg said:
Ah, OK.
Trouble with stud walls is them damned noggins!

Depends upon the switch hight if they are pre-Part M then they were usually above the noggins.
As Chris posted it would be easier to install 3 core & earth and use the old twin & e switch drop as a draw wire.

EbolaSideRoom · Dec 8, 2018

I was given a couple of rolls of sheathed & insulated single red & black and of sheathed & insulated single & earth a few years ago, virtually unused. They prove very handy from time to time - with the appropriate sleeving at the terminations, naturally...

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Silly Sausage

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Silly Sausage

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Toneyz

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