Adding a Light to a light switch

[Keeno38]

Hi,

I would like a bit of advice if possible please.

I have a light switch on my wall close to where I've added a dart board.
I would like to put a light above my dartboard and was hoping it would be as simple as using the said light switch.
This switch is not used as it used to run two outside lights but the outside lights were removed and blanked so the switch is no longer in use but still live I believe. ( see attached picture )
Could a cable be run off the switch and supplied to the new light position?

The new cable ( if possible ) could be put in trunking and not necessarily chased into the wall.

I s all of the above possible?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Squid]

Depends on how the switch is cabled, if its just a live and a switch live then no as you need neutral, from the photo I can't see the wiring properly to see how it was all wired.

 

[Keeno38]

Depends on how the switch is cabled, if its just a live and a switch live then no as you need neutral, from the photo I can't see the wiring properly to see how it was all wired.

Many thanks for the reply.

I am very uneducated when it comes to electrics as you can probably tell. But from how I see it, there are two neural wires ( black ) just taped together and then a third neutral which just has a plastic terminal on the end. Not sure if that helps you or not?

 

[westward10]

If one of those blacks is a neutral then yes it can be done but a black at a light switch may not be necessarily a neutral.

 

[Keeno38]

If one of those blacks is a neutral then yes it can be done but a black at a light switch may not be necessarily a neutral.

Thank you.

How can I tell if one of them is a Neutral?
I will of course ask an Electrician but just wanted to know if it could be done before I called one in.
Ho

 

[telectrix]

a clearer photo would help.

 

[westward10]

Can you post a clearer full size image.

 

[Keeno38]

Can you post a clearer full size image.

Hopefully this is clearer.?

 

[Madocks]

Firstly google cable zones, if your planning on drilling new holes for lights etc you will need to be aware of this.

Your pic is gash, that looks like two neutrals twisted together then a bit of insulation tape?

 

[Keeno38]

Firstly google cable zones, if your planning on drilling new holes for lights etc you will need to be aware of this.

Your pic is gash, that looks like two neutrals twisted together then a bit of insulation tape?

I was hoping to have it surface mounted in trunking? the only holes I wanted drilled would be the holes for the new light fitting.

Thanks

 

[Pete999]

Depends on how the switch is cabled, if its just a live and a switch live then no as you need neutral, from the photo I can't see the wiring properly to see how it was all wired.

What he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[westward10]

Impossible to say from a distance whether the black is neutral or a live return. Has it always been a single switch.

 

[Keeno38]

Impossible to say from a distance whether the black is neutral or a live return. Has it always been a single switch.

As far as i am aware yes. It is a switch that worked two outside lights. We had an extension built so the outside lights werent needed. Nothing has been added or taken away from it since then.

 

[westward10]

I can only guess that there was a three way switch there or wiring was put in for a three way switch but not utilised. As said before we cannot tell from here if one of those blacks is neutral or a switch return.

 

[Keeno38]

Looks like i'll have to get someone in but thanks all anyway.

 

[digger123]

It possibly is a t&e supply in with two t&e switch wires out to two separate lights which have been disconnected. This could be checked with a volt meter if you have 230 between the connected live and the black in the connector.

 

[digger123]

Thank you.

How can I tell if one of them is a Neutral?
I will of course ask an Electrician but just wanted to know if it could be done before I called one in.
Ho

I trust you will as depending on what sort of light you are hoping to install the cpc will need to be proved.

 

[Keeno38]

I trust you will as depending on what sort of light you are hoping to install the cpc will need to be proved.

Absolutely. As I mentioned I wouldn't dream of attempting this but just wondered if it was possible to do this before calling someone in.

I have no idea what a CPC is i'm afraid.

 

[Pete999]

Absolutely. As I mentioned I wouldn't dream of attempting this but just wondered if it was possible to do this before calling someone in.

I have no idea what a CPC is i'm afraid.

Circuit Protective Conductor (earthwire)

 

[telectrix]

looking at that 2nd photo, without risking giving out incorrect info, all i can say is that it appears to have N at the switch, so the project is viable.

 

[Pete999]

looking at that 2nd photo, without risking giving out incorrect info, all i can say is that it appears to have N at the switch, so the project is viable.

Agree what he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[westward10]

looking at that 2nd photo, without risking giving out incorrect info, all i can say is that it appears to have N at the switch, so the project is viable.

Could be three switch cables but I suspect one is a neutral.

 

[Squid]

Many thanks for the reply.

I am very uneducated when it comes to electrics as you can probably tell. But from how I see it, there are two neural wires ( black ) just taped together and then a third neutral which just has a plastic terminal on the end. Not sure if that helps you or not?

Basic wiring is the black is used as a "live" to switch power to the light outside and the cable runs from the light fitting unless they dragged the mains in via the switch to the light.

The other option into fit a light on the outside where there used to be one and the dartboard, ala Al Fresco throwing pointy things at a target.

 

[Squid]

Just noticed the updated photo, looks like a neutral is badly connected together in the box, the only way to be sure is to get a sparks in unless you know how to use a multi meter.

BTW in your fusebox is there a circuit marked up as Outside Lights sometimes someone would run in a circuit (builder) in the simplest way.

 

[Keeno38]

Just noticed the updated photo, looks like a neutral is badly connected together in the box, the only way to be sure is to get a sparks in unless you know how to use a multi meter.

BTW in your fusebox is there a circuit marked up as Outside Lights sometimes someone would run in a circuit (builder) in the simplest way.

Thanks for the reply.

No I don't know how to use a multi meter so I will leave it to the professionals. I basically wanted to know if it was possible before calling someone in.

No my fusebox hasn't got seperate outside light circuit, just upstairs lights and downstairs lights.

Thank you all for for your input and help.

 

[ipf]

Educated guess....L connected in switch, N in connector, others outgoing L+N's, disconnected.
Q. Why tape the unused outgoing neutrals and not the lives?
Who knows? That's the question.

 

[Toneyz]

Hopefully this is clearer.?

View attachment 40262

Looking at your photo it appears that the two outside lights have been disconnected the supply live is common (live in to switch) and the neutral in a separate terminal block this is only an assumption and needs to be verified as well as the earthing arrangements but on face value.

 

[Keeno38]

Educated guess....L connected in switch, N in connector, others outgoing L+N's, disconnected.
Q. Why tape the unused outgoing neutrals and not the lives?
Who knows? That's the question.

I've absolutely no idea. This was done when we had the extension.

There are 2 x lives which have been cut but not taped and 2 x neutrals which are taped together. Means nothing to me but i'm sure there are reasons for this.

 

[westward10]

You would be wise to get an electrician on board as everyone is guessing. Two possible solutions is that one is a neutral, the other that it is a three plate lighting system and none are neutrals.