i see your point , Bill, but how may times have we been to fit, say, a porch light, and found the only way to get a neutral is to access the hall light, entailing cutting holes in ceiling or weetabix floor, after moveng beds etc., lifting bedroom carpet, when it would be so much easier if there were a neutral in the hall light switch. just drill out and replace switch with 2 gang.
Take your point totally - and yes, it is a case where a neutral in the switch enclosure would be handy.
I've nothing against the theory of neutrals in switch enclosures, I just wish that instead of some of the other pointless reg changes made, someone would stop and say "hang on - why don't we make all switches double pole, or why don't we ensure back boxes for plate switches, etc., have a proper termination for a neutral conductor.
I think the point was made all the more obvious to me given the mixed colours in that switch enclosure - old coloured 3&E and new coloured T&E at least, from memory - that put an unsheathed blue switched live in there, and blue neutrals...
Add to that someone, with respect, who doesn't know the difference, but does know we usually claim "colour to colour" as a standard replacement method, and we have trouble.
Thing is, we all know guys, including ourselves at the end of a long week, who would look at that in a situation where someone has helpfully put the switched live blue in with all the other blue neutrals and not see the fault.
In that particular case, it bothered me a bit - I'd have made sure there was a JB somewhere outside of that switch enclosure as it looks to me as though they effectively did the three plate in the switch, rather than a fitting.
I know that's getting away from the "neutrals in the switch" discussion, just observations while I was on that switch - in principle, I guess I'm just against connections that don't need to be there, especially when they're terminated in biscuit block. And, yes, I know Wagos weren't around then too
No easy answer - and yes, there are advantages to neutrals in switch enclosures, just wish the regs would catch up to the practice, and we either made it standard that there's a neutral present or not - and if there is, that manufacturers start providing a proper terminal either on the back box, or on the switch for them.
Maybe I'm just getting old, not getting enough, or feeling really picky this week lol!
