Lighting wired in singles

[wallyanker]

Hello, can anyone explain the reason for this.

Went to a friends the other day as the RCD was tripping regularly, pinpointed it to a faulty dishwasher, anyway........

Whilst I was there in the loft doing another job, I noticed the lighting was wired in singles, the live and earth loop in&out was at the switch, neutral loop in&out at the light fitting. Why would it have been wired this way and not looped at the same place?

Thanks
Pete

 

[GaryM]

I was answering with regards to the common industry meaning of the word 'singles'.
If you ask an electrician to pass you a drum of of single brown you can bet your last dollar that you'll get 6491X.

 

[telectrix]

agreed if you're working in industrial where cables are all in containment. the OP's situation is not usual, but compliant. i would hope that both the line and neutral cables both contained cpc's.

 

[wallyanker]

agreed if you're working in industrial where cables are all in containment. the OP's situation is not usual, but compliant. i would hope that both the line and neutral cables both contained cpc's.

Both cables were sheathed and only the Line contained the earth. Why would you loop Lines at switches and loop neutrals at the light fitting??

 

[telectrix]

lines at switches so as to switch the line. neutrals direct to lights so they work.

 

[Geordie Spark]

no need if the singles are sheathed.

Thank you ..... that's what I was thinking.

 

[Top Cat]

Haven't seen 6241Y in merchants for years. Thought they stopped making it with no cpc? Not sure.

 

[brucelee]

Hi mate

I have been doing some council refurbs were they specified this line loops to switches and Neutrals to the pendants and sw lines down to switch in PVC/ PVC singkes think they ask for this to stop the tenants playing about and adding things

anyway nothing wrong with it as long as the singles are sheathed

 

[wallyanker]

Thank you to all !!!

 

[GaryM]

Haven't seen 6241Y in merchants for years. Thought they stopped making it with no cpc? Not sure.

6241Y is still about. We bought a drum from a wholesaler a couple of weeks ago to run a permanent line to a couple of click plug-in ceiling roses (that just contained switched lines) for emergency lighting. Obviously the standard 3 terminals were swapped for 4 terminals too.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Remember, run a CPC to every accessory, there is reg number somewhere!

 

[Adam W]

Not in a domestic situation. I can't imagine anybody wanted to put a full installation of conduit in to house singles.

I can think of at least one person who would.
I reckon he'd want to use galvanised conduit as well.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I can think of at least one person who would.
I reckon he'd want to use galvanised conduit as well.

Not me, I used 20mm PVC

 

[Plonker 3]

Remember, run a CPC to every accessory, there is reg number somewhere!

But when it is wired using 6241y then the C.P.C is in the sheath of the line cable which goes to every accessory, unlike the neutral which will probably only go to the light fittings themselves. So complying with any regulation.

 

[needasparks]

From the OP this is the most common way to wire singles and has been done like this for as long as i know, main reason is to save cable and get lower resistance results and takes less space up in the tubes, bering in mind tubes were smaller years ago and singles were thicker so the practice has stuck. Obviously 2plate and 3plate wiring can both be used and nothing wrong with either however, I seem to remember reading the new regs mention concideration on putting a neutral at the switch but I'm sure someone else will confirm I didn't just dream that bit.lol

 

[killeen]

But when it is wired using 6241y then the C.P.C is in the sheath of the line cable which goes to every accessory, unlike the neutral which will probably only go to the light fittings themselves. So complying with any regulation.

Yep agree with that easier than pulling two cables