Lighting - wiring to switch FIRST

[Floody]

Hi guys,

Tonight in college I was told that part of our end of year assessment will require us to wire 2 independent lights in singles, but wiring to the switch first.

I'd like to know how this is done? Firstly if it can be broken down to 1 light first, and then the second light and switch added.

cheers

 

[Happy Jack]

I'm surprised you ask, in all honesty. Via singles, one can supply or loop out to the next switch via the common terminal. Have you had a go drawing a circuit diagram?

 

[Floody]

No I need to see a diagram first before I an get my head around how it works.
im pretty annoyed abut it to be honest because we have only been shown how to wire a light domestically, and now we are asked in the exam to do it as industrial.

if anyone has a diagram I't would be much appreciated.

 

[Floody]

LOL never mind guys.
i feel so stupid now having seen a diagram. It's actually INCREADIBLY easy

 

[D Skelton]

We all have to start somewhere bud

 

[Floody]

Ive just never been shown it, after looking at a quick diagram I understand it fully now. I also understand why it would be easier to wire it that way. Less mess than with T&E at the rose and just generally easier.



So what would be the best method of adding another switch to make it 2 way lighting?

 

[Happy Jack]

Are you on the first year of the 2330, James? If I recall, and it wasn't that long ago, we we never undertook an end of year practical assignment during the first year; we had a number of practical 'clips' in a binder which every student worked through. Usually, what began to feature during our practical in the afternoon would be discussed during our theory in the morning, so any questions regarding the wiring of each circuit would be addressed.

By the end of our first year, we some of us had moved off from standard T&E w/ 1 way and 2 way lighting, radials, rings and the like, and had actually begun the PVC conduit 'clips'. These featured 1 way, 2 way and intermediate lighting circuits wired in singles.

Is this not the format of your practical / workshop time?

 

[Floody]

I am in year one yes. This is my practical assessment for the end of this year, but my tutor is pleased with my practical work and I'm the first to be put forward for it early. There are a few people taking it in year 2 instead as they don't feel competent enough. I've installed 90% of all that out on real jobs, just never that way of lighting. So I'm glad I cleared it up here I feel 100% confident now

 

[Happy Jack]

Thanks for that James. I thought the format of the 2330 L2 was that students undertook the 206 practical assignment towards the end of their second year. That your tutors are happy with your progress is to your credit, of course. But when asking such questions about wiring in singles, it does strike me as a little premature.

I don't wish to undervalue your achievements, but it was during the second year of my practical, working through the conduit / singles 'clips', along with how to terminate SWA, that better prepared me for the 206. I emerged with a credit as I exceeded the 10 hour limit for completion.

 

[Happy Jack]

Apologies, James, either I didn't read your post completely, or you added a little more to that.

Then it's to your credit, then. I needed the second year to build my confidence with steel conduit. By which point I had already completed a variety of singles 'clips', so the wiring would not be an issue there.

 

[Floody]

Cheers Happy Jack.
We are only allowed 9 hours, as apposed to your 10

 

[KWCFC]

Also I've been told by my JTL assessor that in your AM2 you have to take all feeds to the switch first including the neutral when wiring. Which obviously means using connector blocks. I was always taught that this method should be avoided if possible but apparently thats what they want in the AM2.

 

[MDJ]

I was always taught that this method should be avoided if possible but apparently thats what they want in the AM2.

Who said that out of interest M8

 

[KWCFC]

Who said that out of interest M8

Just an electrician I used to work with alot. Not saying that its wrong to do that method but he would say that its better practice to have neutrals going straight to fittings rather than behind switches. Therefore avoiding connector blocks at the switch. (Bearing in mind I'm thinking in T&E, so going slightly off topic here)

 

[Baker1988]

Ive just never been shown it, after looking at a quick diagram I understand it fully now. I also understand why it would be easier to wire it that way. Less mess than with T&E at the rose and just generally easier.

View attachment 18087

So what would be the best method of adding another switch to make it 2 way lighting?

glad to see you got it sorted pal its easy really aint it haha, to make it a two way you would just install your strappers as normal but this time it would be all brown instead of sleeveing them brown lol you would just move the return live in L1 to L2 and move the perm live in common to L1 then connect your strappers from common on switch 1 to common on switch 2, then strapper from L1 of switch 1 to L1 of switch 2 and do the same for L2 and thats your 2 way done haha ill do you a drawing pal and post it up lol

 

[Floody]

Nice one baker, you know how I like my drawings

 

[Happy Jack]

Nice one baker, you know how I like my drawings

I don't mean to steal Baker's thunder on this, but I have a couple of drawings from last year.

This, if I've read correctly, is what Baker describes, which is exactly how you'd wire it in 3C + E / w/ a strapper -




This is an alternative method, which actually uses one less conductor, and seemed the most practical way when wiring 2 way lighting with singles. The connections to L1 and L2 need to be reversed so that both rocker switches are upright in the 'off' position. If that makes sense -

 

[Floody]

Top man happy jack cheers mate

 

[Baker1988]

I don't mean to steal Baker's thunder on this, but I have a couple of drawings from last year.

This, if I've read correctly, is what Baker describes, which is exactly how you'd wire it in 3C + E / w/ a strapper -

View attachment 18122


This is an alternative method, which actually uses one less conductor, and seemed the most practical way when wiring 2 way lighting with singles. The connections to L1 and L2 need to be reversed so that both rocker switches are upright in the 'off' position. If that makes sense -

View attachment 18121

Yeah your right happy jack the i described the 3 plate method with 3 core + cpc which is not the way to do it when wiring to the switch first or when useing singles (sorry floody), I shouldn't try any thing electrical when i am hung over lol as i always get it wrong, Last time i went to work hungover (on a Friday after a good Thursday session) i didn't safely isolate and got a bat off one of the lights haha soon woke me up actually made me feel pretty good after it haha