Neutrals at switch drops

[Rockingit]

So a brief foray into domestic has me slightly bemused…. Neutrals at switches. Easy enough if you’re wiring loop at switch, but if you have good reason to loop at light then logically all you need do is drop 6243 as your switch cable, simples. Except…. What about on a 2way / int run where you’re ONLY dropping the 3c to each switch and picking up the S/L in a JB elsewhere…. What do you do then?!

 

[nicebutdim]

Get a drum of 6241 and a pack of extra characters.

 

[nicebutdim]

The above was quite serious and 6241 is used extensively over here for lighting. I'm not entirely sure why 3 core cables are rarely used, but it's probably due to limited space in conduit that all cable drops are enclosed within.

 

[Rockingit]

It did occur to me afterwards that it is, of course, the most practical option and how drops did use to be done years ago, it just seems weird and over-resourced, somehow.

I guess the alternative would be 5c flex, but that’s a debate in itself!

 

[littlespark]

One of the reasons for taking neutrals to switches is to facilitate the addition of smart switches.
In the case of two way or two way with intermediate… you only need to carry a L+N supply to other switch positions, the strappers can be utilised as such. The switches are then paired so they control the same lighting.

You don’t need a neutral at every switch.


The other reason is fault finding. Not just understanding which cable is which, but the physical work.
Standing at a switch is much easier than climbing ladders to ceiling roses and looking for underfloor joint boxes.

 

[Dustydazzler]

5 core flex at a push if you really needed to incorporate a N into a 2way

or as already said a single core + earth I have seen done a few times

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Or 2x T+E instead of one 3C+E and one single. Depending on your configuration, either L & N in one cable, L1 & L2 in the other; or L1/PL & L2/SL in one cable, COM & N in the other.

 

[Hewlec]

One of the reasons for taking neutrals to switches is to facilitate the addition of smart switches.
In the case of two way or two way with intermediate… you only need to carry a L+N supply to other switch positions, the strappers can be utilised as such. The switches are then paired so they control the same lighting.

You don’t need a neutral at every switch.


The other reason is fault finding. Not just understanding which cable is which, but the physical work.
Standing at a switch is much easier than climbing ladders to ceiling roses and looking for underfloor joint boxes.

spot on, also 3 core to ceiling lights

 

[Welchyboy1]

The other reason is fault finding. Not just understanding which cable is which, but the physical work.
Standing at a switch is much easier than climbing ladders to ceiling roses and looking for underfloor joint boxes.

Especially when you have alot of downlighters as well