Neutrals at switches

[Guest 004]

Went to a job today, twin and earth, and it had been wired 2 plate, which of course meant that all the switches had the neutral taken to them.

WTF, if I had done that in my apprenticeship I would have been kicked off site.

Is this how things are done now, god I hope not.

 

[Phil]

Round and round and round and round and round we go

where will the neutral stop ? no body knows

 

[Engineer54]

At the ceiling roses!! ...hahaha!!!

 

[Adam W]

I reckon it'll stop in the middle - seems like a neutral area.

Then we can resurrect this discussion in a couple of months after we've done exporting earths to outbuildings, what the different colours of 3 core cable should be used for, and time served vs fast track again.

 

[Paul.M]

I reckon it'll stop in the middle - seems like a neutral area.

Then we can resurrect this discussion in a couple of months after we've done exporting earths to outbuildings, what the different colours of 3 core cable should be used for, and time served vs fast track again.

Sounds like fun! I'll book off the first week in June so I can give it my full attention .

 

[Des 56]

Is this discussion finished then ?

Just got in and looked and smiled at the posts that have been made again today,good debate fellas

My conclusion seems to be that the irresistable force (novusSparkus), has met the immovable object ( Engineer 54 )


I take it they are wearing their rossettes for the neutrals election

 

[Engineer54]

I certainly hope it's finished ...lol!!!

 

[IQ Electrical]

I certainly hope it's finished ...lol!!!

It is if the poll is anything to go by, I haven't seen so little blue since 1997

http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...3489-poll-neutrals-switches-2.html#post276358

 

[Phil]

i reckon it boils down to ohms law. a bit of resistance at both sides

 

[andyb]

Why?? Because that is my honest opinion of this wiring method, so why would i change my opinion, certainly not going to change it based on what's been written here... And as i said, i'm not going to change your opinion, that this is a good wiring method, ...end of as far as i'm concerned!!!

Engineer, you can easily change my opinion. Just explain what's wrong with looping at the switch without using the words 'bad practice'

You are right, 3 plating is a good wiring system, but so too is using the switch box.

Whats the difference between taking all your cables to an enclosure in the ceiling or on the ceiling and running one cable to the switch, and taking all your cables to the switch and running one cable to the light. Please note, I've asked what the difference is and not whether it's good practice.

 

[andyb]

It seems the only benefit of always looping the live at the light is that certain older electricians understand it because they're used to it.

Thanks Novus, I'm on your side and then you go insulting me

 

[KFH]

Malcolm said he has to try and not twist CPCs together in one sleeve. I was always taught that was good practice on ring final circuits as you would always loop in/out if possible so the conductors were not broken. Now we HAVE to break the CPC for high integrity earthing. Things change not always for the better. I still do not like cutting the wire through a socket box but how do you loop in/out and stay in the safe zone when changing direction through the box?

 

[Engineer54]

Engineer, you can easily change my opinion. Just explain what's wrong with looping at the switch without using the words 'bad practice'

You are right, 3 plating is a good wiring system, but so too is using the switch box.

Whats the difference between taking all your cables to an enclosure in the ceiling or on the ceiling and running one cable to the switch, and taking all your cables to the switch and running one cable to the light. Please note, I've asked what the difference is and not whether it's good practice.

OK, how about ''not a good wiring method'' Looping through every switch box on a lighting circuit, leaving a neutral joint that is not needed or required is not a good wiring method... I think i've stated other reasons why previously.

Design the circuit or installation properly using if you like the modern connectors like wago's in wago boxes, at down lighter locations and you shouldn't end up with a massive bunch of cables at one location to terminate. Turning switch boxes into joint boxes, to get past what in truth is lighting layout design problems is not a good solution!!

There, ....never used ''Bad Practice'' once!!! ....Boy was that hard for me!!! lol!!!!

 

[morph]

but the neutrals are jointed in the ceiling rose ?? so thats bad practice

maybe we should ask Harry Hill to sort this out

FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Steve 82]

i think the guy who started this thread is still living in the 70's or something. taking a l/n feed to the switch is the future, nobody uses crappy ceiling roses any more. and most new fittings can't accommodate a loop in loop out, meaning the use of a junction box. why would you want to use a junction box that sometimes can't be accessed???? when you could have everything accessible at a good working height at the switch.???

i personally always send a 3 core and earth up to my light fitting anyways. so that i have another switch line up there if the customer later decides they don't want all the lights coming on together, or maybe they want wall lights etc, etc

i really don't know why its such a problem and we are even having this conversation??

 

[ezzzekiel]

no regs are being broken, both methods give the required outcome "the light to switch on", if one spark does not like to do it this way then fine but you certainly cant say its not an acceptable method.