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.

 

[Guest 004]

It's closed, case dismissed, the prosecution failed to turn up!

sorry iq I forgot that you are always right.

ok to conclude

back in the day 'we' was taught not to do it
there is not a reg against it
modern wiring practices have adopted the method, just wish crabtree, mk and others would.

Not been on the tools for 10 years, but I think i would use the looped neutral at switches now, if it made things easier, but I certainly would not have considered it before today!

I am converted....

 

[IQ Electrical]

Isn't there an argument for both systems depending on the application?

I (and others) did make that point about 50 posts ago.

 

[Guest 004]

Isn't there an argument for both systems depending on the application?

for sure

as already stated, I would not have considered it before today

 

[sparks1234]

I don't like neutrals at switches if they are not needed, and you will have to block it, which I totally disagree with.

Why do you disagree with it? most connections are within a screw terminal of some sort or other, thats all a block is

 

[Guest 004]

View attachment 5409

hope this works

that is just pants, and why I would not do it

 

[Guest 004]

Why do you disagree with it? most connections are within a screw terminal of some sort or other, thats all a block is

ok lets go to bigger switches, and by that I mean 4, 5 ,6 gangs and upwards, and you had maybe 5,6 feeds at the one switch, its going to look pretty ugly, and what would you think if you took the switch off and 7 connector blocks sprung out at you!

 

[VoltzElectrical]

that is just pants, and why I would not do it

Nowt wrong with it. it works, all terminations available for inspection. Why is it PANTS?

 

[Electricalserv]

View attachment 5409

hope this works

Percentage is rising of nipping one of them with screws

 

[jason jones]

personnaly neutral at switch because im fed up of going round to my brothers every time he buys new lights and they wont switch cuz the dope has bundled everything that is brown in the same block and i have to sort it out.

 

[Guest 004]

personnaly neutral at switch because im fed up of going round to my brothers every time he buys new lights and they wont switch cuz the dope has bundled everything that is brown in the same block and i have to sort it out.

but how many times have you been asked to fix a light 'cos be blows up when the switch is turned on, always a nice little earner

 

[sparks1234]

ok lets go to bigger switches, and by that I mean 4, 5 ,6 gangs and upwards, and you had maybe 5,6 feeds at the one switch, its going to look pretty ugly, and what would you think if you took the switch off and 7 connector blocks sprung out at you!

Yep, agree with you but generally I think the post was directed at normal run of the mill rewire.

 

[Electricalserv]

Also if you've got a dimmer switch less room

 

[IQ Electrical]

ok lets go to bigger switches, and by that I mean 4, 5 ,6 gangs and upwards, and you had maybe 5,6 feeds at the one switch, its going to look pretty ugly, and what would you think if you took the switch off and 7 connector blocks sprung out at you!

And that could be a scenario where neutrals at the switch are not a good idea.

Again, as a competent designer /installer, you choose the wiring system that best suits the installation, don't just make sweeping statements on whether a method is right or wrong!

I'm certainly not always right, but I try to look at things objectively without propagating the weird myths that seem to pop up constantly.

 

[Guest 004]

Yep, agree with you but generally I think the post was directed at normal run of the mill rewire.

sorry I am more of an commercial/industrial installer

 

[timo]

Been working on and doing this myself for a while. Its common in new build apartments i have found and also i do it when wiring for down lights. Saves guessing what light the guy put the rats nest of a joint box. Nothing wrong with it just a "modern" way i guess.