No neutral smart switch, faulty?

[NickMoore1968]

I planned to take a wire straight from the neutral rail in the fuse box to the neutral side of the new lightswitch, but this keeps tripping the fuse.

 

[westward10]

What type of wire are you using.

 

[NickMoore1968]

For mock up purposes just the neutral wire from an old bit of 3 core flex.

 

[NickMoore1968]

With what and how are you planning to do this.

I have tried running a wire (from an old extension lead) from the neutral rail in the fusebox directly to the neutral side of my new switch. This causes the Lighting RCD to trip.

 

[westward10]

What you are doing is not safe. Either seek the services of an electrician or use a switch which does not require a neutral.

 

[NickMoore1968]

What you are doing is not safe. Either seek the services of an electrician or use a switch which does not require a neutral.

Agreed - although a brief explanation of why the RCD is triggered would be much appreciated??

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Are you picking up the neutral from the correct neutral bar?

 

[NickMoore1968]

With what and how are you planning to do this.

Are you picking up the neutral from the correct neutral bar?

i'm not entirely sure. Any help appreciated.

 

[westward10]

As in #22 you probably have a dual rcd or split load consumer unit which will incorporate more than one neutral bar. You are probably picking the wrong one to connect to.

 

[NickMoore1968]

As in #22 you probably have a dual rcd or split load consumer unit which will incorporate more than one neutral bar. You are probably picking the wrong one to connect to.

icture ONE
brown is permanent Live
Blue becomes live when the switch is ON

picture Three
Quite clearly this switch consumes energy to operate.
I have put the brown wire into the L in terminal of the new switch
I have put the blue wire into the L out terminal of the new switch
I have run a wire from picture TWO (3) to N in of new switch

This trips the fuse every time - what am I missing?

 

[westward10]

The neutral needs connecting direct to the rcbo of the appropriate circuit.

 

[ipf]

The neutral needs connecting direct to the rcbo of the appropriate circuit.

I hope he's not put that temporary neutral in permanently, regardless.

 

[NickMoore1968]

A qualified electrician is en route to complete the work. I have created a route for said Neutral and he will install, although he assures me he will do almost exactly as I would have done.

 

[DPG]

A qualified electrician is en route to complete the work. I have created a route for said Neutral and he will install, although he assures me he will do almost exactly as I would have done.

Almost exactly. But not 'exactly'.

 

[NickMoore1968]

Almost exactly. But not 'exactly'.

Point taken. Many thanks for information. After much 'research', feel much better informed about domestic electrics - although clearly not qualified to carry out any work.