Unusual 2 way switching.

[HaywardI]

Hi,

Hopefully a quick and easy question.

I have just installed lights in my loft and everything is work without problem. However, I am a little paranoid about leaving the lights on up there and when closed up you can not see that they are on and it could be months before this is discovered.

Rather than put an ugly "indicator" light somewhere obvious it occured to me that perhaps just wire in the landing light into the same circuit as the loft light. Ergo, when ever the loft lights are on, so are the landing lights.

The easiest way to do this is by running a live connection from the loft light straight into the landing light switched live connection (all connections are made in the loft anyway).

The end result would be as follows:

Landing Switch Loft Switch Landing lights
On Off On
Off On On
Off Off Off
On On On

It is this last situation (On, on, on) that I am a little concerned about. Is it safe to wire as I have described above?

Thanks in advance.

 

[AJshep]

Seems very complicated just for a loft light. Can't you tuck a neon indication in a wardrobe or cupboard upstairs so it's not on show.
If you wired from the loft light switch, through a a switched fused spur (with neon) then onto your loft light, you then have the option to isolate the loft light from the switched fused spur if you found you accidentally left the loft light on.

I'd think I'd rather that then someone turn off the landing light while I'm trying to work in the loft.

 

[pirate]

Why not fit a contact switch to the frame for the loft hatch, so when you close it, the lights go off?

 

[telectrix]

Why not fit a contact switch to the frame for the loft hatch, so when you close it, the lights go off?

common sense at last

 

[pc1966]

common sense at last

These days common sense is like a superhero's magic power!

 

[telectrix]

These days common sense is like a superhero's magic power!

don't tell pirate, he'll get too big for his sea boots.

 

[HaywardI]

Seems very complicated just for a loft light. Can't you tuck a neon indication in a wardrobe or cupboard upstairs so it's not on show.
If you wired from the loft light switch, through a a switched fused spur (with neon) then onto your loft light, you then have the option to isolate the loft light from the switched fused spur if you found you accidentally left the loft light on.

I'd think I'd rather that then someone turn off the landing light while I'm trying to work in the loft.

AJshep, It looks like I may have to do just this. I have found a cheap 240v 5a LED (£3ish from my local trade store).

My problem was not that someone turning off the landing lights would turn off the loft lights, it was that linking the loft and landing SW L connections works in both directions. Therefore whilst I could get the landing light to come on when the loft light was on, it also works the other way around, when the landing lights are on, the loft light is also on and I don't want that behavior either.

I did consider using a high voltage diode, but that would only allow + current flow so I would get some very odd behavior from the landing lights (probably flashing 52 times a second), but this would be a hack at best and I am not skilled enough in electronics to build full wave.

Take care and thanks for your help!