When did neutral at the light switch become standard practice?

[JimmyS]

Hello all,

I am in the process of buying a house built in 2002 and I am trying to find out when it became standard practice to run neutral to light switches. The reason being I may look at having smart switched installed and having this already in place would make the job so much simpler.

Thanks

 

[Midwest]

Typically a new build would just have pendant lighting points with loop in loop out, i.e. no neutral at switch points.

However, I've just moved into a new build with some pendant lighting points, and some are fed from the switch, i.e. neutral at switch.

For new builds, it all depends on how the quickest, easiest way of wiring things are. In 2002 down lights were thin on the ground for new builds, so guess you might have the former.

Get your self some smart lighting, like Philips Hue, if you like that sort of thing, and you can expensively do what you want.

 

[Wilko]

Hi Jimmy and welcome to the Forum .
As @Midwest has said, it can still vary. There is no regulation to say that neutral must be present at light switches.

 

[Pete999]

Whenever it suited the installer I would imagine. Nothing new just a different slant on things.

 

[Adam W]

Some electricians still refuse to take a neutral to a switch.

 

[LankyWill]

Love a fed switch, no messing about at the pendant ‘arms aching’.

 

[telectrix]

Some electricians still refuse to take a neutral to a switch.

there's always some pillocks about.they probably would not "export "pme to a shed and insist on 25mm tails on a 60A fuse.

 

[Chivers]

I think it depends on the lighting. Much of new stuff is spots or similar without the need to use ceiling Roses so easier to terminate in Switch back boxes, especially if a deeper one.

 

[Pete999]

there's always some pillocks about.they probably would not "export "pme to a shed and insist on 25mm tails on a 60A fuse.

Tel I think I'm missing something here, care to elaborate for an old fart that doesn't get it?

 

[Ian1981]

The regulations do say that consideration of a neutral to switch positions to facilitate electronic switches shall be considered.
Not a shall or must but a consideration only.

 

[telectrix]

was a reply to adam W's post. there's a section of sparks who insist on looping at the lights and not sending a neutral to the switch/es. with the prevelance of downlights these days, it makes sense to loop at the switches. also makes life easier for smart lighting where a N is needed at the switch. but some guys are too stuck in the ways they did it 30 years ago.

 

[Adam W]

there's always some pillocks about.they probably would not "export "pme to a shed and insist on 25mm tails on a 60A fuse.

... And they twist all the CPCs together and put them in 1 bit of sleeving.

 

[Ian1981]

was a reply to adam W's post. there's a section of sparks who insist on looping at the lights and not sending a neutral to the switch/es. with the prevelance of downlights these days, it makes sense to loop at the switches. also makes life easier for smart lighting where a N is needed at the switch. but some guys are too stuck in the ways they did it 30 years ago.

Much easier doing new builds like this.
Mains at the switch that is

 

[Ian1981]

... And they twist all the CPCs together and put them in 1 bit of sleeving.

I always make the apprentices do it again if I see them doing that.
Problem is that the other electricians they work with do it so they always moan and call me a fussy t#at

 

[Rosco]

I always make the apprentices do it again if I see them doing that.
Problem is that the other electricians they work with do it so they always moan and call me a fussy t#at

If they moan I’d say fine then when it comes to testing make them untwist each one without any pliers