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.

 

[kw1980]

I have always wired light circuits this way, its far easier to terminate imo. Plus i once saw a guy wire loop in at a bathroom light, which also had a shaver point, a timer fan and a mirror light, then what a mess he made trying to terminate 7 t&e or 3c cables at a light fitting. Im equally at ease working on any system, loop in at lights, neutrals at switches or a junction box but if im new wiring definitely take the neutral to the switch, also makes it easier for any future work as you only need to run one cable to pick up a feed and neutral.

 

[johnboy6083]

i dont often do domestic, but when i have, its been loop in method. a bloke i sometimes sub for, wires all his jobs with neutrals at the switchs, and for him, its easie. i would be happy doing either to be honest.

 

[Gravid]

I did a new build last year, in the whole house the only rooms with ceiling lights had downlights the rest where 5A skts or wall lights, so the whole house was switch fed. All connections accessible and no hidden JB's for the next man. Had they wanted centre lights would have done loop in.
IMO being for or against a perfectly acceptable way of wiring lights is ridiculous, the way i see it which ever works best and uses less cable/jb's/connectors etc gets my vote.

 

[Phil]

i have done it both ways and tbh don`t mind either. when i did do it at the switch i can tell you it was not through laziness as suggested in a previous post. if there is room for it at the switch then why not? i have put up more than enough awkward fittings that i would have rather had the loop at the switch instead of the fittings. so for me either way i don`t mind

 

[Engineer54]

I'm getting to understand the meaning of Domestic installers now!!!!

 

[RWJ]

I won't mention 6241 singles straight to switch method....... Seen in many offices

 

[topquark]

If I play devils advocate here, you don't need a loop out of either line or neutral at the ceiling rose, it's done for convenience.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I've yet to come across anyone who can give a valid reason why a neutral at a switch is bad practice,other than "I dont like it"...??

Engineer54...give us a valid ELECTRICAL reason why a neutral at a switch is bad practice.....(and PLEASE not just because it is not needed)....a permanant live is not needed at the light either,but it will be there.

 

[Guest 004]

well I was always taught that it was a no no, and although there is no regulation against, I consider it bad practice, connector blocks should not be used in switches. Even if you were to use double pole switches, it would not help with 2 way and intermediate's.

In my 25 years of sparking, I can honestly say that I have never seen it.

I think the difference is having a decent apprenticeship where you was taught what was what, and not what these new kids on the block get taught at college today, then go out into the big world of sparking without any practical experience.

Reminds me of something I saw about 6 years ago working on the CTRL for Drakes (Emcor). basically it was a conduit system that had been 3 plated in singles, and the switch line and feed had been taped together as if it was a twin and earth to go down to the switch, ( brown and blue had been used, and the blue had brown tape on it), and was just so much easier to 2 plate it.

Made me laugh no end, as the guy who did it was always saying 'I am the mutts nuts'

alright Colin you still out there mate?

 

[morph]

knowing the property will have spots and looping in the light fitting is short sighted
knowing the property will have all pendants , looping in the switch is not needed but could still be done.
looping in the switch with a 3 gang switch is economical on cable too one feed and three switch lines
pros and cons both ways at the end of the day, i happen to think it works very well in a domestic situation

 

[Deleted member 9648]

well I was always taught that it was a no no, and although there is no regulation against, I consider it bad practice, connector blocks should not be used in switches. Even if you were to use double pole switches, it would not help with 2 way and intermediate's.

In my 25 years of sparking, I can honestly say that I have never seen it.

I think the difference is having a decent apprenticeship where you was taught what was what, and not what these new kids on the block get taught at college today, then go out into the big world of sparking without any practical experience.

Reminds me of something I saw about 6 years ago working on the CTRL for Drakes (Emcor). basically it was a conduit system that had been 3 plated in singles, and the switch line and feed had been taped together as if it was a twin and earth to go down to the switch, ( brown and blue had been used, and the blue had brown tape on it), and was just so much easier to 2 plate it.

Made me laugh no end, as the guy who did it was always saying 'I am the mutts nuts'

alright Colin you still out there mate?

Again.....Give a valid electrical reason not just blind prejudice.
Many luminaires (wall lights,down lights) are not practical to 3 plate....running feeds through switches and having one cable at the lights is safer and more practical in an awful lot of instances,.....I'm a time served sparks of 30 yrs and have used the method many times.
To any recently qualified people unsure after reading this thread ,IT IS NOT BAD PRACTICE TO RUN NEUTRALS THROUGH SWITCHES WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE.

 

[Guest 004]

Who did you do your time with wirepuller?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

An NIC approved contractor.

 

[One_of_them]

I dont see the problem with neutrals at the switch and dont see what all the fuss is about??
Either way works
And either way can make that particular job easy/difficult
Personally though I use a wago for the neutrals at the switch

happy days

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Still nobody has been able to give a reason why neutrals in switches are bad practice...Any takers?...anyone?