M
MartinJ
Good Evening All
A chap who lives down the road from me has suggested he wishes to move some light switches in his house (he owns the house).
I would like some clarification of the following please (although I'm fairly sure you will all agree with most if not all, of what follows)
The light switches are of the brown Bakelite circular type mounted on wooden blocks (He even has one mounted shoulder height, right above the bottom end of the bath!!!!).
He has lived in the house 30 years, but of course, I for one am fully aware they are probably at least twice this age.
Not sure if the switch covers are screw fitted or screw on (if the latter, removable without the the use of a tool and therefore I imagine, cannot be put back into service once removed from the wall).
Since he wishes to move the switches, this would invariably mean having to use new switches, since the wooden blocks are no longer permitted?
A lighting system of this age is extremely unlikely to have a CPC, so he certainly cannot use metal switches (though he hasn't actually suggested this).
It is highly likely to be wired in rubber, cloth etc, which may disintegrate upon handling it from removing switches.
Even if the insulation and/or sheathing is intact, to move the switches would almost certainly require extension of the existing wiring with additional cables, and even if plastic fittings were to be used, there would be nowhere for the CPC in the new cables to be connected to on the existing circuit(s). I am aware all plastic fittings do not actually require a CPC, I would imagine it though to be considered as 'bad practice' to extend off an existing circuit such as above with new cable with CPC (especially as in many, many years down the line someone may replace the plastic fittings with metal and 'assume' there is a CPC in all of the existing circuit.
Although he hasn't stated whether any new cabling will be surface run or concealed, if the latter then the RCD issue raises it's head.
The cables might be run in conduit, which will be difficult to cut etc.
What about the scenario if a switch is moved to a position which happens to be the direction the cables are run from and are not in conduit, are in good condition and therefore just need shortening? ( I gather the existing switches and wooden blocks still cannot be re-used?).
Kind Regards
A chap who lives down the road from me has suggested he wishes to move some light switches in his house (he owns the house).
I would like some clarification of the following please (although I'm fairly sure you will all agree with most if not all, of what follows)
The light switches are of the brown Bakelite circular type mounted on wooden blocks (He even has one mounted shoulder height, right above the bottom end of the bath!!!!).
He has lived in the house 30 years, but of course, I for one am fully aware they are probably at least twice this age.
Not sure if the switch covers are screw fitted or screw on (if the latter, removable without the the use of a tool and therefore I imagine, cannot be put back into service once removed from the wall).
Since he wishes to move the switches, this would invariably mean having to use new switches, since the wooden blocks are no longer permitted?
A lighting system of this age is extremely unlikely to have a CPC, so he certainly cannot use metal switches (though he hasn't actually suggested this).
It is highly likely to be wired in rubber, cloth etc, which may disintegrate upon handling it from removing switches.
Even if the insulation and/or sheathing is intact, to move the switches would almost certainly require extension of the existing wiring with additional cables, and even if plastic fittings were to be used, there would be nowhere for the CPC in the new cables to be connected to on the existing circuit(s). I am aware all plastic fittings do not actually require a CPC, I would imagine it though to be considered as 'bad practice' to extend off an existing circuit such as above with new cable with CPC (especially as in many, many years down the line someone may replace the plastic fittings with metal and 'assume' there is a CPC in all of the existing circuit.
Although he hasn't stated whether any new cabling will be surface run or concealed, if the latter then the RCD issue raises it's head.
The cables might be run in conduit, which will be difficult to cut etc.
What about the scenario if a switch is moved to a position which happens to be the direction the cables are run from and are not in conduit, are in good condition and therefore just need shortening? ( I gather the existing switches and wooden blocks still cannot be re-used?).
Kind Regards
