neutral switching of lights

[davek]

Hi all
My niece has just bought a house so asked me check over electrics etc, from a visual was a new flurecent light in itc as tube was going and tatty (she bought it to rent out).so on fitting the lights I notices it was neutral switching. On further investigation the whole house and looks like it was re wire that way. along with several connecter strips as junctions no enclosures. can anyone explain why they would of wired it that way prop done 80-90 or did they just come on there horses lol

 

[Marvo]

Are you sure it's switched neutrals and not just the wrong colour of wiring or maybe they omitted the brown sleeving?

I can't think of any reason you'd switch the neutrals on domestic light ccts rather than the live. It would actually be against my local regs but not sure about the UK.

 

[telectrix]

it's a no no here as well, marvo.

 

[7029 dave]

Well that needs to be rectified ASAP, only the line conductor should be switched.

 

[Badged01]

I notices it was neutral switching. On further investigation the whole house and looks like it was re wire that way.

Thats a bit of a no-no if the switches only interupt the neutral. What has made you come to this conclusion?

along with several connecter strips as junctions no enclosuresl

Again a bit of a no-no if not contained in any enclosure. To be honest I see it a lot normally where the wiring has been done by a builder -- not the correct way of doing things!

 

[Badged01]

Bit slow on the uptake there .... a good few posts beaten me to the same answer. Must type quicker in future!!

 

[davek]

no defe neutral swith my thoughs at first stuck tester at switch live to earth 240 volts make switch nothing stuck across switch in open 240 closed nothing

 

[davek]

had all floors up today and put right just wondered if it was any fad way back lol. how do we post pic from pc cant see to be able upload

 

[Marvo]

I doubt it was a fad, especially not in the last 50 years, it's downright dangerous. More likely cowboys.

 

[davek]

well she has bought off an old dear as a investment, bet its been like that for years

- - - Updated - - -

going to try find out who re wired it

 

[uksparks]

You should get it sorted because its dangerous if it's switched in the neutrals, I would be inclined to check any fused connections etc too, also check the polarity of the socket outlets.

It makes you think if they were thinking of switching the neutral, what else did they do....

 

[PEG]

Maybe easier to mark up conductors and swop tails around...Lol

 

[GLENNSPARK]

whats the polarity at origin?

do a polarity live at the board....check all finals

 

[Geoffsd]

no defe neutral swith my thoughs at first stuck tester at switch live to earth 240 volts make switch nothing stuck across switch in open 240 closed nothing

WHAT.

Is that describing the normal situation? It's difficult to know from the gobbledegook.

 

[R G]

WHAT.

Is that describing the normal situation? It's difficult to know from the gobbledegook.

Old Jag Me Thinks

 

[MDJ]

You sure there is not a phase neutral polarity mix up at the DB incommer here?

 

[R G]

The only way to sort this is to start at the very beginning and trace it right through , you may find by putting 1 thing right it is solved , but this could be making somewhere else reverse polarity , so only way is to trace right through from start..

 

[telectrix]

starting at the meter.

 

[Guest111]

WHAT.

Is that describing the normal situation? It's difficult to know from the gobbledegook.

I think what he means is that testing between switched live and earth with switch in off position he's getting 240v but when switch is on he gets nothing,this makes sense because with switch in off position he will be getting the live feeding through the lamp from the "neutral" which will drop off when switch is in the on position.