I hope this is a very simple question...
I've installed 8 low-power mains LED strip lights in my garage - and have run cable from them to where I want to put the switch. There's currently a single old florescent set-up which was switched on by a single mains light switch - I'm replacing it. Mains came into the switch from mains cable similar to that which would have been for a socket on a spur... then a single cable connected the old light to switched mains from the socket.
I'd like to be able to switch my LED light strips individually. I bought an 8-switch light switch. I'm happy with how the switches will be wired to the lights - but that leaves 8 light-side wires to be joined to a single mains-feed neutral... and the need to join live to all 8 switches. Obviously, I'd also need to join all 9 earth wires to the earthing point in the metal back-box for the switch.
I'm unsure how best to connect 3 groups of 9 wires each. (8+1 live; 8+1 neutral; 8+1 earth). One idea I had was 'wire nuts' - but as a mechanism to join 9 wires (having never used wire nuts before) I feel apprehensive. I've looked for buzz-bar and connector block approaches - but haven't found anything that looks as if it would work... I'd need the non-earth wires to be insulated - I'd not want live mains separated only by air from a metal switch case.
Any hints - how should I go about doing this? Is it likely feasible to do it in the box for the light switch? Do I need an external junction box? If I need a junction box - why can't I find one that looks suited to this sort of application? I can't be the first person who wants to switch 8 different things using the 8 switches provided by a single light switch unit.
If the right answer is 'wire nuts' - I could try that. I've no problem with 'power'... the 8 LED lights will draw less than the antiquated fluorescent set-up. The wiring I've run to each light is 1.5mm² twin-and-earth. The switch itself is the size of a double mains socket... there's a deep metal box (surface mount) behind the switch with punch-out holes to allow cables in.
I've installed 8 low-power mains LED strip lights in my garage - and have run cable from them to where I want to put the switch. There's currently a single old florescent set-up which was switched on by a single mains light switch - I'm replacing it. Mains came into the switch from mains cable similar to that which would have been for a socket on a spur... then a single cable connected the old light to switched mains from the socket.
I'd like to be able to switch my LED light strips individually. I bought an 8-switch light switch. I'm happy with how the switches will be wired to the lights - but that leaves 8 light-side wires to be joined to a single mains-feed neutral... and the need to join live to all 8 switches. Obviously, I'd also need to join all 9 earth wires to the earthing point in the metal back-box for the switch.
I'm unsure how best to connect 3 groups of 9 wires each. (8+1 live; 8+1 neutral; 8+1 earth). One idea I had was 'wire nuts' - but as a mechanism to join 9 wires (having never used wire nuts before) I feel apprehensive. I've looked for buzz-bar and connector block approaches - but haven't found anything that looks as if it would work... I'd need the non-earth wires to be insulated - I'd not want live mains separated only by air from a metal switch case.
Any hints - how should I go about doing this? Is it likely feasible to do it in the box for the light switch? Do I need an external junction box? If I need a junction box - why can't I find one that looks suited to this sort of application? I can't be the first person who wants to switch 8 different things using the 8 switches provided by a single light switch unit.
If the right answer is 'wire nuts' - I could try that. I've no problem with 'power'... the 8 LED lights will draw less than the antiquated fluorescent set-up. The wiring I've run to each light is 1.5mm² twin-and-earth. The switch itself is the size of a double mains socket... there's a deep metal box (surface mount) behind the switch with punch-out holes to allow cables in.
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