Fitting neon indicator switch

Frengineer · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:50 pm Post Subject: Fitting neon indicator switch

I need to fit a neon indicator switch in place of an ordinary light switch. Unfortunately there is only one wire to and from the switch (plus an earth).
The new switch is a double pole switch with the neon wired across the two bottom terminals.
I understand that I also need a "neutral" wire to make it work properly.
Where do I find a neutral wire?
How do I wire up the switch?
Frengineer.

tim west · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:52 pm Post Subject:

some old neon indicator switches used to have the indicator across the switch ie across live and switchline the neon was on when the switch was open and off when made it basically ended up in series with the lamp and the switch shorted the neon or not accordingly.
The main use of this was to locate switches in the dark.
if you wish the neon on when the light is then you will need to rewire a neutral to the switch (three core and earth from rose to switch).

sparkmanc · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:25 pm Post Subject:

..or perhaps a double insulated singles cable would be easier, if the installation is in steel conduit.

breezer · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:29 pm Post Subject:

sparkmanc wrote:

..or perhaps a double insulated singles cable would be easier, if the installation is in steel conduit.

well if it is in steel conduit (doubtful) double insulated wire is not required

Frengineer, why do you want this switch?

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Frengineer · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:02 pm Post Subject:

Thank you all for the replies.

I need the switch to tell me that the bathroom fan is going.

The long story is that I wanted to dim the (new) lights and had a pull dimmer fitted (inside the bathroom). This setup didn't kick the fan control because (I think) the dimmer switch reduced the output voltage. So now the outside switch switches the whole lot on. What happens now is that when somebody turns the lights off with the pull switch it leaves the fan going (it is very quiet).
Hence the need for the neon.
Frengineer.

breezer · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:27 pm Post Subject:

why not fit a big neon in its own box above the outside of the bathroom and run a cable directly to the fan?

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sparkmanc · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:17 pm Post Subject:

breezer wrote:

sparkmanc wrote:

..or perhaps a double insulated singles cable would be easier, if the installation is in steel conduit.

well if it is in steel conduit (doubtful) double insulated wire is not required

Frengineer, why do you want this switch?

I actually just mean a conduit drop for the switch buried in the wall (Pretty common) - not the whole system.