RCD before CU

[riveralt]

Please "DNFTT"



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

 

[Monkeh]

Please "DNFTT"



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I'm a sucker for 'em it seems. Then again, most of this forum seems to be the same way.

 

[ColinJacobson]

There's nothing wrong with looping in at the switch. Although, personally, I wouldn't use a terminal strip, but a Wago or similar.

My point is terminal strip rammed in with wires stretched. Not nice at all. I find it amazing that people would actually condone this practice.

So you're objecting to looping in at the switch because of one bad install?

No. I find it amateurish to use terminal connectors in small cramped boxes.

So, you object to junction boxes too?

Stop being obstinate and see the advantages of looping in at the switch.

You did not read what I wrote. I do not object to the principle of looping at the switch.

Also do not respond to off-topic posts., it encourages them.

 

[riveralt]

[You did not read what I wrote. I do not object to the principle of looping at the switch.

Also do not respond to off-topic posts., it encourages them.

Q.E.D.

 

[ebee]

I do not like strip connectors in boxes behind switches and I do like the loop in at ceiling roses .

However I will not and would not condemn those who do. It is equally correct to do.

--------------------------------

I was wondering why you reffered to something as a "Breaker" when it is usually reffered to as a switch, although switches do break the circuit it's not the name we normally choose for them, so I wanted to know if you meant RCD or MCB (dp) or switch, now you've cleared that up thank you.

-------------------------------------------
Did the reference to Italian Renovators have any significance, say if they'd been English or Scottish or Irish or Welsh or Jewish or Islamic or whovian?

 

[ColinJacobson]

I do not like strip connectors in boxes behind switches and I do like the loop in at ceiling roses .

The same here.

I was wondering why you reffered to something as a "Breaker" when it is usually reffered to as a switch,

A US commercial term.

Did the reference to Italian Renovators have any significance, say if they'd been English or Scottish or Irish or Welsh or Jewish or Islamic or whovian?

They were great tilers and plasterers, alas not good at plumbing or electrics. They appeared to be good at masonry (top show) and cowboys at the rest, which is hidden. The were not pro plumbers and electricians and just jack-off-all trades, masters of none. They put dimers everywhere - to help sell in their minds - in the kitchen and bathroom as well. They do have different ways over there. Ever been to Spanish and Italian hotels and apartments and looked?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Unless the boxes are deep enough with factory made terminals, then everything else is a bodge.

Does anybody make backboxes with terminals to support looping at the switch, or do choc-blocks or Wago etc connectors always have to be used?

My point is terminal strip rammed in with wires stretched. Not nice at all. I find it amazing that people would actually condone this practice.

I cannot see where anybody has condoned that - can you point it out?

I do not object to the principle of looping at the switch.

Well - I'm glad we've got that established. The problem is that at the start you said "The wiring was a disgrace with wires running to strange places with one hall light switch box being a sort of junction box" and then when asked to elucidate you said "A L & N from the mcb was taken to the hall box. terminal strips was used to feed a wire from here to the living room. A right F up. It is electrically sound, just complex".

"Electrically sound, just complex" does very much read as if the principle of looping at the switch was exactly what you were objecting to, and a lot of time could have been saved if early on you'd said it was the way this one had been done in boxes which were too small that was the real issue.

Anyway - that's all sorted now.

Also do not respond to off-topic posts., it encourages them.

So in the spirit of remaining on-topic could we return to the work that you did?

What testing did you do, particularly of cpc continuity, what type of RCD is being used, and what about the fact that there's only one for the whole installation?

 

[ebee]

So your objection was not that it was done using that method but rather that it had been done BADLY.

Good that's clearer.

And you are American? just a guess from your post.
Makes it a bit clearer now

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If he is then I wonder what he makes of the US light switch wiring practice, which also has the neutrals taken to the switch, but joined by twisting them together and using wirenuts?

 

[ColinJacobson]

So your objection was not that it was done using that method but rather that it had been done BADLY.

Good that's clearer.

And you are American? just a guess from your post.
Makes it a bit clearer now

Not US. The hall box had a wire running to the bathroom and one to the kitchen. It was a double dimmer dimming a hall wall light and the ceiling light. It was a complete mess.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What did you do to resolve the mess?

 

[ColinJacobson]

What did you do to resolve the mess?

Get rid of the wall light (it was crap anyhow) and cut back the wire to give more space. I was thinking of soldering the wires and using heatsink to gain more space and get rid of the bulky terminal blocks.

I did suggest a surface patress to gain more space, but they would not have it.

 

[JohnD]

did you do this working as an electrician?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The hall box had a wire running to the bathroom and one to the kitchen. It was a double dimmer dimming a hall wall light and the ceiling light. It was a complete mess.

So it's still got the loop cables running to the switch, and you relieved the congestion in there by getting rid of one of the lights the switch served and cutting back its cable?

 

[echoes]

CJ would have a fit if he saw my hall light switch - it's a looped in 2-gang intermediate & 2-way and has choc-block for neutral and earth. It's a complex junction but due to the layout of my rooms it almost halved the length of T & E cable needed compared to ceiling rose looping and is very accessible for testing. Plenty of space for 18 conductors in a 35mm box without crushing or pinching.

It's not always the better solution, but it often can be.

I just wish the back boxes would have large earth terminals like they do on ceiling roses.