Light Switch question - loft/neon

[sh4d0w]

Hi all,

I am hoping that someone will be able to give me a bit of advice on an issue i a faced with at the minute.

I am changing the layout upstairs on my landing and moving a few doors, part of this will see me move the loft light switch, this is currently a surface mounted box with a neon indicator light on it which is reet handy!

Anyway, i came to move it tonight, pulled the cables back and fed to new location but when trying to wire up to a new MK 20A Neon switch i noticed that i have no neutral and 10 mins of head scrating i realised it isnt going to work as i have a Single Twin and earth cable coming down from the converted loft, one perm live and a switch live plus earth.

I have wired the old one back up for now but really would like to replace it.

The current one works as the Neon is sep cabled to switch live & earth.

If i dont make sense, sorry- im a DIY#'er not a spark

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well, earth should not be used like that. Someone has been naughty.

However, it must be quite simple to get a neutral from the loft.

 

[PBC_1966]

Should be an easy job to use the existing cable to pull through a 3-core and earth replacement.

Or you could connect the neon across the switch so that it's on when the loft light is off and vice versa. That might take a little getting used to though!

 

[sparkwright]

You said converted loft - that could make it difficult to get a new cable through.

Do you need a neon?

If the switch is visible, you can see if the switch is up or down.

Best not leave the old switch wired in the way it was.

 

[PBC_1966]

If the switch is visible, you can see if the switch is up or down.

You can, but the neon clearly makes it more obvious if the light has been left on by mistake after the hatch is closed, especially if the switch isn't in a place where it will be noticed so easily in passing.

 

[Diyisfun]

Should be an easy job to use the existing cable to pull through a 3-core and earth replacement.

Or you could connect the neon across the switch so that it's on when the loft light is off and vice versa. That might take a little getting used to though!

That's what I did I used a pull cord light switch & drilled a hole in the side & fitted a neon.

 

[sh4d0w]

Thanks all,

I have been up into the loft and traced the cables.

Well... I have one Twin & E coming from the bathroom lights to a JB where Flex comes out and goes to the lights and then another run of T&E down to the switch on the landing.
Here is a pic of the JB.

Can anyone advise on this

 

[sh4d0w]

Ah,
So in the JB i have
2 o'Clock = Both Reds = Perm lives
5 o'Clock = Black and Blue = neutral ?
7 o'Clock = Earths
10 o'Clock = Switched lives?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Your best option would be to run three core and earth from the JB down to the new switch position, then you can have the neon connected so it lights when the loft light is on.

 

[sh4d0w]

I can do that pretty easy i should think, once that is done how should the new switch be wired up?

on the New neon i can see load (2) and feed (1) L and N

 

[PBC_1966]

Ah,
So in the JB i have
2 o'Clock = Both Reds = Perm lives
5 o'Clock = Black and Blue = neutral ?
7 o'Clock = Earths
10 o'Clock = Switched lives?

That's what it looks like.

So your new 3-core (plus earth) cable would be connected:

From JB 2 o'clock position to switch feed L
From JB 10 o'clock position to switch load L
From JB 5 o'clock position to switch feed N

Earth to earths in JB and appropriate terminal at switch, of course.

 

[sh4d0w]

Bob on! thanks PBC -