Switched fuse spurs in conservatory...why?

[angularbanjo]

Hi (pure curiosity alert!)

My daughter has a semi-detached house built about 20 years ago with a conservatory added about 10 years back. There are 4 x 2-gang plug sockets in there along with one wall light and 2 switched fuse spurs. I've just been putting in new shiny sockets as part of redecorating and started to wonder what the switched fuse sputs are for exactly. I replaced them like for like but can't figure out what they do. I can switch them on or off and it makes no difference to the plug sockets working nor the wall light. I wondered perhaps if there might have been a ceiling light at some point which took it's power from there? Any thoughts would be useful.

Also, as an aside, one of the things which baffles me about the house is that the living room has no ceiling lights. There are a bunch of switches on the walls which do nothing so it must have had ceiling lights at some point. I just can't imagine ever thinking it would be a good idea to lose the ceiling lights in my living room! Is this something anyone has come across before or even done themselves?

Cheers

 

[flameport]

Conservatory - very likely it was one for the lights and one for the sockets. It's the usual cheapo method that conservatory installers do, as most homes have a ring circuit for sockets and it's easier to shove on a couple of FCUs rather than extend the ring and lighting circuits properly.

If neither do anything then that requires further investigation as to how the lights and sockets are supplied and wired. Might be because someone subsequently did it properly, or they have been bypassed for reasons unknown.

I have seen homes where the ceiling lights have been removed - mainly where people want them putting back again and have no idea why the previous occupiers removed them.

 

[terryplumb]

Do the fused connection units have any wiring connected to their load terminals ?
Some folk don't like ceiling lights ,and prefer wall lights ,or lamps. My sister hasn't used the ceiling light in her living room for several years since I fitted it ,says it's only for " effect"... Whatever the hell that is ,I don't know !!

 

[JohnW2]

.... started to wonder what the switched fuse sputs are for exactly. I replaced them like for like but can't figure out what they do. I can switch them on or off and it makes no difference to the plug sockets working nor the wall light.

When you replaced them, did you find that there was a cable connected to the 'load' ('output') terminals as well as to to the supply side (i.e. at least two cables, each with a blue and brown)?

I wondered perhaps if there might have been a ceiling light at some point which took it's power from there? Any thoughts would be useful.

As has been said, that's a possibility. I presume that there are no sockets of any type (e.g. 'little' ones) anywhere in the conservatory which the FCUs may be feeding?

Kind Regards, John
Edit: too slow again (and distracted by a phone call mid-typing)!

 

[sparkwright]

You have switched fused spurs INSIDE the conservatory, and they don't do anything?

Most probably been installed so wall mounted panel heaters or the like can be fitted in the future.

 

[angularbanjo]

When you replaced them, did you find that there was a cable connected to the 'load' ('output') terminals as well as to to the supply side (i.e. at least two cables, each with a blue and brown)?
As has been said, that's a possibility. I presume that there are no sockets of any type (e.g. 'little' ones) anywhere in the conservatory which the FCUs may be feeding?

Kind Regards, John
Edit: too slow again (and distracted by a phone call mid-typing)!

In one spur 2 red live wires going to Live 'In' and 2 black neutral going to Neutral 'In' (nothing in the 2 'out' terminals). In the other, 3 live into Live 'In' and 3 neutral into neutral 'In' (again nothing in the 2 out terminals). Obviously both are earthed and there are no other sockets anywhere.

The future panel heaters are an interesting call, we're in Scotland, it's baltic in there during the winter but there's a log burner going in next week!

Thanks again for all the input so far

 

[JohnW2]

In one spur 2 red live wires going to Live 'In' and 2 black neutral going to Neutral 'In' (nothing in the 2 'out' terminals). In the other, 3 live into Live 'In' and 3 neutral into neutral 'In' (again nothing in the 2 out terminals). Obviously both are earthed and there are no other sockets anywhere.

OK - so if nothing is connected to the 'out' terminals in either case, then neither is actually doing anything at present. Either they were once connected to something, which is now 'gone', or maybe someone installed them 'in case' they were subsequently needed for something (wall lights, socket for TV or whatever). Either way, you can obviously just ignore them - to remove them could involve quite a bit of (investigation and) work - and, you never know, your daughter might one day find a need for one or both of them!

KInd Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

My daughter has a semi-detached house built about 20 years ago with a conservatory added about 10 years back. There are 4 x 2-gang plug sockets in there along with one wall light and 2 switched fuse spurs.

Do we know where these two FCUs are actually located?

 

[angularbanjo]

Do we know where these two FCUs are actually located?

Just above the skirting, each just few inches along from one of the 2 gang plug sockets, and at the same height. Both FCUs on different walls

 

[sparkwright]

Heaters, heaters, heaters...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Do the fused connection units have any wiring connected to their load terminals ?
Some folk don't like ceiling lights ,and prefer wall lights ,or lamps. My sister hasn't used the ceiling light in her living room for several years since I fitted it ,says it's only for " effect"... Whatever the hell that is ,I don't know !!

A ceiling looks naked without a light and it does serve as a backup light for wall lights when they fail - you cannot beat having some choice in lighting.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

You have switched fused spurs INSIDE the conservatory, and they don't do anything?

Most probably been installed so wall mounted panel heaters or the like can be fitted in the future.

Have you checked what their source of supply is, which MCB circuit?

 

[conny]

The house we are renting has 2 wall lights and no ceiling lights in the lounge which is approximately 12' wide by 20' long. From a 3 gang switch both wall lights are controlled by one of the switches. No idea if there is wiring to the other two as I've never dropped the switch off the wall. We have a tall uplighter in one corner and a 'decorative' tree light ornament in the other for added illumination.
Maybe one day I'll pop the switch off and see if there are any cables to the other two switches.

 

[angularbanjo]

A ceiling looks naked without a light and it does serve as a backup light for wall lights when they fail - you cannot beat having some choice in lighting.

Have to agree, she may well have one or two fitted at some point in the future so at least hopefully fitting should be easy enough with the pre-existing switches and hopefully some wiring.

 

[angularbanjo]

Have you checked what their source of supply is, which MCB circuit?

Sorry, wouldn't know an MCB circuit from a packet of chocolate Hobnobs