What could this switch have been for

[Lex90]

I have a switch that I don’t know where it goes, and the wiring inside confuses me.

From what I can tell there are two cables coming in, but each has been kind of split in half. There is no break in the neutral, but the live for each cable has been cut and in one instance each half isolated into a block and in the other instance both halves of the live go thru the switch at L1 and Common. Each cable is also earthed and I don’t think that has been cut, just doubled up and sleeved. If I isolate the lives that were going thru the switch, nothing in the house stops working as far as I can tell.

Any hints at what I could be looking at? my thoughts were either a switch for patio lights as it is on the circuit for bedroom and outside lights, or maybe a secondary switch for one of the inside lights.

 

[pete01]

You will know more than us, it's a case of investing it or forget about it.

If I had to guess which I do I'd also guess an outside light?

 

[Lex90]

Thank you. I guess I’m more asking about the wiring, why it would be like that with only the lives used. Is that normal?

 

[pete01]

Usually the cable is cut and the neutrals put onto a connector block, but I suppose that's a clever way of doing it.

 

[Murdochcat]

No grommets in the back box so definitely a diy or builder bodge

 

[SUNRAY]

Usually the cable is cut and the neutrals put onto a connector block, but I suppose that's a clever way of doing it.

It's an unusual way of doing it, normally ony one L&N cable would be brought into a switch and the two outgoing cables to lights with all 3 neutrals joined in a connector. If there is a second L&N it would be the loop out but that is not the case here.
The only thing that instantly springs to mind is this is on two different lighting circuits (such as upstairs and downstairs)

 

[Lex90]

No grommets in the back box so definitely a diy or builder bodge

good point

 

[Lex90]

It's an unusual way of doing it, normally ony one L&N cable would be brought into a switch and the two outgoing cables to lights with all 3 neutrals joined in a connector. If there is a second L&N it would be the loop out but that is not the case here.
The only thing that instantly springs to mind is this is on two different lighting circuits (such as upstairs and downstairs)

Ah hmm yes hadn’t thought of that. Bungalow but there are two separate lighting circuits , both with lights in the same area of the house as the switch so definitely a possibility.

 

[JohnW2]

No grommets in the back box so definitely a diy or builder bodge

Good observation, but it sounds as if you have not seen much of the work of other 'electricians'!

 

[Murdochcat]

Good observation, but it sounds as if you have not seen much of the work of other 'electricians'!

That’s because they are builders or plumbers masquerading as sparks

 

[pete01]

No grommets in the back box so definitely a diy or builder bodge

But they've used earth sleeving....so confused lol

 

[JohnW2]

From what I can tell there are two cables coming in, but each has been kind of split in half. There is no break in the neutral, but the live for each cable has been cut and in one instance each half isolated into a block and in the other instance both halves of the live go thru the switch at L1 and Common. Each cable is also earthed and I don’t think that has been cut, just doubled up and sleeved. If I isolate the lives that were going thru the switch, nothing in the house stops working as far as I can tell.

I have quite often put a switch in-line,like illustrated here - carefully removing a section of the sheath of the cable, leaving the neutral intact and cutting the 'live' and interposing the switch between the two cut ends ....

It looks to me as if that may well be what is going on with the cable on the right, together with the one switch you currently have. It also looks as if exactly the same may have once going on with the cable on the left, at which time there was a "2-gang" switch, with the two cut brown conductors (now in a connector block) going to the second switch.

However, none of that helps you to know what the existing switch (or the second one, if it were once there) actually does/did

 

[JohnW2]

That’s because they are builders or plumbers masquerading as sparks

In the absence of a definition of "a spark", it's difficult to know (who actually IS one, and who is "masquerading" as one!) - but I've certainly come across people describing themselves as 'electricians' who have done some very dodgy things (and/or have displayed serious lacks of understanding) who do not do any plumbing or building work

 

[SUNRAY]

I have quite often put a switch in-line,like illustrated here - carefully removing a section of the sheath of the cable, leaving the neutral intact and cutting the 'live' and interposing the switch between the two cute ends ....
View attachment 381760
It looks to me as if that may well be what is going on with the cable on the right, together with the one switch you currently have. It also looks as if exactly the same may have once going on with the cable on the left, at which time there was a "2-gang" switch, with the two cut brown conductors (now in a connector block) going to the second switch.

However, none of that helps you to know what the existing switch (or the second one, if it were once there) actually does/did

I assume that is what has been done, however I assume the current switch is functional and OP knows what it does. I read this as trying to establish what the additional wiring is for.

 

[Murdochcat]

In the absence of a definition of "a spark", it's difficult to know (who actually IS one, and who is "masquerading" as one!) - but I've certainly come across people describing themselves as 'electricians' who have done some very dodgy things (and/or have displayed serious lacks of understanding) who do not do any plumbing or building work

And lots of DIYers on here do the same ….