neon lit switch for loft lights.

luke photography · 30 Jun 2020

Hi,

I have a light switch on the landing for the loft lights. I was hoping to install a switch with a neon lamp that is lit when the lights are on so I can be reminded to switch them off.

It seems this is a fairly rare situation and nothing was available (let me know if I've just been looking for the wrong thing!!).

So I thought I might be use just the single side of an immersion heater switch with neon indicator.. but whilst the switch works fine, the neon lamp lights when the switch is off rather than when its on. can I flip connections or add some bridging wires to fix this and if so where ??

note, I only have a live and neutral coming in for the lighting circuit.

Many thanks in advance!!

AndyPRK · 30 Jun 2020

if you only have the live in and out that is the problem.

You need a neutral for the neon. Fit a 3 core and earth cable would sort it

luke photography · 30 Jun 2020

hmmm, that's what i figured.. rather a lot of wall chasing would be required. might just wire a low power spot light in parade with the loft light, just not so neat

thanks anyway

winston1 · 30 Jun 2020

luke photography said:
note, I only have a live and neutral coming in for the lighting circuit.

Many thanks in advance!!

If you only have 2 wires you don't have a neutral. Blue (or black) does not mean neutral.

luke photography · 30 Jun 2020

yes sorry live in live out to lamp.

winston1 · 30 Jun 2020

Another thought. Why not drill a 6mm hole in the loft hatch so you can see if the light is left on. Cover the hole with clear plastic to keep out drafts.

EFLImpudence · 30 Jun 2020

OR:

Look at the position of the switch.

bernardgreen · 30 Jun 2020

OR:

Fit a switch operated by the loft hatch, hatch open Light ON, hatch closed Light OFF

Tigercubrider · 30 Jun 2020

But how would you know the switch works?
The one in my fridge is broken... every time I open the door the light is on.

Tigercubrider · 30 Jun 2020

Neon lights in the switch are a problem, but what about using the switch cable in the loft to power something like an led PSU ? That could then power either a bit of led tape or some other kind of low voltage light that is discrete and ceiling mounted? Any "socket of the lighting" issues could be dealt with by a project box

AndyPRK · 30 Jun 2020

Keep it simple guys.

You could change the way your current switch is wired just to act as a light.

Then put the real switch in the loft by the hatch

sparkwright · 30 Jun 2020

Why do anything?

You only have to look at the switch to see if it's on or off.

JohnW2 · 1 Jul 2020

AndyPRK said:
You could change the way your current switch is wired just to act as a light.

Could you perhaps clarify? I didn't know that switches could be made to "act as a light", no matter how they are wired

Kind Regards, John

FrodoOne · 1 Jul 2020

luke photography said:
Hi,

I have a light switch on the landing for the loft lights. I was hoping to install a switch with a neon lamp that is lit when the lights are on so I can be reminded to switch them off.

It seems this is a fairly rare situation and nothing was available (let me know if I've just been looking for the wrong thing!!).

So I thought I might be use just the single side of an immersion heater switch with neon indicator.. but whilst the switch works fine, the neon lamp lights when the switch is off rather than when its on. can I flip connections or add some bridging wires to fix this and if so where ??

note, I only have a live and neutral coming in for the lighting circuit.

Many thanks in advance!!

If you have a "Neutral" available - all should be well.
However, do you mean to say that the UK has not a "Wall Plate" equivalent to this Australian wall plate (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...edia/File:Australian_four_gang_wall_plate.jpg) on which an appropriate indicator might be mounted?

JohnW2 · 1 Jul 2020

FrodoOne said:
If you have a "Neutral" available - all should be well.

It would be - but, as we know (if we've read the thread), that isn't the case ....

luke photography said:
note, I only have a live and neutral coming in for the lighting circuit.

AndyPRK said:
if you only have the live in and out that is the problem. You need a neutral for the neon.

winston1 said:
If you only have 2 wires you don't have a neutral. Blue (or black) does not mean neutral.

luke photography said:
yes sorry live in live out to lamp.

Kind Regards, John

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neon lit switch for loft lights.

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