Outdoor light wiring

henry1 · 18 Nov 2020

I have an existing outdoor light which stopped working. However, it is not accessible to replace as there is a plastic roof in front of it.

I was thinking of running a cable from the switch to a new outdoor light in an accessible location. It's easy enough to disconnect the current switched live from the switch to the old light and run a new switched live to the new light.

However, where do I connect the neutral of the light to? All parts of the old light is inaccessible, except the switch of course, so I have no idea where the neutral connects to, probably somewhere under the floorboards.

There is a wall socket near the switch. Is it acceptable to connect the light neutral to the neutral in there?

terryplumb · 18 Nov 2020

If there is no neutral at the switch ,then there will be a junction box somewhere ,or it could be at a ceiling rose ,where the wiring to / from the switch originates. That's where the cable going to the outside light will pick up the neutral ,the switched live ,and earth. You need to track it down.
Picking up a neutral from a different circuit is not an option.

henry1 · 18 Nov 2020

It's probably at a ceiling rose, and probably the one in the kitchen as this is where the outside light switch is. But there is a tiled bathroom above, so the ceiling rose is not accessible.
There's only live in the switch and switched live out.

terryplumb · 18 Nov 2020

The connections at the ceiling rose are accessible ,I assume. You could examine the connections there and establish if the current outside light is wired from there. If it is you can alter the wiring to take the neutral to your switch using the existing cable.

terryplumb · 18 Nov 2020

Where is the switch that controls your ceiling light / rose ,in relation to the switch for outside light ?

henry1 · 18 Nov 2020

Next to each other!
How do I alter the wiring to get a neutral? There are 2 wires to the switch. One should stay unchanged to get the live feed. The other goes to the outdoor light. It's going to be unused after I will run a cable to the new light, but there's not much I can do with it...

terryplumb · 18 Nov 2020

Show pics of the wiring at the two switches ,and wiring at the ceiling rose . How many ceiling light fittings are there that are controlled by the kitchen light switch ?

henry1 · 18 Nov 2020

It's one kitchen ceiling light, 2 switches to control it. One switch is behind the fridge and this is where the outdoor light switch is. So I'll be moving both by a few cm if I go ahead with this work.
I'll have to take the pictures later. But as far as I know, it's all wired the standard way.

terryplumb · 18 Nov 2020

Pics will reveal all. Turn power off at fuse board / consumer unit before removing switch plates and working at ceiling .

henry1 · 19 Nov 2020

terryplumb · 19 Nov 2020

Is the switch ,fused ,connection unit ( the one on the right) the switch for your outside light ?

henry1 · 19 Nov 2020

Yes. Looks like I can just take the neutral from there?

terryplumb · 19 Nov 2020

Yes ,there is live ,neutral and earth all available . I can't see the wiring clearly ,but it APPEARS that there is a supply cable Twin and earth( possibly a spur from the socket above) a second twin and earth ( no idea what that is connected to ) and a single brown insulated conductor that disappears to the left hand side, is that so ? Where does it go ?

henry1 · 19 Nov 2020

There's a T&E in for the supply to the FCU and one out for the load (outdoor light).
There's a single brown insulated wire connected to the supply side to provide a live for the 3-way light switch next to it.
At least, this is my guess.

henry1 · 19 Nov 2020

The socket above has nothing to do with it. I installed the socket myself for the fridge and cooker.

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Outdoor light wiring

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