2 gang replaced by 3 gang but no neutral available

[bmiddleton125]

I have a similar situation to the person that has fitted a 3 gang switch in place of 2 gang wired for two way switching. I understand that I have no neutral (permanent neutral that is) to install a simple one way switching circuit for on extra independent light.

My house has the usual circuit breakers to different circuits. Can I use the neutral from the sockets in my kitchen and the live which is available at the existing 2 gang switch or do I need to use the neutral AND the live from the same circuit (namely the socket circuit).

I look forward to your answer.

 

[breezer]

No you cant, look in the wiki to see how its done

 

[ricicle]

You must NEVER use neutrals from other circuits and I wouldn't really want to use a supply from the sockets to feed into a switch as there is the issues of fusing down and a non-lighting circuit in the switch when it comes to isolation.

 

[plugwash]

however if its a double switch and you currently have two permanent lives coming in from the same cuircuit it may be possible to turn one of them into a neutral by making changes at the roses.

you will need to get a good understanding of how both switches are fed before you can figure out if that is possible though.

 

[EddieCurrent]

Hi,

All I ask is please don't 'borrow' a neutral from another circuit, as it may arise to a different {'fault'} post in the future when you come to testing etc....(even if you could, borrowing a neutral from a circuit in the kitchen would be notifiable too, and you dont want that, do you !! )

 

[securespark]

If the neutral & live were on different sides of the board, you'd trip the RCD anyhow..