Is this possible?

[Droo]

Hi everyone

In my kitchen I have two lights.

I have a switch like this

that controlls both lights.

I also have a switch like

that controls one of the lights so it is 2 way.

I want to fit an outside light and use the single switch to operate it. Is it possible with what I have?

 

[Chri5]

If the swich is being used, if you add the external lights to it, it will switch on and off in tandem with the existing light .

If you mean you intend to take out the existing 2w switch function and free up the switch, then yes you can.

Surely it's no pain to buy a 2w twin switch plate and simply use the new switch in the twin switch plate exclusively for the new light?

The pain will be getting the cabling in for the new light between switch and fitting. See Wiki lighting section if you intend to DIY, and consider paying someone if you not sure and want it MW certified.

 

[davy_owen_88]

You're in the wrong forum, you need the Psychic Electricians forum. Down the hall, 2nd door on the left, ask for Bob, he'll treat you right

 

[Droo]

Yeah I intend to take out the 2 way and to use the single switch exclusively for the outside light.

It serves no purpose as a 2 way in the kitchen because of its positioning.

The single switch is on the external wall so i thought i could feed the new light wire in from outside into the back of the switch?

 

[davy_owen_88]

The single switch is on the external wall so i thought i could feed the new light wire in from outside into the back of the switch?

You will need to open up the single gang switch and see what wires are available. You probably won't have a neutral so you will need to take a feed from somewhere else if you want the light to work.

 

[Droo]

On the single switch I have Brown in C, Black in L1 and Grey in L2. Any help?

 

[JohnD]

no

can you get at the wires in the ceiling rose?

 

[Droo]

Yeah they are easily accessible.

I am at work at the moment so wont be able to check anything till later on.

 

[JohnD]

you are likely to have more luck taking the supply from the ceiling rose; running it through in the ceiling out of sight and through the wall to your lamp.

 

[Droo]

How about if I rewire the cable running from the ceiling rose to the single switch as apposed to adding another cable to the ceiling rose?

 

[JohnD]

will this involve chasing out the plaster from the switch to the ceiling

 

[Droo]

I hope not!

I figured perhaps naively that I could use the exisiting cable that runs from ceiling rose to switch to provide the neccesary wires to connect my outside light into the circuit?

Its been a few years since I did wiring in college!!

 

[JohnD]

If you are willing to discontinue the current function of the switch, and it connects to a ceiling rose that you can get at, you could take a cable fom the position of the existing ceiling rose to the position of the new lamp. I envisage that as being run in the ceiling void and passed through the wall to the lamp fitting. is that what you want?

How accessible is the upper side of the ceiling above?

Have a look at the ceiling rose, see how many terminal blocks it has, and how many cables, and how many wires each cable has.

 

[Droo]

Right I see what you mean now.

To be honest I dont want to run any extra cables as its a new house and the last thing i want to do is start taking up carpets and floor boards!

If I cant power the lamp using the existing electrics then I dont know what to do.

The more I talk about it the more that is coming back!

 

[JohnD]

If you don't mind having surface wiring, you could put a 3A spur on the Socket circuit and suppy the lamp from that. You will have to redecorate the wall where you cut it out for the FCU