power at the switch

[ian00uk]

i went with an electrician to gain experience and he mentioned that all lights were powered at the switch.

im struggling to understand this and was wondering if anyone could explain how etc

cheers

 

[Spark123]

Not sure what he means, you have a permanent live and a switch live at each switch. You can loop in at the switch or using a ceiling rose.
There are some pics of lighting circuit layouts here: //www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting

 

[STI]

I was told a similar thing but it was Power always goes to the switch. In other words always take the power to and from the switch, the neutral does not connect to the switch it goes to the fitting

 

[ian00uk]

saw it with downlights, they were connected at switch at com and l1 both had brown cable then the neutrals were in a connector block in the back of the box.

 

[electronicsuk]

saw it with downlights, they were connected at switch at com and l1 both had brown cable then the neutrals were in a connector block in the back of the box.

That sounds like loop in/out at the switch plate then. Advice like "all lights were powered at the switch" really isn't very concise and makes little sense. You'd be better off observing how circuits function for yourself, as you're more likely to remember how things work if you figure them out for yourself rather than just being told.

 

[STI]

saw it with downlights, they were connected at switch at com and l1 both had brown cable then the neutrals were in a connector block in the back of the box.

Still ok the power has gone to the switch the neutrals were connected in this case in a connector block NOT in the switch.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

i went with an electrician to gain experience and he mentioned that all lights were powered at the switch.

im struggling to understand this and was wondering if anyone could explain how etc

Seriously Ian - you should be spending your time studying circuit design principles, not trying to gain experience just yet.

 

[1john]

I wonder if that sparky had been on the 5 day or the 6 day course?

 

[DIYDANDY]

Seriously Ian - you should be spending your time studying circuit design principles, not trying to gain experience just yet.

Take no notice of this silly advice, get out as often as you can. Hands on experience is always helpful.

 

[ian00uk]

Thanks DIYDANDY. I believe you learn more doing hands on experience than sitting looking at textbooks etc

 

[sparkwright]

You need both.

If you are learning you will do as you are told at work, and observe.

At home you can refer to text-books and diagrams like those found on here, where it may all start to make a bit more sense.

I don't know if you have college books, from memory they tend to show circuit diagrams, rather than a wiring diagram that actually shows each twin and earth cable, and where each core goes. It may be the case that this latter diagram would help you more.

Diagrams found on this site should provide excellent help.

 

[ian00uk]

ok thanks for your input sparkwright

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[dingbat]

I wonder if that sparky had been on the 5 day or the 6 day course?

It could very easily be a five-year apprentice-trained spark with thirty years experience.

 

[dingbat]

Thanks DIYDANDY. I believe you learn more doing hands on experience than sitting looking at textbooks etc

Only if the work you are doing is correctly supervised. From what you have said about the guy you're working with, he doesn't seem to know a lot about what he does for a living.

i went with an electrician to gain experience and he mentioned that all lights were powered at the switch.

(But I may be being unfair to him - it might just be your understanding of what you think he said.)