Switch wiring incorrect, issue?

[Jam1]

If a shower pull chord switch were to be wired as per the drawing attached, with both lives and neutrals switched on each side, would this still be safe?

 

[JohnD]

Yes, for the moment, but it is not correct.

Your switch might be dual pole, but many switches are single pole, which would be dangerous. During maintenance, somebody might connect a L wire to the L socket, which is usually correct but in your case would be wrong.

People do sometimes make mistakes, but this is one that should have been noticed and corrected.

 

[ericmark]

Yes, but don't really understand why you would think otherwise? That is a standard way both feed lives (line and neutral) in one side and both load lives in other side, why would you think this is wrong?

Shower isolators are never single pole, if a unit was, it would not be an isolator, only a switch.

 

[pete01]

Yes, but don't really understand why you would think otherwise? That is a standard way both feed lives (line and neutral) in one side and both load lives in other side, why would you think this is wrong?

Look at it again

 

[pete01]

It wont change how it works and it isn't unsafe.

 

[ericmark]

I see brown in N and blue in L, but every 110 volt plug I have wired is marked L and N, but there is no N with 110 volts, only L1 and L2 the marking are it seems only a guide, same with cable colours, I have never over sleeved the blue in a 110 volt plug, even when there is no neutral.

 

[pete01]

Oh is this 110v?

 

[ericmark]

Oh is this 110v?

Does it matter? What I am showing is we all ignore the N markings on equipment.

 

[pete01]

Does it matter? What I am showing is we all ignore the N markings on equipment.

Oh, do we? I don't

 

[Deleted member 142255]

If the switch has a neon/led indicator, it would be permanently illuminated whether the switch was on or off.

 

[Deleted member 142255]

Does it matter? What I am showing is we all ignore the N markings on equipment.

That would be a very irresponsible thing to do especially if the item contained a fuse.

 

[pete01]

That would be a very irresponsible thing to do especially if the item contained a fuse.

Or a socket outlet

 

[Deleted member 142255]

Or a socket outlet

Or a single pole switch, the list goes on and would be a complete contravention of 7671

 

[EFLImpudence]

What is happening?

If the switch has a neon/led indicator, it would be permanently illuminated whether the switch was on or off.

Are you sure?

Does it matter? What I am showing is we all ignore the N markings on equipment.

How can you ignore just the N markings?

 

[ericmark]

Be it marked L1 and L2 or N and L we use the marking to identify what the device does, maybe there should be a standard switch marking, the L1 and L2 + L3 and Com and L1 + L2 seem to cause a load of problems, we are asked many times how to replace switches because we have not standardised markings.

The whole industry seems to be full of poor descriptions, all that really matters is the supply and load are correct, one as @Bazza-spark seems to have got it wrong but highlighted the indicator light not working, but it has been highlighted how some devices can burn out if fitted in duel direction flow when designed for mono direction, but that is not the case here.

Yes, there are places where to swap line and neutral would cause a danger, but the case shown is not one of them.