Using a double pole swich for outside light

[TNDU]

I fitted a double pole switch for the outside light and it works fine, with L1 and L2 connected (and N1 and N2 left unconnected).

Problem is, the neon indicator light on the switch doesn't switch on when the switch is on. Is this because the N1 and N2 terminals are not connected?

I know this switch is designed for an appliance so for that purpose both the L and N terminals would be connected, but as I am using it for the outside light, the neon indicator is not working because the N terminals are not connected?

 

[pete01]

Yes the neon needs a neutral, is there a neutral at the switch?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I fitted a double pole switch for the outside light and it works fine, with L1 and L2 connected (and N1 and N2 left unconnected).

Problem is, the neon indicator light on the switch doesn't switch on when the switch is on. Is this because the N1 and N2 terminals are not connected?

Yes, of course.

I know this switch is designed for an appliance so for that purpose both the L and N terminals would be connected, but as I am using it for the outside light, the neon indicator is not working because the N terminals are not connected?

Are you saying you have no neutral at the switch?

 

[TNDU]

Yes the neon needs a neutral, is there a neutral at the switch?

that's what i am thinking, that the neon needs the live and neutral to be connected for it to light up.

problem is, the light switch only has live and switched live, so i have been told that the live go into supply live (L1) and switched live go into load live (L2) or both could go into the N1 and N2, don't matter. Neither arrangement has both L and N connected. DOH, I thought I could use this for the outside light so that I know when it is on as I can't see the outside lights from inside my house.

 

[pete01]

that's what i am thinking, that the neon needs to live and neutral for it to light up.

problem is, the light switch only has live and switched live, so i have been told that the live go into supply live (L1) and switched live go into load live (L2) or both could go into the N1 and N2, don't matter. Neither arrangement has both L and N connected. DOH, I thought I could use this for the outside light so that I know when it is on as I can't see the outside lights from inside my house.

Well when you switch the switch on they will be on, neon or no neon?

 

[TNDU]

Yes, of course.


Are you saying you have no neutral at the switch?

this is the existing switch, which only has two wires. The green wire in the photo is the earth wire.

 

[TNDU]

Well when you switch the switch on they will be on, neon or no neon?

yes, it does work, so when i switch the switch on, the outside light turns on and when i switch the switch off, the light outside turns off.

however, the only reason i bought this double pole switch is that it has a neon indicator so i can see when the outside lights is on from inside my house, without having to open the door and look out! i thought the indicator would turn on when the switch is live, not that the L and N have to be connected.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Neither arrangement has both L and N connected. DOH, I thought I could use this for the outside light so that I know when it is on as I can't see the outside lights from inside my house.

Better if both L & N go via both poles of the switch, in case of water getting in the outdoor fitting, and tripping an RCD/RCBO for the circuit, as then it can be totally isolated. As it is, with no neutral at the switch, it will turn the light on/off, but you cannot have the warning light work, or totally isolate the light.

That new switch - MUST BE EARTHED.

 

[TNDU]

Better if both L & N go via both poles of the switch, in case of water getting in the outdoor fitting, and tripping an RCD/RCBO for the circuit, as then it can be totally isolated. As it is, with no neutral at the switch, it will turn the light on/off, but you cannot have the warning light work, or totally isolate the light.

That new switch - MUST BE EARTHED.

yeah, i read that the double pole switch isolate the power when there is a leak by cutting off the live and neutral. however my outside switch doesn't have live and neutral so i can't use the double pole switch for its intended purpose and I am not cabaple enough to start fitting in a neutral wire!

damn, i didn't know about the neon indicator needing the L and N connected. Oh well, back to a normal light switch I get then

Yes, I added an earth cable to run from the switch to the earth as mentioned in later post

 

[JohnW2]

however, the only reason i bought this double pole switch is that it has a neon indicator so i can see when the outside lights is on from inside my house, without having to open the door and look out! i thought the indicator would turn on when the switch is live, not that the L and N have to be connected.

You presumably now understand that, unfortunately, your thought was wrong!

In the absence of a neutral, there is theoretically one thing could try - if, continuing to use L1 ans L2 for your switching, you moved the yellow wires going to the neon so that there were also connected to L1 and L2 (one yellow to each), then the indicator should turn on when the outside lights are off and turn off when the outside lights are on - not the functionality you wanted (or hoped for) but maybe 'better than nothing'?

 

[pete01]

You presumably now understand that, unfortunately, your thought was wrong!

In the absence of a neutral, there is theoretically one thing could try - if, continuing to use L1 ans L2 for your switching, you moved the yellow wires going to the neon so that there were also connected to L1 and L2 (one yellow to each), then the indicator should turn on when the outside lights are off and turn off when the outside lights are on - not the functionality you wanted (or hoped for) but maybe 'better than nothing'?

I was thinking that , you can get an outside light switch that tells you to do that isnt there?

 

[TNDU]

By the way, that green wire is the earth wire as it is connected to the wall as shown in this photo, where it goes into that hole indicated by the red arrow. Did earth wire used to have this green sheath? They are yellow and green these days.

That isn't a neutral wire is it? I mean, neutral and not earth and someone just connected it to the wall?

 

[TNDU]

You presumably now understand that, unfortunately, your thought was wrong!

In the absence of a neutral, there is theoretically one thing could try - if, continuing to use L1 ans L2 for your switching, you moved the yellow wires going to the neon so that there were also connected to L1 and L2 (one yellow to each), then the indicator should turn on when the outside lights are off and turn off when the outside lights are on - not the functionality you wanted (or hoped for) but maybe 'better than nothing'?

that is clever but it will just confuse everyone, including me! also the neon indicator bulb will blow in no time as it would constantly be on since the outside light is rarely used.

 

[JohnW2]

that is clever but it will just confuse everyone, including me!

Yes, I admitted it is non-ideal but, for someone who was 'in the know' it would tell them whether the outside light was on or off without having to look outside!

also the neon indicator bulb will blow in no time as it would constantly be on since the outside light is rarely used.

Those neons do eventually die, but even those which are on continuously (which many are) usually last for a few years (and can usually be replaced).

 

[JohnW2]

By the way, that green wire is the earth wire as it is connected to the wall as shown in this photo, where it goes into that hole indicated by the red arrow.

Yes, that's how it should be.

Did earth wire used to have this green sheath? They are yellow and green these days.

Yes, a very long time ago it was green, rather than the current green/yellow

That isn't a neutral wire is it? I mean, neutral and not earth ...

No - it is earth. That theoretically leads to another possible 'clever' suggestion, but it's somewhat 'naughty' so I probably shouldn't mention it