Re: UK light switches available

[Keith Doxey <keith.doxey@xxxxxxx>]

On Wednesday, January 06, 1999 9:44 AM, Nigel Orr [SMTP:nigel.orr@xxxxxxx]
wrote:
> At 12:25 23/12/98 +0000, you wrote:
> >I was just looking at Laser's homepage and they have a new
catalogue out
> >(version 15) with UK wall sockets and UK (live wire only) light
switches
> >@ ?35 (inc).
>
> I've been puzzling about these a little- I'm assuming the problem with
> standard X-10 switches is that they need a Neutral connection, and
normal
> lightswitches in the UK only have Live, Switched Live and Earth- is
the
> first bit correct (I know the second is...)?
>
> If so, why didn't they produce a replacement ceiling fitting- at that
point
> you've got L,SL,N,E, and you could keep existing light switches, and
just
> use the switch as a logic input.
>
> Am I missing something blindingly obvious here?
>
> Nigel
>

Hi Nigel,

Yes you are missing something :-))

During the 70's when the price of copper went through the roof there
was a breif spell when lighting circuits were wired differently.
Instead of using Twin & Earth they used a single neutral (black with
a grey outer sheath) and a Live & Earth (red and bare earth inside a
grey outer sheath.

The neutral was run from consumer unit to first ceiling rose, 2nd rose,
3rd rose etc. Live and earth went from consumer unit to first switch,
2nd switch, 3rd switch etc. An additional Live & Earth was run from the
switch to the ceiling rose.

With that system each switch had 3 Live & Earth cables In,Switched,Out
Each ceiling rose only had Neutral, Switched Live and Earth.

Also if they had produced a module that replaced the ceiling rose, what
would happen with light fixtures such as spotlamp fittings and chandeliers
that require the ceiling rose to be removed?

Of course you could always put a DIN module above the ceiling and replace
your wallswitch with a pressbutton :-))

Keith

Keith Doxey
http://www.btinternet.com/~krazy.keith
Krazy Keith's World of DIY Home Automation


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