How many wires??

kevin93429 · Post by **kevin93429** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 12:32 pm

Hi

At the moment I have two, one gang/two way light switches in the room that will be the kitchen, controlling one light.

What I plan to have is a switch for the centre hanging light, plus another for the sunken LED spots in the ceiling, obviously on the same unit, so I would have two of, two gang/two way switches in the kitchen.

I have been putting cables for new sockets and lights for an electrician to wire into the ring main, but I'll not wire them in myself, I just do all the donkey work.

What I would like to know please, is how many 2 core and earth 1.5mm, cables I should run in the channels up to the ceiling bearing in mind the upgrade to controlling a centre light and LED system .

The first two pictures is the light switch next to the door that takes you up the stairs. There is a wire that comes through the wall from the light switch in that hallway.

: sw.jpg (286.97 KiB) Viewed 1395 times

: switch 2.jpg (187.41 KiB) Viewed 1395 times

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:06 pm

To allow in the future switches that need a neutral I would use triple and earth to and between all switches. They have to follow safe routes, the switch you show top will likely need to move or move the cables.

For two way switching you need a triple and earth between switches and a twin and earth switch to light, but the electronic switches not requiring a neutral tend to cause some LED lights to flash when off or pulse when on.

kevin93429 · Post by **kevin93429** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:16 pm

Thank you very much

I'll run a triple and earth, and a two core and earth up then, up from both back boxes, with plenty of cable left at the top to run over. I'll put in new back boxes as well. I'll be asking an electrician to ignore that old wiring

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:29 am

kevin93429 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:16 pm Thank you very much

I'll run a triple and earth, and a two core and earth up then, up from both back boxes, with plenty of cable left at the top to run over. I'll put in new back boxes as well. I'll be asking an electrician to ignore that old wiring

Why not use all triple and earth? Oh I wish I had neutral at the switches, could use switched that fully switched off then, no need for capacitive loads fitted inside lights. And I would run all cables up, and the two way link goes across the ceiling, although horizontal is permitted it is not allowed around a corner, what you need is for the electrician doing the work to tell you what to do, some one has to sign to say they have designed the installation, it is OK for an electrician to use an electricians mate or apprentice to do the donkey work as long as the electrician is in control, if the electrician is not in control he can't sign to say he was, so then LABC has to over see the work, which is not cheap.

To channel out wall ready, and to fill wall after is OK but to fit wires you have to follow electricians instructions to the letter.

kevin93429 · Post by **kevin93429** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:26 pm

[/quote]Why not use all triple and earth?[/quote]

Okay I will. It's why I asked!

thanks!