Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
bathroom light pull switch
Hello,
Could anyone advise me on the following:
I want to replace my current bathroom light ceiling pull switch with a motion sensor so that when i walk in the bathroom the light automatically turns on.
I just want a simple one which will fit in the same place using the same holes as the current pull ceiling switch.
I have been looking online and can't seem to find one that i can just simply rewire? there is a lot of talk about a neutral wire being needed ect which is confusing me.
Has anyone done anything similar to this? or can anyone point me towards a product that may work?
Thanks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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I don't mean to sound snide, but if talk about a neutral wire confuses you, perhaps it would be better if you got an electrician to do it.
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Permalink Reply by Peter on
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I know the difference between a neutral (blue wire) and a live (red wire), there is mention about an extra neutral wire needed for a PIR, but the reason why I am doing it myself is because electricians are expensive
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Permalink Reply by andy h on
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Go to Medlock on green lanes and ask them. Unless you've already been of coarse.
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Permalink Reply by Martin (Woodside) on
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Conventional light switches (pull or wall) simply complete the circuit putting the mains trough the bulb/lamp. My guess is that with an electronic switch it would need a permanent independent neutral to feed the actual sensor electronics as well as the neutral to light the bulb.
An electrician should rewire from the fuse box/breakers/consumer unit, some would take it from the nearest wall socket but I'm not sure if that's legal.
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yeah! this is exactly what I read online just couldn't explain it very well.
Thanks for this! - probably a bit too much work was hoping for just a straight swap without having to modify walls for new wires.
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There are Building Regulations limitations on what work is (supposed to be) done in bathrooms and kitchens (high-risk areas, electrically) by those not qualified as electricians. Swapping a switch, like-for-like might be acceptable - changing the wiring as needed for a PIR I suspect unacceptable.
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Permalink Reply by Ian on
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I would advise against DIY electrics in all events. People are killed by unintended consequences, maybe years down the line when the property is sold to someone else unbeknown to you, someone falls foul to your dangerous electrical work and is killed. I had a ciss cut out from an eye lid tens years ago. It took less than 5 minutes and cost £300. I paid for the skill, knowledge, training and registration of a professional surgeon. It was expensive.
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Yes - I agree but theres not much specialist work involved in disconnecting a red wired from a switch, an earth wire, and a black wire and placing them in the exact same configuartion on a new switch.
Now I know that a new wire must be added for this application I can establish that the job is to complex for me and therefore I will not carry out the works.
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It is perfectly safe and legal to replace like for like eg replacing an old or cracked socket with new. If you are not competent to understand what you are doing then don't.
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Like for like replacement is permissible in the UK but not so in Australia as a competent person is difficult to establish without measurement, hence the general mass is not allowed to drive and use mobile phones while some organisations are allowed to because they are deemed competent. You say there is not much specialist skill involved with changing 3 wires but this is so far from the truth. There is a specialist scientific multi-function instrument involved that cost registered electricians approximately £800 and has to be calibrated each year and the calibration certificate produced for their continued inclusion as an electrical competent person as well as other competency yearly test including site inspections. Now when you change a like for like several faults may already exist that you will never detect with a simple swap out. An example is earth loop impedance that governs how quickly a fuse wire or circuit breaker will break or trip in the event of a short circuit or fault. Disconnection needs to happen within a given amount of milli-seconds (fraction of a second) for several reasons. One reason is the protection of the cable from over heating. If disconnection happens in say 2 seconds after a fault then bad news. Each time a fault occurs the cable will be subject to excessive heating before tripping occurs that will eventually degrade the cable continuously over time and eventually to a point of no return where a rewire will be required for that circuit, this may take a number of years. The difference between a fraction of a second to 2 seconds or more is quantum in safety terms and the heat generated. This electrical measure "earth loop impedance" can only be determined by a scientific electrical instrument. Upon changing a simple innocent item various checks should be carried out and the home owner informed if a safety issue is identified. It is then down to the home owner to take action or not when presented with the information as electricians have no power to disconnect a home or circuit even when presented with severity 1 dangerous conditions. The minor electrical certificate issued should specify any issues identified during this like for like replacement if any are found. If the minor electrical work involved changing a plastic switch to a nice shiny metal one then this should be refused by the electrician on the grounds of reduced safety as the code of safety is that the dwelling should not be in a worst condition as a result of one's work. Now when presented with this information it can be typical for a home owner not to pass this certificate of none conformity and safety to a new owner for obvious reasons if they choose not to make good and the story goes on. If your installation has red and black wires then another sign of an aged installation as blue and brown are the new colours. So using a person to do electrical works who is not registered is a risk and can add to the housing stock problem of incorrect and unsafe electrical installations. If the man or woman does not have an instrument to conduct test and is not suitable qualified and registered then I would advise against unless the cheapest price is the driving force. So a little insight that may assist you with going into such activities with eyes wide open and understanding and accepting that there can be a possibility that "its only a little job" could be a much bigger job.
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