Can i take power from a switched live?

[Ssm2200]

Hi, I think I probably know the answer to this but would appreciate any advice.

I was hoping to wall mount a raspberry pi zero and portable monitor, I thought I could run both off the lighting circuit by adding a socket from an existing switch. Looking at this however I see it's a switched live that runs to an outside light.

I don't think I could now run anything between the outside light and this switch. I could not take a feed from any other ceilling light and socket ring to this position.

Is there anyway I can take power from the switched live? It obviously doesn't have a neutral.

The outside light is a Ring spotlight so this switch is always on if that was to make any difference.

I'm not good with understanding electrics but can follow instructions.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ssm2200]

 

[EFLImpudence]

There is (presumably) a permanent live and a switched live.

As you say, the problem is the lack of a neutral.

 

[Ssm2200]

Yes brown is permanent live, blue switched live. The earth wire there and not used I suppose I could make a neutral not an issue for plastic switch but wouldn't be ok given I want to add a portable screen which would have to have an earth?

 

[EFLImpudence]

There is no way round it apart from another cable from the source.

 

[JBR]

There is no way round it apart from another cable from the source.

Perhaps if the 'earth wire' can be found at the source, and checked for continuity of course?

 

[SithLordHood]

Yes brown is permanent live, blue switched live. The earth wire there and not used I suppose I could make a neutral not an issue for plastic switch but wouldn't be ok given I want to add a portable screen which would have to have an earth?

The portable screen may well be double insulated and not need an earth. Having said this, you can-not simply take the 'unused' earth and use it as a neutral as you imply.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Possibly not an option for you; but when I've done this sort of thing previously, the monitor would be powered from an extended power lead (fed through trunking) and the RPi Zero from a PoE hat, or a USB port on the monitor itself.

 

[Ssm2200]

Thanks for all the replies, if I remove the switch altogether and power the ring spotlight permanently could I then use the current permanent live/ switched live and unused earth as a spur and change the switch faceplate for a socket?

 

[ericmark]

Yes it is just a wire, and you could power the bulb with the permanent line and fit a smart bulb and a wifi switch, I would program the bulb in a standard lamp so you can turn on/off as required to program. Or replace the light switch with a pull cord switch, however if you have the skill, you would likely have not asked the question.

When you say "ring spotlight" I assume one made by "Ring" lights are not run as ring finals, but as a radial circuit, I got some Eveready GU10 spot lights from PoundLand at £5 each, it says use their app, but found the Smart Life app works with them A1, their own app would not pair with google home.

The TP-Link series do a push button with a cover so it looks like a switch S200D the S200B does not have the plate. Not cheap, but will do what you want. You would need the Tapo GU10 lamps as well.