fitting outside light from in door switch

[Philious]

Hi
I was wondering if you could take a spur off a downstairs light switch to an outside light with a sensor fitted, so the outside light has a permanent feed and operates via the sensor??

 

[Steve]

Theres not normally a neutral at the lightswitch position.

And its normally a good idea to provide double pole switching for outside lights. This is in case they go faulty and isolating the neutral becomes nessecary to stop RCD trips.

 

[JohnD]

you will probably have to take the supply from the ceiling rose, not the wall switch.


Have a look at how lighting circuits work to see why.

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7553&start=0

//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics

 

[Philious]

Thanks for the replys fellas, Maybe it would be easier to run a feed from the consumer unit from the garage with its own breaker incase there are any faults, what would be the best cable to use for protection from the elements??

 

[Taylortwocities]

Now that is a much bigger ball game. you would be adding a new circuit to your consumer unit. that is notifiable work (see building regulations part P in the WIKI).

The feed would need to be big enough for the expected load and the cable would probably need to be steel wire armoured cable.
if this is to go in the ground under flower beds or lawn you would be looking at digging a half metre deep trench.

Thats a lot of work for a security light...

 

[DAVID1949]

Hi
I was wondering if you could take a spur off a downstairs light switch to an outside light with a sensor fitted, so the outside light has a permanent feed and operates via the sensor??

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes, we know that....

 

[Taylortwocities]

He's been thinking about that post for nearly 2 years