Need a neutral at switch

[RobTi]

Hi i have no neutral at my switches but as I’m lowering my ceiling I have all the connector blocks showing at the ceiling, how do I test for a neutral?
Thanks

 

[sxturbo]

Light switches you mean?

 

[RobTi]

Light switches you mean?

Sorry yes my light switches have no neutral

 

[sparkwright]

The light that the switch serves will have a neutral, are you able to find the neutral visually, or do you think you really need to confirm it by testing?

 

[sparxxxx]

Some photos showing lighting connections would be useful, and more exact info on your intentions.

 

[danechip]

Well, one of the 2 wires going to the lamp will be neutral "usually" black or blue. In your switch you will only have a live from that light sent to your switch and then returned back (switched live) to the lamp. Some houses loop the neutrals in the switch backbox (by them selves), but yours is not wired in this way. You need to rewire part of your lighting circuit to provide the neutral required for your smart switches.

Please don't think of using the earth wire as a neutral.

 

[RobTi]

Okay the reason for posting was to add this light to a smart control via HomeKit and as the ceiling is open at the moment I thought to ask, some pictures here forgive the connector blocks they are only temporary as I took the pendant down for downlights and waiting to see if I can drop a neutral to the switch

ps the cobwebs have been now been removed

 

[ericmark]

Clearly you have neutrals at the rose, and the neat way to take to switch is triple and earth with blue and brown sleeving. Some times one is lucky and you can use the capping or conduit already fitted, but often to get down the wall means fitting new oval conduit and re-plastering.

The question is which method is the best for you? There are smart devices that can go in the ceiling void, and also wireless devices either battery or kinetic generators.

In the main some thing like Sonoff is cheap but needs neutral, but likes of Energenie can do without neutral but more expensive, also the lights themselves, not had any problems with BA22d bulbs, but I have with G9 bulbs.

 

[RobTi]

Thanks atm using mini gu10 lamps I will try and drop another twin &earth down to the switch by cutting into the wall above the new ceiling hoping they have taken the wiring vertically up from the switch. failing that a single neutral. So going by the photos does it look like I have a neutral up there

 

[flameport]

So going by the photos does it look like I have a neutral up there

Photos or not, there must be a neutral at the light position.
If there was no neutral, the light wouldn't work.

That shambles of connectors and tape will need to be replaced with a maintenance free junction box if it won't be accessible after the new ceiling is installed.

 

[RobTi]

Photos or not, there must be a neutral at the light position.
If there was no neutral, the light wouldn't work.

That shambles of connectors and tape will need to be replaced with a maintenance free junction box if it won't be accessible after the new ceiling is installed.

Thanks never thought of a maintenance free junction box, any chance of a link please

 

[flameport]

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ASJ804.html

If the cable to the switch is currently T&E, replace that with 3C&E. The extra core being for the neutral.

 

[RobTi]

So just opened it up and we have 2&e and 3&e, put it back tonight and will see if I can pull any in the morning