Switched Live sleeving when looping at switch

[JohnW2]

For the switch cable, if they use the blue connected to the loop and brown as the return switched live, then it is apparent which is the switch cable - nothing to do with conductor identification with sleeving or other methods.

Well, in the sort of situation we're talking about, any cable with a brown and a blue sleeved with brown is obviously going to be the 'switch cable'. I thought we were talking about the identification of the conductors (and when they were not terminated into 'give-it-away' terminals), not the cable!

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

We were, then Rocky posted this -

I have encountered switches where the Blue (sleeved Brown ) was Live and Brown was Switch live, so testing as JW says is the only real way to verify.
I only tend to mark them when its a switch replacement often multi gang as well as looped Feeds in my work.

and I responded -

Yes, some people prefer that way as you can tell the switch cable at the rose.

Had a picture a couple of days ago in another thread.

 

[JohnW2]

Obviously, someone could identify it with a label stating 'switch cable' - but they don't.

For what it's worth, except in situations in which it is 'unnecessary (i.e. when it is 'obvious' which cable is which), or where it would be an 'eyesore', I nearly always identify T+E cables (by writing on them with a fine Sharpie), usually close to where they are terminated.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

Use twin brown like the Irish. You know we're right.

 

[SUNRAY]

Make it less confusing:
https://www.cablecraft.co.uk/0-8mm-easi-mark-marker-581-581

 

[JohnW2]

Use twin brown like the Irish. You know we're right.

I would say that "right" is open to debate.

Even when there is a means of distinguishing between the conductors (as mentioned by secure) in a twin brown cable, the distinction is probably much less immediately obvious than when one is a brown-sleeved blue.

I would suggest that when a T+E cable is feeding a 1-way light switch, the colours of the insulation are neither here nor there - sky-blue-pink and turquoise would be just as good as brown and blue.

If a person needs two brown-insulated conductors to remind him/her that either or both of the conductors going to a light switch may be at line potential, then I really don't think they should be going anywhere near any part of an electrical installation!

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

There is no reason to distinguish between permanent phase and switched phase or strappers - they're all phase conductors which is all that matters.

 

[EFLImpudence]

If that is true then the colour is irrelevant.

However, with strappers,(I assume that's what you meant, in two-way switching) it is necessary to connect the same conductor to COM at both switches, and also knowing which conductor will ensure the switch operates 'the right way up' the first time (without testing) is beneficial.

Plus - your twin brown cannot be used for anything else.

You might have got used to your system and think it superior but I disagree.

 

[JohnW2]

There is no reason to distinguish between permanent phase and switched phase or strippers - they're all phase conductors which is all that matters.

It's all that matters in terms of BS7671 'conductor identification', but it certainly can matter in terms of the practicalities of wiring (EFLI has mentioned one example).

What do you do with '2-way switching' - do you perhaps have "triple brown" cables (I've never seen that)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Plus - your twin brown cannot be used for anything else.

It could 'on this side of the border', if one of the browns were over-sleeved with blue

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

Strappers (autocorrect keeps trying to change it to strippers) don't need to connect to COM but L1 and L2 in a conventional 2-way circuit. The conversion method is technically the non-standard way of doing it (but strangely common in England). A beller will tell you which conductor is which where you need to know that. Blue phase conductors are outrageous. Buy the proper materials and do the job properly.

 

[JohnW2]

... autocorrect keeps trying to ....
A beller will tell you which conductor is which .....

"A beller"?? - what on earth has your autocorrect done this time (I can't even guess what it was meant to be!) ?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Risteard]

"A beller"?? - what on earth has your autocorrect done this time (I can't even guess what it was meant to be!) ?

Kind Regards, John

A beller is a meter which buzzes with continuity.

 

[JohnW2]

A beller is a meter which buzzes with continuity.

In what language? - I cannot find any English language dictionary online which recognises that meaning.

 

[SUNRAY]

Blue phase conductors are outrageous. Buy the proper materials and do the job properly.

It wasn't that long ago that blue was a phase colour, that aside we used to have twin red available and twin brown can still be ordered but they went out of fashion due the the amount of time it takes to keep identifying conductors...