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Hi,
So, I want to put in a new outside light up and plan on tapping into the wiring from the garage light which is on the other side of the wall.
The garage light has a surface cable that runs down to the switch, but the ceiling cabling is hidden above the ceiling.
Can I create a spur from the switch and just add a double switch (to sort garage light and outside light) and then feed the wire outside? Or does it all depend on what’s behind the switch?
I’m hoping this could be a fairly simple DIY job but would appreciate some electriciantrackworld advice first!
Happy Christmas
Chris
Don't you know, there is no work allowed today?
Most likely the only cable to the switch is one "live" broken by the switch. It might have live and neutral colours, but one side is live, and the other switched live (which should be marked with live-coloured tape or sleeving)
A two-way circuit (switch by each door-if you have two doors) may have different colours but is still essentially a bundle of lives. There may be a CPC (earth) too
I'd suggest some proper advice
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This is the switch I thought I could perhaps spur from. I’m guessing this is the live switch?
Yep, red tape should indicate switched live. So in theory you can take a run off the non switched live to your new light. I am not an electrician.
You can't run it from that switch as there's no neutral there.
Ok thanks all. Do I need to get a look at the wires going into the light fitting then?
Ta
Yep, neutral will be at the light fitting (again not an electrician)
I would think that all you need should be in the light fitting, including a permanent live. Take all three cores to a new switch, then to your new light, or get an electrician in.
My consulting fees are £20
Do I need to get a look at the wires going into the light fitting then?
Most likely, however, it depends whether the fitting connects to a loop-in rose or to a junction box elsewhere
It's probably a fairly simple circuit, but I would always recommend an electrician if you're asking this type of question (no offence meant 🙂 )
It's only electrics. Get some beers down you and just crack on. How hard can it be?
IANAE.
Thanks all, appreciate the advice. Timba, think I’ll probably go down the professional route. Just like to know a little more than I started though!
For interest this is the wiring at the lighting rose:
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Don't bother with an electrician, what do they know? There's probably a 5min YouTube tutorial that will tell you how to do it.
IANAE
The rose contains permanent live, switch live, neutral and earth. No reason a spur couldn't come off that.
Google "loop-in rose" and the circuit will become clearer, there's probably a second light in the garage (or in an adjacent room)?
Loop in's are permenant lives you need a cable from there (brown/red)
A cable from the neutrals (blue/black )
And your earth cable running to your new outside light
Those are permanent lives so need to be isolated at the distribution board