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[Terbs]

Hi all.

I have just decorated the lobby...now swmbo has decided she wants an outside light. The light switch is on the outside wall. Can I do the following....
Drill out through the outside wall and run a cable up a couple of feet to a light, or....bearing in mind I have redecorated, have to chase a wire into the wall up a couple of feet, then drill out.
Next...wiring it up.........The existing wires (L N E) are wired into the single independant light switch. (Common and L1 and earthed to the backbox.) I want to put a double switch on so both work independently of each other, one for the lobby light and one for the outside light.
What do you call a switch like this and how do I wire it up. I found a new double switch in the garage, on the back it has the same common, L1 and L2 but there are two of them. Can I use this.

Thanks in advance, hopefully, before I blow my house up

[Kevin Wood]

Sounds like you only have a live, and switched live at the light switch. Without a neutral connection you haven't got what you need to feed a second switch and outside light from it, unfortunately.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yep, your a neutral short of a circuit.

[tigers_gonads]

Better off coming from a light fitting then installing a switch or if you have a socket on the outside wall, wire a switched fuse spur into it then a feed to the light.
Don't forget to stick a 3 amp fuse in the SF spur.

All cables outside should be in conduit.
Also, anything outside should  have a part P ticket on it 
Also anything outside should be RCD protected 

[Terbs]

Yep, your a neutral short of a circuit.

You are quite right there, Mark

So have I got to feed another set of wires to the switch, like from the rose in the ceiling where I assume the power comes in.

[Terbs]

Better off coming from a light fitting then installing a switch or if you have a socket on the outside wall, wire a switched fuse spur into it then a feed to the light.
Don't forget to stick a 3 amp fuse in the SF spur.

All cables outside should be in conduit.
Also, anything outside should  have a part P ticket on it 
Also anything outside should be RCD protected 

Oh Oh.....this sounds like she ain't gonna get an outside light. Only got normal old fashioned fuses here. Sounds like too much faffing about.
Thanks for your help chaps. BTW whats a part P ticket

[aaronjb]

Thanks for your help chaps. BTW whats a part P ticket

The short answer to that is - it needs to be done by a qualified Electrician (who is a member of a self certification scheme, e.g. an NICEIC member)

[Marks DTM Calib]

Actualy thats probably not entirely true as you can drive a bus through the Part P regs.

E.g. by keeping wiring internal (so there is a hole at the rear of the light through the wall) as much as possible and by following the regs, such a small addition is allowed.

[RobG]

Hi all.

I have just decorated the lobby...now swmbo has decided she wants an outside light. The light switch is on the outside wall. Can I do the following....
Drill out through the outside wall and run a cable up a couple of feet to a light, or....bearing in mind I have redecorated, have to chase a wire into the wall up a couple of feet, then drill out.
Next...wiring it up.........The existing wires (L N E) are wired into the single independant light switch. (Common and L1 and earthed to the backbox.) I want to put a double switch on so both work independently of each other, one for the lobby light and one for the outside light.
What do you call a switch like this and how do I wire it up. I found a new double switch in the garage, on the back it has the same common, L1 and L2 but there are two of them. Can I use this.

Thanks in advance, hopefully, before I blow my house up

No Neutral is connected to switch and I can guarantee that your "common" (aka live) is not "earthed" to the backbox

[tigers_gonads]

Actualy thats probably not entirely true as you can drive a bus through the Part P regs.

E.g. by keeping wiring internal (so there is a hole at the rear of the light through the wall) as much as possible and by following the regs, such a small addition is allowed.

Pretty sure that anything outside is supposed to be ticketed 

Tbh terbert, It may be naughty for me to say this but 99% of people will say, just do it safely and stuff the regs 

If you just want a outside light fitting then I would put it on a separate circuit to the lights.
Just incase you end up with some water in the outside fitting and it starts blowing your house lighting fuse.
A switched fused spur with a 3 amp fuse fitted is a nice easy way of doing it 
Keep as much of the cable internal then stick it through the wall and into the fitting 

[Terbs]

Hi all.

I have just decorated the lobby...now swmbo has decided she wants an outside light. The light switch is on the outside wall. Can I do the following....
Drill out through the outside wall and run a cable up a couple of feet to a light, or....bearing in mind I have redecorated, have to chase a wire into the wall up a couple of feet, then drill out.
Next...wiring it up.........The existing wires (L N E) are wired into the single independant light switch. (Common and L1 and earthed to the backbox.) I want to put a double switch on so both work independently of each other, one for the lobby light and one for the outside light.
What do you call a switch like this and how do I wire it up. I found a new double switch in the garage, on the back it has the same common, L1 and L2 but there are two of them. Can I use this.

Thanks in advance, hopefully, before I blow my house up

No Neutral is connected to switch and I can guarantee that your "common" (aka live) is not "earthed" to the backbox

Probably bad explanation on my part, RobG....I meant the earth wire was connected to the back box. Red (live) and Black (which I took to be 'neutral'...obviously wrongly) are connected to common and L1

[Marks DTM Calib]

Black (or Blue on the new colours) is often switched live in this sort of install (but should be red sleeved).

As for the outside, its not well defined and hence easily talked around, by running from the light straight through the wall its argueable that there is no 'external wiring' and only an 'external connection'. Same as bathroom lighting, wire in in the loft/room above having fitted the unwired light.....

The issue is the regs are written to be easy to understand, the consequence is that they are not very 'strong'

[Andy B]

Find some red & black cable & you can do as you like .............      

[Sir Tigger KC]

You were worrying about your electricity consumption earlier.        

[Terbs]

You were worrying about your electricity consumption earlier.        

I know, Mr EX, but swmbo was having a go.....moaning about the computer. Putting up a light gives me a weapon, and gives a distraction, and gives me brownie points.