DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Can i install a downlighter into a bedroom celing which will come on when I switch the existing light switch on

When switch is turned i need both existing normal light and flush fitting downlighter to light up from the existing switch

Can it be done yes.
Can you do it well I have no idea of your ability.
Normally you just connect to the outer connections of the ceiling rose.
Is that what you wanted to know?
Eric

Thanks for your reply Eric

The problem is I cannot get to the rose to continue the power supply to the downlighter due to the rose being in a bedroom over the garage

However I can gain access to the switch and cable for that particular rose prior to it passing through the wall to the room above the garage via the loft.

Is it possible to get the live from the switch wire to the bedroom light and the neutral from another ceiling rose in the loft?

If not then is there an alternative way

Many thanks
[/i]

Borrowed neutrals can be very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
Using grid switches you can use two pole so a single switch can control two circuits.
Eric

[quote="ericmark"]Borrowed neutrals can be very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
Using grid switches you can use two pole so a single switch can control two circuits.
Eric[/quote]

Can you explain the solution in more depth please

Should the neutral be used from another circuit and the other circuit is switched off for maintainance then the Line voltage can be transferred to the neutral from the item which has borrowed the neutral which could give the person working on the circuit a lethal shock. Because it is a neutral and proving dead will show as OK to work until the point when it is removed.
Also with RCD's now being required on near everything in a house borrowed neutrals will trip the RCD. This has proved a big problem with two way stairs lighting.
There is also the rules on earths to consider where they must follow the same route as Lives remember both Line and Neutral are considered Live.
Plus if the Line and neutral do not follow the same path it can become an induction loop and cause assorts of interference with LAN, Radio, TV etc.
Eric

[quote="ericmark"]Should the neutral be used from another circuit and the other circuit is switched off for maintainance then the Line voltage can be transferred to the neutral from the item which has borrowed the neutral which could give the person working on the circuit a lethal shock. Because it is a neutral and proving dead will show as OK to work until the point when it is removed.
Also with RCD's now being required on near everything in a house borrowed neutrals will trip the RCD. This has proved a big problem with two way stairs lighting.
There is also the rules on earths to consider where they must follow the same route as Lives remember both Line and Neutral are considered Live.
Plus if the Line and neutral do not follow the same path it can become an induction loop and cause assorts of interference with LAN, Radio, TV etc.
Eric[/quote]

Can i assume that the only logical way of installing the downlighter is to feed off the live and neutral from the celing rose on the same switch line to allow both lights to come on when the switch is turned in

Many Thanks

Yes