markm Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) A bit of help if anyone can give it. I have a switch to turn on the garage lights but it's at the opposite end of the garage when you enter from the house. It's a pain as I use the house to garage way in a lot and at night you have to walk like a zombie trying to find the light switch. I had a plan to swap the existing rocker switch to a wall mounted PIR and ordered one online. Below you can see the instructions for fitting but I don't think it will work with the existing wiring, photo also below of the opened switch box. If I can't use it, does anyone have any other ideas? I can't rewire it there is a bedroom above the garage door and the ceiling is plastered to meet fire regulations so the cables are inside. Any other ideas if it's a 'no goer' Edited September 4, 2015 by markm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Yep problem is no neutral at the light switch! Would yoube willing to clip an additional cable on surface to were you want the new switch? Thats the easiest lijit way of doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted September 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the comment, I'm a little lost and Not sure what you mean. Is it not the case - blue - neutral. Brown - live. Yellow / green - earth. Edited September 4, 2015 by markm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Yes thats it basically!The blue in your photo with brown tape is a live aswell No need to bring a neutral to standard switch but the PIR Will need one to operate! As its in the garage you could clip a new twin and earth cable coming from your existing switch to were you want the new one! As always if your not happy doin this get someone qualified!its a simple job and wont cost the earth! ET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted September 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Thanks again for the advice. So the blue (with brown tape) and the brown are both live? How does the lights turn on when the switch connects live / live? The new PIR replaces the switch in exactly the same place / box. It looks like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjack Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 get a battery operated sensor light of ebay,ive got one in garage and shed works a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted September 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 I've had them from ikea. They cost a fortune to run. I was after a more permanent solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Very basically Switch in off poition lives not connected light does not work Switch in on position! TWO LIVES TOUCHING Light will come on Dont no why picture is upside down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted September 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Lol!!!! What a DOH! I am. Got it now, switch completes the circuit. You wouldn't think I had a level physics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Don't worry, electricity is witchcraft, I cooked a battery and melted a foot of wiring by making a doofus mistake wiring a switch into the shoot mule last week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Could you not remove the light and connect the pir to this circuit and mount the pir in a box beside the light on the ceiling?? edit: or get a ceiling mounted pir? Edited September 4, 2015 by silver pigeon69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Do you have a plug socket in the garage? if so can you not just buy a 10W pir led floodlight and wire a plug to it and mount the light on the wall. Job done and no messing with the light ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proud dad Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Run a 3 core & earth https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CA1dot5Gslash3slash1.html from the existing switch to where you would like your new switch. Buy 2 x 1 gang 2 way switches https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK4871.html. At the new switch put the black core in Com, the brown core in L1 and the blue core in L2 (wrap some brown tape around each core). At the existing switch put the black core from the 3 core & earth in Com, the brown from the 3 core & earth and the brown from the twin & earth in L1 and the grey from the 3 core & earth and the blue from the twin and earth in L2 (put brown tape around each of these cores). This will allow you to switch the light from both switches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Run a 3 core & earth https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CA1dot5Gslash3slash1.html from the existing switch to where you would like your new switch. Buy 2 x 1 gang 2 way switches https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK4871.html. At the new switch put the black core in Com, the brown core in L1 and the blue core in L2 (wrap some brown tape around each core). At the existing switch put the black core from the 3 core & earth in Com, the brown from the 3 core & earth and the brown from the twin & earth in L1 and the grey from the 3 core & earth and the blue from the twin and earth in L2 (put brown tape around each of these cores). This will allow you to switch the light from both switches. so where does the PIR go?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Run a 3 core & earth https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CA1dot5Gslash3slash1.html from the existing switch to where you would like your new switch. Buy 2 x 1 gang 2 way switches https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK4871.html. At the new switch put the black core in Com, the brown core in L1 and the blue core in L2 (wrap some brown tape around each core). At the existing switch put the black core from the 3 core & earth in Com, the brown from the 3 core & earth and the brown from the twin & earth in L1 and the grey from the 3 core & earth and the blue from the twin and earth in L2 (put brown tape around each of these cores). This will allow you to switch the light from both switches. Beat me too it PD, had my post to say convert to two way switching almost done Yup simples and cheap and no PIR to go wrong or get a hissy fit from the cat/dog/budgie/hot car engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 so where does the PIR go?? EBay ................with two way switching you don't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Ah Ok, so just running another switch. Dont think the OP wanted visible wire? But i agree, yes this would be easiest/best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proud dad Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 so where does the PIR go?? As said above, it goes on ebay or back to the shop. The only place for Pirs switching lights is outside lights and public toilets, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 dont want to hijack thread, but do you think PIR's are better than timer switches in communal hallways? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proud dad Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Time lag switches are the best in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 electric over mechanical ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proud dad Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Never had any problems with vacuum ones to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 i must be buying cheap carp ones. Had a lot of them start sticking and not turning off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggum Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Why don't you just buy the 2 wire version of the pir switch they only require live in / live out, no neutral required here's one on e bay for less than £10 eBay item number 261555557370 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxphil Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 Pm me your address and I'll send you a 2 wire pir, we've got loads at work, just put some coppers in a charity box of your choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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