Wiring Lighting Circuits in Series

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InMyHO

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I have a garage with a loft. Currently it has one light switch for the main space. I would like to get a second switch installed for the loft (which is accessible by ladder). Can this second switch be wired in series such that the first switch controls both lights, while the second, when switched on, adds the upstairs light?

It would not really be safe to have just the upstairs light illuminated by itself, yet most of the time it would just waste electricity.
 
From your description, you may be in the loft when someone turns off the light downstairs and plunges you into darkness!
What you should do is to wire the light power feed to a new switch by the loft ladder. And a new light in the loft.
Then the loft light is independent and only switched on if u go up the ladder.
 
Hmm. It is true that someone could turn the light off from the ground floor. This is also true of my house loft as well where I have the light switch being near the base of the ladder. Never seen that as an issue to be honest.

If I were to put the switch 'by' the loft ladder on the ground floor then it would have to be in exactly the same place as I proposed because the lower floor switch is placed beside where the loft ladder runs.

I was really asking the question of whether it is allowed in wiring regulations more than where I should locate the switch.
 
Sure. You can wire a loft light any way that you like. the only (relavent) regulation is that any concealed cables must be in the recognised zones.
 
You must not wire them in series (google it if you don’t understand). They would both be dim or not work.
 
Locate the cable going to loft light and put a switch in it.

Alternatively run a cable between loft light and new switch. Whatever easier.
 
winston1 said:
You must not wire them in series (google it if you don’t understand). They would both be dim or not work.
Click to expand...
OK, sorry that I wasn't clear... I want to wire the switches in series, not the light bulbs.

When you mentioned it, the thought did tickle me though. Must remember to think of every possible interpretation.
 
Taylortwocities said:
Sure. You can wire a loft light any way that you like. the only (relavent) regulation is that any concealed cables must be in the recognised zones.
Click to expand...
Ah, you mean chased into the wall, behind plasterboard and so on. These cables are run in plain sight through conduit and so on, so no issue with concealment in this case.
 
If you wire the switches in series you’ll curse the decision. you constantly by leaving the loft switch “off” which means, when you go in to the garage in the dark, you’ll have to climb the ladder (again in the dark) to turn it on so you can see in the garage.

If you really must have two switches controlling two lights, then wire the teo switches as a two-way pair. Then you can switch on and off from either. ghe loft light will be in at the same time as the garage light, but these days an LED strip light uses little electricity.
 
He does mean series Taylor.

He just means a switch in line with the loft light so it can be left off when not required.

The only annoyance I can see is if you climb the ladder and forget to turn the garage lights on. Unlikely and not a big problem
 
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