need some advice on easiest way

[switch10]

hi guys, need some advice on a small problem ive got. Recently been flat out at work, so employed an old friend of the family for a few weeks to help on some new builds. today ive gone to see how plastering etc is going so i can get stuff to 2nd fix, and realised my friend has made a few mistakes which could prove costly for me to put right.,

in the hallway there is 2 lights on the gf run from one switch, however he has taken the switch from the last light, and this will therefore only turn on the last light and not the 1 before.

(power from cu to l1 to l2 then to switch. ) unfortunately this has all been plasterboarded, and now plastered and painted.

i know there should be a 3 core from the 2nd light to the 1st to give me a switched live, however due to the way the joists are running i cant possibly pull another cable through.

the floors above are tongue and groove chipboard.

how would you get over this problem???? i guess i should of checked earlier, however the bloke was a sparks for over 40 years before basically retiring this year. so thought he knew what he was doing.

 

[steptoe]

so why cant you tie a cable onto the existing and pull it through?

nothing is impossible.

 

[switch10]

it may be possible, just had a quick pull on cable earlier and feels rather tight, where the lights are not directly in line, it appears the cables are clipped across a few joists maybe before they travel to the next light through some joists.

 

[Andy™]

wireless switch?

 

[steptoe]

dont you drill holes in line?

 

[switch10]

the holes are drilled in line step toe, so no need for the comments you are making. if you can imagine a l shape hall way, so 1 light directly at bottom of stairs then cabe clipped across a joist, then drilled through approx 6 joists before next light... so not an entirely straight run, even tho holes are.

yeah andy i did think of this, just wondered if there was something i was missing, which might be as easy

 

[steptoe]

switch10, not meant to be derogatory, sorry if it came across that way,

just trying to make some sense of the scenario,

hard to understand some things by imagination alone.

how about cutting a trap (4" hole) upstairs above the corner, then batten across it and put holecutter piece back in? or there are specific tools for the job that Im sure someone could link to.

 

[Stevie h]

Armeg 127mm Plug Solid Board Cutter Set : Tooled-Up.com

Ste

 

[steptoe]

thats it,

I knew someone with a bit of brains would come along soon,

 

[kerching]

Armeg 127mm Plug Solid Board Cutter Set : Tooled-Up.comSte

Got one! Top bit of kit...I hate domestic so anything that makes my life easier has to be a bonus.

On the subject of switches...if it helps...I have just used some GET touch dimmers and the 2way or even 2 way and intermediate only require 2 wires between switches. Dimmer at one end and retractive switches inbetween. This may of no use to you at all, on the other hand...

 

[steptoe]

its another avenue to explore,

though his problem is to switch two lights from one switch, with only a T&E between the feed light and the switch light.

 

[Zeespark]

What about using rods with a camera/light on the tip of the front end?

Andy

 

[Evans Electric]

I can only see two solutions ,M8, you need a switch wire between the two lights , right ? So its drill the floor as described above or cut some holes in the plasterboard ceiling and bung the plasterer to patch them up . If that twin won't pull out as a dragwire you have to go for it.

These things happen, its unfortunate but now you have to get around it , so the floor method will take you, say , 1/2 day at the most . Job done. Lesson learned , no one got killed, the world turns . :|

 

[switch10]

cheers for all the advice , looks like i will first try and pull a cable through otherwise its, a old cut in the floor above. will let you know how i get on next week when im back there to 2nd fix and sort the problem. thanks again for all advice

 

[S60TEM]

oh, and don't forget to take the extra cost out of the numpty's wages!! LOL