Light switch.

[Derlyn]

Presently there are 3 rows of 5ft fluorescents each on their own 15A breaker. The lights are turned off at the circuit breakers in the DB.

They now want a 3 lever switch installed at the front door.

My question is. May one bring 3 lives into a 3 lever switch or must one install 3 seperate single lever switches, each with it's own live ?

[Isetech]

We fit a din mount contactor in the DB and run the switch wire (relay coil) to a surface 4x2 box with a single lever switch.

Presently there are 3 rows of 5ft fluorescents each on their own 15A breaker. The lights are turned off at the circuit breakers in the DB.

They now want a 3 lever switch installed at the front door.

My question is. May one bring 3 lives into a 3 lever switch or must one install 3 seperate single lever switches, each with it's own live ?

[Isetech]

If you want 3 switches, just fit 3 din contactors in the DB and run 4 wires to the 3 lever switch, that way you only have 1 phase controlling the lights.

[Dylboy]

Good idea for the contractors.

As far as I know you can have 3 power supplies to the switch however they have to be the same phase.. you may be able to do different phases but warming stickers need to be there that there is 400volts. However need to check the book as even that may be a no go.

The safest route I reckon is contactors. Can get DIN mount ones which are 1 module in size which will fit nicely in a 6 way DB. Bigger DB for some wire space

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[Derlyn]

Good idea for the contractors.

As far as I know you can have 3 power supplies to the switch however they have to be the same phase.. you may be able to do different phases but warming stickers need to be there that there is 400volts. However need to check the book as even that may be a no go.

The safest route I reckon is contactors. Can get DIN mount ones which are 1 module in size which will fit nicely in a 6 way DB. Bigger DB for some wire space

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Thanks. A contactor is not an option because they still need to switch the 3 rows of lights each on and off independantly.
There are 3 circuit breakers on the same phase fed from ELR.

[Dylboy]

Can do a contactor for each but as they the same phase then I am 99% sure ok to have the feeds into a light switch, will try find the regs if anything funny about it. Got a new phone and lost my PDF files so need to try get them back onto the phone for quick searching.

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[GCE]

I would go with Isetech suggestion - Piece of 4 core surfix with 3 switches and 3 x 1 module lighting contactors - You get the onesto 1 which is one module - A SP CB can control the control circuit

If you go with the 3 lives they will need to be 3 pieces of cable as each has it's own CB or a triple pole CB so you can isolate the 4 core cable , which to me is messy

If I look at regs 6.14.1.8 would be the one you want but 6.14.1.7 could be relevant

SANS 10142 Ed3.1
[B]6.14.1.7 [/B]If more than one phase in a lighting circuit is brought into one
enclosure for switching purposes,
a) labels (see 4.2) stating that the voltage between phase conductors could
exceed 250 V shall be fixed in a visible position inside the enclosure (not
on the cover plate); or
b) the phase terminals in the enclosure shall be separated by suitable
barriers.
NOTE To avoid nuisance tripping where earth leakage protection is used, it is
advisable to restrict the number of discharge luminaires on a circuit.


6.14.1.8 If more than one circuit is brought into an enclosure, a warning label
shall be fixed inside the enclosure.

[Derlyn]

Thank you gentlemen for all your valuable contributions. Contactors it shall be with a 4 core going to the switch. Sorted.
👍👍

[Derlyn]

Just thinking. Has anyone ever seen any labels in a bonding tray in the attic ? Multiple circuits into one enclosure. I haven't.

[Isetech]

No, and I doubt you ever will.

Just thinking. Has anyone ever seen any labels in a bonding tray in the attic ? Multiple circuits into one enclosure. I haven't.