Making a fuse in consumer a switch help

[BertyFish]

After a bit of help from anyone in the know.

New house has exterior lights that must run live
all of the time from the consumer box. There is a separate fuse for just the 2 external lights.

The lights are old now and the pir function isn’t really working. Ideally we would like to swap the lights and have a switch to turn them on/off.

Do I need an electrician spur some kind of switch from the box or is there an easier way? I’ve read up quickly and there seems to be some kind of kinetic boxes that if I’m right I can swap the fuse out and have a switch in the house? Might be reading it all wrong….

Pictures of consumer box and switch I’ve seen online -




I might be completely wrong….

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DieseRC-Wireless-Receiver...

[Tymb]

Not familiar with the units you have linked to but my landlord at work uses quite a few of these.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Manufacturers/Quineti...

They seem to be very reliable and you appear to be able mix say a wall switch and pir for the same light.

If the power is on constantly to the light you would need to put a receiver in/next to the light inline on the power to the light.

The switches/ pir can then go anywhere within about 30m I think.

[BertyFish]

Thanks, Sorry my bad I was supposed to upload an image of the Quinetic parts.
Not just as easy as swapping the fuse for one from
that rang then having a wireless switch?
Sounds like that’s easy and just what I want so
Can’t be correct

[Jambo85]

Don’t change anything in the consumer unit, leave the “fuses” where they are.. but by all means loop a normal light switch in between the consumer unit and the lights.

[Belle427]

You could add a simple light switch under the consumer unit for them quite easily if that suits but those Quinetic units look good.

[TonyRPH]

OP, if you think that an MCB is a fuse, then you probably shouldn't be poking around in a consumer unit.

Additionally, the "fuse" (MCB) should never be replaced with a switch, as you then lose the protection that it provides.

Whatever you need should be fitted outside of the consumer unit (even adjacent to it is fine), but no switches in the consumer unit.

[PurpleFox]

As above, leave the 'fuse box' as is.

You could remove the outside lights and position the Quinetic receiver inside a suitable waterproof enclosure or maybe inside the light fitting enclosure depending on the type of light you go for. If it is permanently live as you say, then you will be able to control it from inside using the Quenetic switch.

I have a few of them for switching on outside lights at the far end of the garden from inside the house - they work brilliantly. The switch and the receiver have never needed to be re-paired or anything like that and the switch doesn't even need a battery, it uses the kinetic energy in the throw of the switch action to generate the electricity it needs to send the signal. Pretty amazing really given the price.

[skeeterm5]

We have switches like those Quinetec albeit a different brand in our kitchen so that we could easily add a switch for the lights on the opposite side of the room without having to run cables.

They work really well for us and are very simple to install.

[KAgantua]

Why not a simple fused/ switched spur? Can contain both a fuse and a switch so you can isolate the lights if you wish to work on them.
And get a professional to do it!!

[BertyFish]

Haha don’t worry I won’t be doing it, was just asking the question if it’s an easy job.

Spur off with maybe a fancy switch then.