Removing light switch, how?
Removing light switch, how?
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Discussion

DavePanda

Original Poster:

6,791 posts

256 months

Yesterday (16:23)
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We have an errant light switch now in the middle of our dining room wall, there was a door there when we bought the house but we've since removed and filled the opening and now in the process of decoration. Removing cables not an option as would involve taking up floor in sons bedroom, would be just a case of using Wago's before covering and filling? The light is controlled by another switch at the other end of the room


JoshSm

3,271 posts

59 months

Yesterday (18:20)
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You can put a blank plate over it but you can't just bury a live cable whatever you put on the end of the wires.

If you want it gone then pull it, or maybe at least decommission it by disconnecting it at the other end. You never know, once disconnected you might manage to pull it through the clips & trunk.

RacingStripes

727 posts

52 months

Yesterday (18:22)
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Disconnect it at the other end and either pull it out or just bury it once disconnected.

Actual

1,555 posts

128 months

Yesterday (18:30)
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With the power off...

Carefully hack into the wall up at the ceiling and expose the cable(s), cut off the cables down at the switch, pull the cables back to the ceiling, cut off and terminate the wires using wagos and fit inside the smaller of the Wago maintenance free boxes, fit a tie wrap around the maintenance free box, make a hole in the ceiling just big enough to push the wago box up into the ceiling void, redecorate to make good.

finlo

4,180 posts

225 months

Yesterday (19:41)
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As it's a two way switch the feed/switch wire will need to be connected to one of the strappers before you "bury" it.

Russet Grange

2,584 posts

48 months

Yesterday (19:58)
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I'd just keep it.

Sheepshanks

39,088 posts

141 months

Yesterday (20:02)
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Hang a picture over it, slightly offset so you don't bang a nail into the cable!

fido

18,347 posts

277 months

Yesterday (21:55)
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Either do it properly (disconnect the wiring) or put a blank switch cover on it.

DavePanda

Original Poster:

6,791 posts

256 months

Yesterday (22:10)
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Thanks, i did wonder if it might be a case of having to remove it completely before covering it over. Seems SWMBO is happy with it just being blanked off so i think we'll go that route.

Rough101

2,952 posts

97 months

Yesterday (22:24)
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If hiding it completely, and unless it’s properly buried in protection, it will need to be RCD protected to guard against someone drilling a hole in it in future as they will have no idea there is a cable in there.

If you’ve got all that then the Wago maintenance free box mentioned above is the way to go. Personally though, I’d use a thin metal blank plate and paint over it. A chunky plastic one won’t meet marital standards.

Belle427

11,223 posts

255 months

Depending on how its been wired it could be removed easily by disconnecting at the other switch, would need a picture of the wiring to it to confirm.

CrgT16

2,415 posts

130 months

Don’t bury it live! One day someone might be drilling a hole there and really hurt himself. Make sure it’s disconnected the other end. You know it’s the right thing to do. Why even ask?