Outside switch position

[Pete Zahut]

Our kitchen ring main is protected by a 32A MCB and is fed from the RCD protected side of the CU. On that ring is a switched fused spur unit (3A fuse) feeding a 1.5mm T&E that goes out through the wall to a rope light, which is just switched on and off from inside the kitchen.

We want to install a 150W security light with PIR sensor as well, which obviously means having a permanent feed outside, but taking a new feed out is impractical so the spur unit will just have to be left on with the switching done outside now.

Obviously, it would not be desirable to let any burglars just turn off the security light so I'm thinking of fitting one of these emergency light key switches for that:

an "ordinary" switch for the rope light. These switches will be mounted on the exterior wall, up under the dormer, somewhere in the region of the arrow in the photo below:

question is, what IP rating of switch do I need for that positioning? Does it need to have an IP rating or even be weatherproof at all for that location, given that any rain would have to be driving horizontally or even upwards to get to it? Does a weatherproof version of the emergency keyswitch even exist?

Cheers

[ARWadsworth]

> or > and an "ordinary" switch for the rope light. These switches will be

I suspect that you could get away with ordinary light switches there. However you could stick both switches into a 1gang Eterna Waterproof box if you used grid switches.

Cheers

Adam

[Pete Zahut]

>>> or >>> and an "ordinary" switch for the rope light. These switches will be

Ah, thanks Adam, just the job! :o)

[Jerry]

: : Obviously, it would not be desirable to let any burglars just turn off the : security light so I'm thinking of fitting one of these emergency light key : switches for that: :

Don't be fooled by the word "Key Switch", the 'key' for the cited (MK) switch is common to all such switches, anyone with their own 'key' will be able to operate your "key Switch"...

[ARWadsworth]

So the burgular will carry a selection of "fish" keys including MK, Crabtree etc to turn this light off then? It would be easier to cut the cable to the light (and that is easily done without blowing a fuse or RCD).