Should neutral be switched as well?

Diver300

Well-Known Member
Most Helpful Member
I recently bought a 6 way extension lead that has a remote switch. I found that it has two relays inside, so that it switches both live and neutral.

Is that the right way of doing things?
 
It's certainly 'nicer' to switch both - although there's no actual requirement to do so - and switched sockets only switch the live.

Funnily enough there were a number of 'recentish' CRT TV's that only switched the neutral.
 
I was thinking that a failed relay could result in a load that is live but not working. However, any live switched device that gets plugged into a supply that's got swapped live and neutral will do the same.

I certainly don't know the relative likelyhoods of those two scenarios to know which is safer overall.
 

I don't think it really makes any great difference - though personally I would consider switching BOTH the safest.
 
I think within the US, switching the neutral is prohibited in building wiring. What you do inside a piece of euipment is up to you.
 
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