Should neutral be switched as well?

[Diver300]

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?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

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.

 

[Diver300]

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.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

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.

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

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.