Electrical etiquette

[pappaecho]

At SIBS i bought an auxillary fuse board of 6 illuminated rocker switches, complete with 6 MCBs on a aluminium plate.
The switches are wired to switch on/off the negative side to the appliance rather than positive. Is this normal with 12 volt operation?

 

[aquatom]

Mmmm. Not normal any more but was done in the past.

Please send pictures of front and back of pannel

 

[jfm]

Not normal at all to switch the negative, for good reason. Would be interested to see a picture too. What is stopping you from using the switches to switch the positive?

 

[David of Essex]

On my 12v electrical fuse board equipment from Merlin purchased 3 years ago, the fusing is on the negative.
David

 

[PaulGooch]

Not normal at all to switch the negative, for good reason. Would be interested to see a picture too. What is stopping you from using the switches to switch the positive?

If the illumination is neon, they may not work. Personally, i wouldn't want to switch and fuse the negatives though.

 

[jfm]

If the illumination is neon, they may not work.

Sure, that may be so. LEDs too. There are various poosible reasons why a board wired a certain way will only switch on th negative. But I was asking OP what is the actual reason his particular board can only function by switching the negative

 

[gjgm]

. LEDs too. There

Yes, I just hours upside down in the lazarette undoing all my wiring only then to discover LEDs need to be wired one way.. GRRRRR

 

[pappaecho]

I would very much like to publish a picture, but cannot find any help as how to do it!

 

[jhr]

Try this excellent guide, courtesy of Dogwatch. Start at Stage 2, unless you need to re-size your pictures.

 

[Ubergeekian]

At SIBS i bought an auxillary fuse board of 6 illuminated rocker switches, complete with 6 MCBs on a aluminium plate.
The switches are wired to switch on/off the negative side to the appliance rather than positive. Is this normal with 12 volt operation?

It's how Jumblie has been wired since new. Unless you've got an earthed structure (like the body of a car) it really makes no difference at all.