ᐅ Replacing Old Wiring: Should the Terrace Be Separated from the Living Room?
Created on: 6 Oct 2025 10:59
H
Hanniball2k
Hello everyone,
As part of the renovation, I’m unsure about how to handle the connection for my terrace. To begin with: an electrician has been hired to replace the distribution board and, if needed, connect some newly installed wiring. He is also advising me and will be coordinating with me over the next few weeks.
Still, I’m looking for some everyday practical experience.
Currently, the terrace lighting is connected through the living room circuit, but this will be separated. There is a main switch in the living room that can completely shut off power to the outside. In addition, there are three switches outside controlling four lights and one socket outlet, which are rather poorly installed flush-mounted on the outside of the brickwork.
I broke my SweetHome3D, so I used PowerPoint instead… 😀 I hope it’s clear enough.
I want to have one switch for all four lights, and possibly an outlet as well. This should be separated from the living room circuit. The electrician has already suggested installing an RCD/MCB for both the garden shed and the garage.
Now, the question... How does this work in everyday life? Is it really necessary to have a switch for the lighting inside the house, or is an outside switch sufficient? Should sockets also be switchable from inside?
I can very well imagine supplying power through the garden shed, and instead of flush-mounted switches, using surface-mounted ones.
- One light switch outside on the terrace
- One light switch inside the living room, both switches connected using a Shelly device to create a two-way switching system so all four lights can be controlled
- Socket outlets supplied with continuous power from the garden shed (--> also designed to be switchable, possibly switched from the garden shed? It can theoretically be locked).
Any opinions, ideas, or everyday experience? So far, we have lived on the second floor without any of these setups 😀
As part of the renovation, I’m unsure about how to handle the connection for my terrace. To begin with: an electrician has been hired to replace the distribution board and, if needed, connect some newly installed wiring. He is also advising me and will be coordinating with me over the next few weeks.
Still, I’m looking for some everyday practical experience.
Currently, the terrace lighting is connected through the living room circuit, but this will be separated. There is a main switch in the living room that can completely shut off power to the outside. In addition, there are three switches outside controlling four lights and one socket outlet, which are rather poorly installed flush-mounted on the outside of the brickwork.
I broke my SweetHome3D, so I used PowerPoint instead… 😀 I hope it’s clear enough.
I want to have one switch for all four lights, and possibly an outlet as well. This should be separated from the living room circuit. The electrician has already suggested installing an RCD/MCB for both the garden shed and the garage.
Now, the question... How does this work in everyday life? Is it really necessary to have a switch for the lighting inside the house, or is an outside switch sufficient? Should sockets also be switchable from inside?
I can very well imagine supplying power through the garden shed, and instead of flush-mounted switches, using surface-mounted ones.
- One light switch outside on the terrace
- One light switch inside the living room, both switches connected using a Shelly device to create a two-way switching system so all four lights can be controlled
- Socket outlets supplied with continuous power from the garden shed (--> also designed to be switchable, possibly switched from the garden shed? It can theoretically be locked).
Any opinions, ideas, or everyday experience? So far, we have lived on the second floor without any of these setups 😀
Response regarding common practice:
I cannot comment on systems like “Schellys” or Wi-Fi electrical devices.
Hanniball2k schrieb:One reason for this is that you can turn them off when you are not at home, for example, during a vacation. Although burglars nowadays often use cordless drills, it still prevents strangers from plugging in devices.
Is it necessary or recommended to be able to switch off power outlets from inside the house?
Hanniball2k schrieb:In my opinion, definitely yes. Especially during the darker months, it makes sense to control outdoor lighting from inside the house. You don’t want to go outside to turn it on or off, but rather have the switch where you pass by several times a day. Without exposure to weather, and without having to put on outdoor clothes. This also applies to Christmas lights connected to power outlets. Clearly, the switch should be inside the house.
Do you really need an interior switch for lighting?
I cannot comment on systems like “Schellys” or Wi-Fi electrical devices.