What is the best way to wire ceiling lights?

mapj1:

Also sometimes 2 different switched lives, so that you can have all or half lights on  in a complex fitting.

Do the regs allow the use of a 3 core and earth cable for 2 switched lives or must 2 twin and earth cables be used?

AJJewsbury:

There's a little more to the MF requirement than that unfortunately - as well using spring terminals the cables need to be secured (clamped) and usually the terminals de-rated to increase reliability - and to comply with the letter of the regs the whole assembly has to have been marked "MF" by the manufacturer. Just chucking a few Wagos into a Wiska box won't quite cut it.

Surewire junction boxes are marked MF and they have cable clamps. The manufacturer makes the claim "They aim to be the new standard for wiring a lighting circuit" although I'm not confident that they are a magic bullet solution to the problem (hence the OP) despite using them myself without any problems. They are rated at 16A although most lighting circuits are protected with a 6A breaker.


Using a Wago shoved into the ceiling cavity above a light fitting to replace the connections from a ceiling rose junction box is probably better than using a chocolate block with screw terminals but it officially won't meet the MF requirement as there are no cable clamps and the wiring is not double insulated.

mapj1:

Also sometimes 2 different switched lives, so that you can have all or half lights on  in a complex fitting.

Do the regs allow the use of a 3 core and earth cable for 2 switched lives or must 2 twin and earth cables be used?

AJJewsbury:

There's a little more to the MF requirement than that unfortunately - as well using spring terminals the cables need to be secured (clamped) and usually the terminals de-rated to increase reliability - and to comply with the letter of the regs the whole assembly has to have been marked "MF" by the manufacturer. Just chucking a few Wagos into a Wiska box won't quite cut it.

Surewire junction boxes are marked MF and they have cable clamps. The manufacturer makes the claim "They aim to be the new standard for wiring a lighting circuit" although I'm not confident that they are a magic bullet solution to the problem (hence the OP) despite using them myself without any problems. They are rated at 16A although most lighting circuits are protected with a 6A breaker.


Using a Wago shoved into the ceiling cavity above a light fitting to replace the connections from a ceiling rose junction box is probably better than using a chocolate block with screw terminals but it officially won't meet the MF requirement as there are no cable clamps and the wiring is not double insulated.