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What is the best way to wire ceiling lights?

Arran Cameron
The ceiling rose junction box with its loop-in wiring is now really showing its age and is no longer a practical (or even safe) installation for most residents who wish to install fancy light fittings. It is still, however, the most common arrangement for new build houses and rewires, probably as the result of the electrician's training and how they consider it to be the norm or they cannot think of (potentially better) alternatives.


So, what is the best way to wire ceiling lights? Should neutral wires be taken to the switches or not?
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    ebee:

    The easiest way is to just wire as loop in to a 4 plate ceiling rose with flex and lampholder and inform the owner that if they buy a fancy fitting to ensure that the top bit is a cup that will fit over the backplate (Leave a spare rose backplate for them to lose/ignore when they buy a fitting). Of course you might warn them of a permanent L in the backplate but they often choose to ignore that as well!




    I'm not confident that this method is any easier (or harder) than using the Surewire junction boxes that I have used. Do many electricians install Surewire junction boxes or are they mostly purchased by homeowners who want to install fancy light fittings or do things differently from the norm for differences sake?



     

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  • 0

    ebee:

    The easiest way is to just wire as loop in to a 4 plate ceiling rose with flex and lampholder and inform the owner that if they buy a fancy fitting to ensure that the top bit is a cup that will fit over the backplate (Leave a spare rose backplate for them to lose/ignore when they buy a fitting). Of course you might warn them of a permanent L in the backplate but they often choose to ignore that as well!




    I'm not confident that this method is any easier (or harder) than using the Surewire junction boxes that I have used. Do many electricians install Surewire junction boxes or are they mostly purchased by homeowners who want to install fancy light fittings or do things differently from the norm for differences sake?



     

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