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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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    Well, you won't see the wiring of the kind of DIYer who can do two way switching well, as it will not need to be made good.

    Rather as the washing machine repair man only sees the broken ones, only the defective DIY projects will attract professional attention, so your view of the average DIYer may be skewed by that.  (I am not a member of the IET or any part P scheme, so in some eyes, while my work "at work" is professional, at home any "work" I do counts as DIY, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.)

    Though I agree, there are some very funny ways lighting circuits can be cocked up after removing switches and roses to paint behind or whatever, I seem to have been asked to take a quick look at several over the years.


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    Well, you won't see the wiring of the kind of DIYer who can do two way switching well, as it will not need to be made good.

    Rather as the washing machine repair man only sees the broken ones, only the defective DIY projects will attract professional attention, so your view of the average DIYer may be skewed by that.  (I am not a member of the IET or any part P scheme, so in some eyes, while my work "at work" is professional, at home any "work" I do counts as DIY, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.)

    Though I agree, there are some very funny ways lighting circuits can be cocked up after removing switches and roses to paint behind or whatever, I seem to have been asked to take a quick look at several over the years.


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