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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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    Arran Cameron:




    Sparkingchip:

    Most electricians consider using junction boxes and inefficient and bad practice.




    What is the reason behind this?


    I consider having 3 cables emerging from a hole in the ceiling as inefficient and bad practice. An essential criteria of my lighting installation was to have just one cable emerging from the ceiling for each ceiling rose or light fitting.



     


     






    Accessibility issues for testing and maintenance as well as the additional cost and labour for installation.


    Trying to find the cause of a RCD protecting a lighting circuit  tripping when the circuit is wired through junction boxes can be a nightmare of a job.


    Andy Betteridge 

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  • 0

    Arran Cameron:




    Sparkingchip:

    Most electricians consider using junction boxes and inefficient and bad practice.




    What is the reason behind this?


    I consider having 3 cables emerging from a hole in the ceiling as inefficient and bad practice. An essential criteria of my lighting installation was to have just one cable emerging from the ceiling for each ceiling rose or light fitting.



     


     






    Accessibility issues for testing and maintenance as well as the additional cost and labour for installation.


    Trying to find the cause of a RCD protecting a lighting circuit  tripping when the circuit is wired through junction boxes can be a nightmare of a job.


    Andy Betteridge 

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