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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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    My take is :-

    with T & E.

    1/ Looping in at ceiling rose is the way I was brought up, I am used to it and can do it in my sleep.

     Disconnecting the switch feed and return as one cable aids fault finding and means you can leave the other lights running.


    2/ Looping in at switch boxes , OK same again and you are not up ladders when disconnecting and testing.

    Switching other than one gang one way makes it look a bit more complicated to the untrained eye.

    I never use 16mm back boxes always 25mm min asI think it bad (OK then non preffered) practice on all but one gang one way switches.


    3/ Looping in at hidden junction boxes in lofts or under floorboards I just do not like at all.


    so 1/ or 2/ above I prefer and 1/ is my favourite but it does not always favour modern light fittings.


    Of course you can do a hybrid of 1/ and/or 2/ and it gets interesting for the next person

Reply
  • 0
    My take is :-

    with T & E.

    1/ Looping in at ceiling rose is the way I was brought up, I am used to it and can do it in my sleep.

     Disconnecting the switch feed and return as one cable aids fault finding and means you can leave the other lights running.


    2/ Looping in at switch boxes , OK same again and you are not up ladders when disconnecting and testing.

    Switching other than one gang one way makes it look a bit more complicated to the untrained eye.

    I never use 16mm back boxes always 25mm min asI think it bad (OK then non preffered) practice on all but one gang one way switches.


    3/ Looping in at hidden junction boxes in lofts or under floorboards I just do not like at all.


    so 1/ or 2/ above I prefer and 1/ is my favourite but it does not always favour modern light fittings.


    Of course you can do a hybrid of 1/ and/or 2/ and it gets interesting for the next person

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