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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:


    Installing lighting circuits using junction boxes is not good installation practice.




    Are you implying that Surewire junction boxes are anathema, or even completely heretical, to professional electricians?


    One criticism I have of them is that they do not manufacture a junction box that fits inside an electrical back box. Such a junction box mounted in a wall will eliminate issues with junction boxes concealed (or made difficult to access) beneath floorboards.


    Correct me if I am wrong, but the ceiling rose junction box was originally designed to reduce costs of a lighting installation as opposed to improving fault finding or eliminating screw terminals in junction boxes installed beneath floorboards.



     


     




    Maybe they don't make one as the ceiling rose or loop at the switch works perfectly well, and also doesn't leave random blank-plated double sock boxes dotted around the house?

    What does it matter what it was made for? Have you ever tried to do some basic circuit fault finding? Easy access and splitting up of cables is the name of the game, and your going to struggle if the previous person went down the central hidden junction box route aren't you?

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    Arran Cameron:




    Sparkingchip:


    Installing lighting circuits using junction boxes is not good installation practice.




    Are you implying that Surewire junction boxes are anathema, or even completely heretical, to professional electricians?


    One criticism I have of them is that they do not manufacture a junction box that fits inside an electrical back box. Such a junction box mounted in a wall will eliminate issues with junction boxes concealed (or made difficult to access) beneath floorboards.


    Correct me if I am wrong, but the ceiling rose junction box was originally designed to reduce costs of a lighting installation as opposed to improving fault finding or eliminating screw terminals in junction boxes installed beneath floorboards.



     


     




    Maybe they don't make one as the ceiling rose or loop at the switch works perfectly well, and also doesn't leave random blank-plated double sock boxes dotted around the house?

    What does it matter what it was made for? Have you ever tried to do some basic circuit fault finding? Easy access and splitting up of cables is the name of the game, and your going to struggle if the previous person went down the central hidden junction box route aren't you?

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