What is the best way to wire ceiling lights?

Will this thread run for ever?


A scan of recent posts suggests two points of concern - junction boxes and accessibility.

Junction boxes


I would describe these as non-preferred; they provide extra terminal junctions in places that have no actual function. I am sure I could wire a house from scratch using no  junction boxes. I am sure most diligent electricians would prefer to do the same.


In an ideal world one would wire a house with foresight of everyone's requirements for at least the next 50 years. We do not of course live in such an ideal world.


My present house, a bungalow, when I moved in, had a single ring circuit serving the front and rear extensions. The central area was served by sockets connected in an unattractive "tree" layout. I wanted to make things "conform" so I rearranged this into two ring circuits, with some of the central area sockets as spurs. Yes, this required a few junction boxes.


The house lighting was all on just one sub-circuit serving 20-plus lights. I rearranged this into three sub-circuits. Then I needed to provide a two-gang switch at the lounge door for both ceiling and wall lights. Then I wanted to add a passive infrared detector in parallel to the outside light switch, preferably without chasing to run extra conductors to the switch. Overall this also required a few junction boxes.

Accessibility


Many years ago, when accessibility was less-well defined in the Regulations, I had an argument with an electrician who wanted to install a junction box where it would be plastered over. His point was that he and I knew where it was and it would be possible to cut a hole in the plaster to access it.  I would define accessibility as follows.

• Accessible to touch: Positioned where anyone can touch in  normal living circumstances. Clearly not a place for live terminals.

• Accessible for inspection: Positioned where they can be touched only after removing some type of cover.  This could include junction boxes in loft areas.

• Inaccessible: Can be reached only by causing damage to the fabric of the building.

On the (fairly rare) occasions where I have needed to leave a junction box or other type of terminal connection under a floor, I have left a short, "loose" board above it, usually screwed down rather than nailed. This passes as accessible for inspection. Of course, as others have said, fitted carpets or tiled floors do not make this type of access easy, so I try to avoid under-floor junctions as far as possible. This is easy in a bungalow, less easy in a multi-storey house.

Will this thread run for ever?


A scan of recent posts suggests two points of concern - junction boxes and accessibility.

Junction boxes


I would describe these as non-preferred; they provide extra terminal junctions in places that have no actual function. I am sure I could wire a house from scratch using no  junction boxes. I am sure most diligent electricians would prefer to do the same.


In an ideal world one would wire a house with foresight of everyone's requirements for at least the next 50 years. We do not of course live in such an ideal world.


My present house, a bungalow, when I moved in, had a single ring circuit serving the front and rear extensions. The central area was served by sockets connected in an unattractive "tree" layout. I wanted to make things "conform" so I rearranged this into two ring circuits, with some of the central area sockets as spurs. Yes, this required a few junction boxes.


The house lighting was all on just one sub-circuit serving 20-plus lights. I rearranged this into three sub-circuits. Then I needed to provide a two-gang switch at the lounge door for both ceiling and wall lights. Then I wanted to add a passive infrared detector in parallel to the outside light switch, preferably without chasing to run extra conductors to the switch. Overall this also required a few junction boxes.

Accessibility


Many years ago, when accessibility was less-well defined in the Regulations, I had an argument with an electrician who wanted to install a junction box where it would be plastered over. His point was that he and I knew where it was and it would be possible to cut a hole in the plaster to access it.  I would define accessibility as follows.

• Accessible to touch: Positioned where anyone can touch in  normal living circumstances. Clearly not a place for live terminals.

• Accessible for inspection: Positioned where they can be touched only after removing some type of cover.  This could include junction boxes in loft areas.

• Inaccessible: Can be reached only by causing damage to the fabric of the building.

On the (fairly rare) occasions where I have needed to leave a junction box or other type of terminal connection under a floor, I have left a short, "loose" board above it, usually screwed down rather than nailed. This passes as accessible for inspection. Of course, as others have said, fitted carpets or tiled floors do not make this type of access easy, so I try to avoid under-floor junctions as far as possible. This is easy in a bungalow, less easy in a multi-storey house.