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2 plate lighting question

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi all,


New to the forum so please be kind! I'm starting a rewire of my home and have decided for a multitude of reasons to go with wiring the lighting using the 2 plate method(smart light switches and the like mostly requiring neutral). I was intending and can't see any negatives to doing it slightly differently in that I wasn't going to take the feed for following on differently switched lights from the switch, instead I plan to supply one junction box from the consumer unit and then spur off for each room's lighting (may install a second jb depending on how congested the first is looking). 


In doing this I would avoid there ever being a need for more than 3 cables in a single light switch, i.e. worst case scenario i'd have permanent supply (from jb), switched supply to light fitting and lastly in some cases a 3C & CPC for 2 Way switching. Plus in my mind make future installs easier, i.e. any additional feed coming from one central point.


Can anyone think of any good reason not to do the above? Can't see anything in the regs to suggest this would be a problem? 


Cheers all!
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Thanks for all your responses! 


    I'm basically in a situation where I want to be wiring the place to the best possible standard and future proofing it as far as I humanly can (maybe a pointless endeavour - who knows what will be the norm in the future) but with regards to future work - i by trade am an electrical designer but previously had many years of electrical installation so am intending on doing a wide array of drawings detailing all the wiring & locations of junction boxes and any other concealed equipment - also planning for them to be maintenance free but placing them in the most easily accessible places around the house for any future work. 


    I'd be interested of those of you which disagree with my intention of 2 plate and now probably installing with a few extra cores in some locations (thanks Andy, definitely wise should I want to make future modifications), what would you do if you were in my situation? i.e. complete rewire wanting to future proof everything as much as possible - all bells and whistles gucci install.


    Greg
  • 0
    Rather than pull in 3 core and earth where 2 core would have done, on my own works,  I tend to use oval conduits, possible 2 side by side  as these can be re-threaded after plastering in  if something terrible happens.

    M.

    PS Though it may not really matter as much as you think , - I did that in 2004 at our current place, installing several tens of metres of the stuff, and so far the number of conduits re-threaded is precisely one, after I drilled into it myself in a moment of thoughtlessness involving a new kitchen extractor..

  • 0
    I too used oval conduit in the past.


    The extra cores approach though comes from my current house, as I've put wet underfloor heating throughout, so accessing the void in general is going to be problematic (probably similar issues for those with laminate flooring or tiles) - so even pushing an extra cable down an oval conduit wasn't going to be practical. So my solution was to generally use 4-core + c.p.c. BS 8436 cables to each switch and light position - so I could support up to 3 separately switched lights, or a 2-way switch and a 1-way one without needing extra cables.


        - Andy.
  • 0
    I am not at all sure of this future-proofing approach: why would you not get it right to start with?


    On the other hand, when you move on, the next occupier is apt to want to shuffle things around to his (or her) taste. That's where a few redundant cables may be handy.


    Like others above, I like the plastic mini-conduit. When re-wiring, don't you bless the previous electrician who was kind enough to use conduit or capping? ?
  • 0
    If it was my house I was rewiring, I would (if practical) have all the switch and light-fitting cables converging on one or two Big Boxes-o'Wagos(tm) per level, with the boxes located in e.g. something like an under-the-stairs cupboard or cellar head - either near the ceiling for the lights on this level or near the floor for the lights on the level below. And with a spare core if possible.
  • 0
    Nothing wrong with 4 or 5 cables in a switch.  Just use deeper back boxes as this is a renovation.  Looping through the switch with the mains only means one extra twin and earth at a switch and saves a lot of future pains in the backside with unnecessary concealed joints .  If you want to future proof or leave a bit of flexibility as others have suggested just take a 3 core to the light which provides a spare perm live or s/l.



    Gary


    gbruell:

    Hi all,


    New to the forum so please be kind! I'm starting a rewire of my home and have decided for a multitude of reasons to go with wiring the lighting using the 2 plate method(smart light switches and the like mostly requiring neutral). I was intending and can't see any negatives to doing it slightly differently in that I wasn't going to take the feed for following on differently switched lights from the switch, instead I plan to supply one junction box from the consumer unit and then spur off for each room's lighting (may install a second jb depending on how congested the first is looking). 


    In doing this I would avoid there ever being a need for more than 3 cables in a single light switch, i.e. worst case scenario i'd have permanent supply (from jb), switched supply to light fitting and lastly in some cases a 3C & CPC for 2 Way switching. Plus in my mind make future installs easier, i.e. any additional feed coming from one central point.


    Can anyone think of any good reason not to do the above? Can't see anything in the regs to suggest this would be a problem? 


    Cheers all!


     


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