Current method of wiring lighting circuits

[electek]

Hi All,
Been out of the game for a while and was wondering about the current method of wiring lighting circuits in new houses. Is it still a case of 3 terminal junction box (or ceiling rose) for each lighting point, linking live and neutral from light to light (2 core t+e) and then dropping to switches with 2 core t+e ? or is some other method used these days ?

Any help appreciated

 

[acat]

Nothing has changed apart from 1 in 4 have to be energy savers.


Chris

 

[Voltimax]

What you describe is called 3 plating.
Personally I like there to be just the one T&E at the light fitting, so I wire lighting circuits with feeds at the switches using 35mm boxes.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

What you describe is called 3 plating.
Personally I like there to be just the one T&E at the light fitting, so I wire lighting circuits with feeds at the switches using 35mm boxes.

I usually use the loop in loop out at the rose. However i do like your method, and the times i had wished i had done it that way.........because just when you have finished and powered up a rewire the homeowner comes out with the classic phrase...........I want dimmer switches

 

[Johno]

if possible i prefer to wire to the switch and have 1 cable at light, definately 100% better job, but not always possible, though i see your point about the dimmers (i hate dimmers)

 

[electek]

Hi All ,
Thanks for your comments. I'm interested in the statement about dimmers , can dimmers not be used with 'three plating' then ? If not can someone explain to me why ?

Thanks
Chris.

 

[baldsparkies]

Simple answer yes. Most dimmers can be used to switch lighting provided from a 3 plate system.

 

[electek]

Thought so , just wondered why Sirkit Breaker mentioned about the householder wanting dimmers after the house had been wired 3 plate method ....? Can you advise me Sirkit breaker please

 

[baldsparkies]

Not wishing to speak for sirkit, but he may have been talking about the 35mm boxes, deeper box more room for the dimmers gubbins, I am sure he will be along with answers.

 

[Johno]

he was on about if you have 3 t&es at the switch then by the time you have connected the cables together ( neutrals in connector block, etc ) then there is not enough room to fit a dimmer, though if you had a 35mm KO box there would be ( unless it was a flat plate one ).

3 plate is having 3 cables at light and 1 cable at switch
2 plate is having 3 cables at switch and 1 cable at light
dimmers can be used on either

on a new build i would definately do 2 plate and as said by voltimax you could use 35mm boxes to be safe

 

[a.e.s]

I always wire 2 plate, now with everything being R.C.D protected it makes life so much easier when testing Zs, also I would much rather fault finding behind switches rather than having to take loads of feature lights apart.
I have alearnt my lesson with dimmers, it is always worth asking the customer when wiring if they want dimmers or not, I have wired a loads of downlights on one switch wire and was then told during 2nd fix they had told my boss they wanted a dimmer, I know it was my bosses fault but I dont like letting a customer down and didnt enjoy telling them dimmers cant switch high loads.