New Build House

[Capri]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum so forgive me if this has been asked before (I have done a search but can't find the answer). I have just moved into a new house and have fitted a few light fittings but have found that the lighting circuit is not wired up how I am used too. It has no loop to each ceiling Rose just a live neutral and earth and all the loop lives etc are wired to the switch. I work as an industrial engineer so don't do much domestic stuff so maybe i'm just out of touch. Could anyone let me know if this is a new way of wiring as it seems a bit odd to me although it does make putting new light fittings up a doddle.

 

[Badfish]

Not a new way of wiring lighting at all. Use this way myself. I live a house built in the 80's and it is wired that way too.

 

[Zeespark]

Power to the switch instead of the light fitting, its been used for donkeys years as it virtually eliminates the need for JB's, I use this system Myself 95% of the time when I am wiring lights.

AndyGuinness

 

[Capri]

cheers for that, just not seen it before and to be honest it's a long time since I have done any domestic stuff so thought I had missed something. Just out of curiosity, why do it this way is the loop in loop out method not easier?

 

[Zeespark]

For one it can use more cable, and if you want to add downlights or an outside light you would normally need a JB, when wiring to switches, the need for the JB is eliminated virtually.

AndyGuinness

 

[Doc Hudson]

There are numerous wiring methods used for lighting, they all have their suitable applications. As you suggest, especially with modern decorative light fittings loop at switch makes it much easier getting your wires into the fitting. Older properties wired in singles often had a mix of lives looped at switch, but neutrals looped at fittings! Some of these low voltage transformer fed fittings can be easier with a junction box spider arrangement.

Doc H.

 

[Capri]

That makes sense now. Cheers for that.

 

[ProDave]

MY main reason for using Loop At Switch, is that it makes more of the work at a nice convenient working height, and less work to do on top of a pair of steps looking up.

It's also a regional thing. When I lived darn sarf, most wiring was loop at the light, but since moving to the far north, I find much more loop at the switch installations up here.

 

[batty]

MY main reason for using Loop At Switch, is that it makes more of the work at a nice convenient working height, and less work to do on top of a pair of steps looking up.It's also a regional thing. When I lived darn sarf, most wiring was loop at the light, but since moving to the far north, I find much more loop at the switch installations up here.

Thats because you are further up you can get volt drop problems if the cabling is higher up. On a serious note though I tend to loop at swiches as you say less work on steps.

 

[Ash]

As long as there's no central junction box buried under a floorboard, totally unaccessable, I like any method.

 

[Evans Electric]

I think its much quicker 1st fixing with T/E (3 plate, Live loop at lights) .

With a lot of the jobs these days having a million downlights, I usually 3 plate at the switches with Push 'em and forgetums to save having a J/B in the ceiling.

 

[M107]

Eaven easier when you use hager switches....

Unique Neutral Loop Terminal Hager

 

[Zeespark]

How do you rate Hagers accessories M? I am thinking of dumping MK for them if they have a decent product range and are good quality.

AndyGuinness

 

[Evans Electric]

Its good stuff Zeezee, well their boards anyway , I'd like to bet their accessories are good quality too.

As far as I know they are the only ones who make a cartridge fuse din rail mounted thingy ,same dimensions as an MCB , very useful in high ambient temp. areas when there are tripping problems.

They have a huge range of stuff in the catalogue.

Not many people seem to use it .

That loop neutral terminal is a good idea in the switches,

 

[Zeespark]

I have seen that Deke, but apparently, most if it at least was for a time, rebadged Ashley, who I CANNOT stand.

AndyGuinness

 

[Derek Preece]

The Loop at Switch method was never taught to us at college, but when I saw it on site used for multiple down lighters (which is what most clients seem to want these days) it seemed pretty handy. Incidentally I work down south but the sparkies who were doing the work were trained by a bloke from Newcastle.

 

[ProDave]

Eaven easier when you use hager switches....Unique Neutral Loop Terminal Hager

Interesting idea.

I'll bet their intermediate switches don't have a neutral terminal.

And why don't they go the whole way and give you an earth terminal for when using plastic back boxes.

If anyone wants a recommendation for cheap but good looking accessories, I like the Click Mode ones. I like them because the switch modules are interchangeable so you can mix normal and intermediate switches on the same plate for instance.

 

[wozz]

I use hager sockets where they cannot be seen, i think the build quality seems ok nice profile and edges just such a shame they ruined it by sticking their name on the front!