Chocolate box wiring

[ScotchGas]

Wiring up one of these for lighting/extractor fan. Never really use them so wondering if I'm better off with a proper wiring box & strip or if this will cope alright.



I'm feeding it from a 3a spur to comply with the extractor mi's then has L to fan, l/switch & onto next light. S/L from switch then going to light & extractor.
Will the choco box cope alright with this or will it be too much?

(Earths still to be sleeved never had any to hand)

 

[sparkwright]

What's a chocolate box?

The picture shows a traditional 20 amp 6 terminal junction box.

The most I have dared to connect to one of these 8 cables. Would never recommend more than 8.

 

[ScotchGas]

What's a chocolate box?

I've just always known these as chocolate boxes

The most I have dared to connect to one of these 8 cables. Would never recommend more than 8.

Are you adding to this junction box, or creating a different, similar one somewhere else?

This has 7, wasn't sure if electrical guys doubled up on the holes.

I'm fitting a light in the living room since there's not one in there so one of the cables will be going into another box to deal with the wiring for that.

 

[sparkwright]

Seems ok AFAICT.

Would recommend leaving all the wires the same length, around 2 - 2.5 inches.

You see, the very short wires may break off at the ends, meaning there's zero slack to re-terminate without having to start again.

 

[ScotchGas]

Seems ok AFAICT.

Would recommend leaving all the wires the same length, around 2 - 2.5 inches.

You see, the very short wires may break off at the ends, meaning there's zero slack to re-terminate without having to start again.

Might just do that, it's in a false ceiling & I've left plenty excess for cables but anything to make life easier in the future.

 

[JohnD]

the "wiring centres" used by plumbers are just an improved junction box, but they (usually) include cable grips, numbered terminals, several identifiable sets of connectors, and room in the lid for descriptions and notes. You can often pick up several for a few pounds. I got some in for bathroom connections, to cover lights, fan, shaver socket, etc. They could be useful in kitchens too, for stuff on the lighting circuit. They look to me 10A size but I haven't checked.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Heating-Cooling-Air/69197/i.html?_from=R40&_sop=15&_nkw=wiring centre&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

 

[Taylortwocities]

While you are at it, invest in some earth sleeving. Those bare earth conductors need covering up!

PS
Your picture is a junction box. These are what is commonly known as 'choc block'

 

[JohnW2]

While you are at it, invest in some earth sleeving. Those bare earth conductors need covering up!

I think that is in hand ...

(Earths still to be sleeved never had any to hand)

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

I've asked before but -

what advantage will a bit of g/y sleeving achieve in a situation like this?
If a live wire escapes from its terminal, wouldn't it be better that there is more CPC wire to touch and disconnect the supply?
Or is it the intention to prevent that happening; if so, why?

 

[Tigercubrider]

no expert but if a live became disconnected it might tough an exposed earth and make a metal part live.

maybe no issue if there are breakers but in an older installation that relies on fuses...

 

[JohnW2]

I've asked before but - what advantage will a bit of g/y sleeving achieve in a situation like this? If a live wire escapes from its terminal, wouldn't it be better that there is more CPC wire to touch and disconnect the supply? Or is it the intention to prevent that happening; if so, why?

Indeed so.

I presume that if it were an earthed metal enclosure with (for some reason) just 'exposed' L and N conductors within, no-one would suggest that the inside of the earthed box had to be covered in some sort of insulation.

As you say, we've discussed this before, but I can't remember exactly what we concluded regs-wise. As far as I can make out, the regs require all conductors (even CPCs) to be 'identified', at least at their ends, so that would presumably require at least 'a bit' of G/Y sleeving on a bare CPC. However, is there actually any regulatory requirement for all of the exposed bare CPC to be sleeved?

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

no expert but if a live became disconnected it might tough an exposed earth and make a metal part live. ... maybe no issue if there are breakers but in an older installation that relies on fuses...

As I've just written to EFLI, that would be at least as true of live conductors inside an earthed metal box/enclosure (of which there are millions around, and even more now we're being forced to move to metal CUs!) but I don't think anyone would suggest that the inside of such a metal enclosure should be protected by insulation!

Fuses, just like 'breakers', should operate if an L conductor touches something 'earthed'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

I presume that if it were an earthed metal enclosure with (for some reason) just 'exposed' L and N conductors within, no-one would suggest that the inside of the earthed box had to be covered in some sort of insulation.

Exactly.

As you say, we've discussed this before, but I can't remember exactly what we concluded regs-wise. As far as I can make out, the regs require all conductors (even CPCs) to be 'identified', at least at their ends, so that would presumably require at least 'a bit' of G/Y sleeving on a bare CPC.

Possibly a little bit - but are they not identified by their bareness?

However, is there actually any regulatory requirement for all of the exposed bare CPC to be sleeved?

I think not in the situation pictured.



Apart from any rules or regulations - in that junction box, would sleeving be advantageous, disadvantageous or immaterial?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Advantageous.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Care to say how?