3 plate?

[Noel-uk-05]

could some one please tell me what 3 plate means and why is it diff from a normal lighting circuit? thanx

 

[kai]

Three Plate is the old name for the Modern Looping System.

Supply feed from fusebox enters one ceiling rose fixture, and onto the next one and so on, till the last light is reached.

A switch control cable runs down to the switch in each room, in order to control each light, except the stairs, which has a two way switch link, with Red/Yellow/Blue cables (or modern equivalents).

This saves on cost of buying junction boxes, and keeps all the joints accessable for inspection etc.