Lighting Circuit

[stephen_lowfield]

Hi All, I am just about to do the first fix in my extension. For the lighting circuit what’s better looping through ceiling rose or looping at switch?

 

[FrodoOne]

Hi All, I am just about to do the first fix in my extension. For the lighting circuit what’s better looping through ceiling rose or looping at switch?

Looping at the Switch will mean that you will have a Neutral there,
if you ever need one for any future "device".

Having a Neutral available at the location of a switch is now REQUIRED for "new work" in North America.

 

[Murdochcat]

I’m guessing you don’t have up to date copies of the regs or you wouldn’t ask this question

 

[davelx]

I’m guessing you don’t have up to date copies of the regs or you wouldn’t ask this question

All the regs say is "Consideration shall be given to the provision of a neutral conductor, at each switch position ". He's considering it, hence his question!

 

[ebee]

What about allowing for both - At every (first) switch instead of running say T&E as the feed and return then run a three core and earth instead, this allows you the extra core to take the N from the rose to that switch or alternatively from that switch to the rose.

I nearly always ran Loop in at rose but nowadays if I were still "on the tools" I would loop from rose to rose usually but that switchwire would be 3C&E .

 

[Murdochcat]

All the regs say is "Consideration shall be given to the provision of a neutral conductor, at each switch position ". He's considering it, hence his question!

Hum, that’s not how his post comes across

 

[stephen_lowfield]

Hum, that’s not how his post comes across

Yeah definitely considering neutral as got a drum of 3C&E already. But didn’t know whether to loop it at the ceiling rose or at the switch. Which is the preferred option nowadays. Is there any benefits of doing it at switch?

 

[blup]

A mixture of both, loop in for kitchen down lighters and some switched for remote security eg outside light

 

[stephen_lowfield]

What about allowing for both - At every (first) switch instead of running say T&E as the feed and return then run a three core and earth instead, this allows you the extra core to take the N from the rose to that switch or alternatively from that switch to the rose.

I nearly always ran Loop in at rose but nowadays if I were still "on the tools" I would loop from rose to rose usually but that switchwire would be 3C&E .

Thanks ebee. That was my plan. Do the loop at rose in T&E. Then the switch wire will be 3C&E

 

[davelx]

Hum, that’s not how his post comes across

Ah, to me your post was suggesting that the regs required a neutral at the switch and that he would know that if he had read them.

The wonders of English, eh?

 

[ericmark]

The difference is permeant line at the lamp, and you can have emergency lamps and ceiling fans with ease, and neutral at the switch means you can fit smart switches which don't require a minium load or batteries. As said, you can have both.

 

[SUNRAY]

What about allowing for both - At every (first) switch instead of running say T&E as the feed and return then run a three core and earth instead, this allows you the extra core to take the N from the rose to that switch or alternatively from that switch to the rose.

I nearly always ran Loop in at rose but nowadays if I were still "on the tools" I would loop from rose to rose usually but that switchwire would be 3C&E .

I've worked in a number of newbuilds recently and I've found the whole of the lighting circuit installed with 3C&E including the loop in/out several times now.
It adds incredible versatility for alterations.

 

[Murdochcat]

Ah, to me your post was suggesting that the regs required a neutral at the switch and that he would know that if he had read them.

The wonders of English, eh?

I was fishing to see if the OP had the regs

 

[JohnW2]

Hum, that’s not how his post comes across

... and you seem to be missing the point that, as has been pointed out, 'looping at the rose' is not incompatible with also have a neutral at the switch (which is what the regs suggest should be 'considered').

I must say that, these days, I usually do both - 'loop at the rose' and also run a neutral to the switch position (from the rose, using 3C+E).

 

[plugwash]

Hi All, I am just about to do the first fix in my extension. For the lighting circuit what’s better looping through ceiling rose or looping at switch?

Loop at switch takes more effort and materials, but is IMO the better solution in a new construction or major renovation scenario for two reasons.

1. You automatically get a neutral at the switch position*, this is useful if you want to install smart switches.
2. It works better with "fancy" light fittings. It's all too common to get a situation where a fancy light fitting can't comfortably accommodate more than one cable. Metal class 2 fittings where the wiring needs to be enclosed in a small terminal box to maintain the class 2 status are especially bad for this.

In a rewire situation, where you are trying to minimise disruption things can be a bit different, as loop at light often allows reuse of existing conduit.

Regardless of whether you use loop at switch or loop at light, using 3+E from the switch to the light can make a lot of sense. The extra conductor can be very useful when you want to change things later.