Why does junction box/ceiling rose need to be on ceiling?

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Hi,
I'm wiring a single ceiling light in my garage (using 1.5mm T+E).
I've looked at the circuit diagrams here and begun laying the cables this morning. However something is bothering me. Is there a reason why I can't just put the ceiling rose or junction box next to the light switch on the wall? And then run a single cable from the junction box to the lamp, rather than two cables?
Fair enough, it may look gash, but this is a garage. Aesthetics don't count.
This would save an extra run of cable (switched live) from the light fitting to the switch, a distance of 5m.
Since all the switched live does is interupt the feed to the light fitting, why can it not be next to the switch?
I realise there will be a good reason, but I just can't see it. Thanks.
 
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Why do you need a rose at all, or indeed a junction box?

For what you're proposing, just run a supply feed to the light switch, and a load feed out to the light fitting.

Put the neutrals in a block inside the switch backbox.
 
There is no need for a junction box at all, you can use the switch plate enclosure for connections, providing there is room within it to accommodate them.
Then you can run a twin and earth cable to the fitting, with live and neutral looped in at the switch plate.
You will always require a switch live from switch to fitting and a neutral at the fitting, but there is no requirement to strictly loop-in at the light fitting.
 
That's good. The junction box/rose is redundant then, because I'm only supplying and switching one light fitting?
So I can just use the switch box for what it is; simply a control for opening and closing a break in the power supply to the light swith?

I did wonder about this and I think I've wired up lamps that way in the past (in ignorance). It's just I could not see any example diagrams of this, simple method. They mostly show a ceiling rose.

Thanks for the diagram Derry Prentice, I thought maybe I was missing some important safety feature. This will save a few metres of cable (it's pretty pricey stuff)
 
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Is this only feasible with single switches or can it be used with double & triple switches & 2-way switching? How deep are you chasing the walls?
 
Is this only feasible with single switches or can it be used with double & triple switches & 2-way switching?
yes, obviously the wiring config will be different.
How deep are you chasing the walls?
Not sure on what you mean, cable chases are the same depth just wider, but if we feed neutrals to the switch back box, with normal switch plates, we use a 25mm box as the plaster depth ones are too shallow.
 
Is this only feasible with single switches or can it be used with double & triple switches & 2-way switching?
It can be done with one, two or three gang switches. You will need to link the permanent live across the common connection and run a twin&earth to each light of gang, to offer a switch live, neutral and CPC.
Also can be used on two way switching, but obviously you will require strappers across the two ways.
 
I was thinking that there would be extra cables coming down the wall but guess there would only ever be two extras for the loop regardless of how many swiches.
 
I was thinking that there would be extra cables coming down the wall but guess there would only ever be two extras for the loop regardless of how many swiches.

You will need the supply for L,N and CPC to the switch plate
The you will only require one t&e to each fitting, as live can be linked across the switches at com, then take a switch live from L1, the neutral from the looped in neutral at connection block and the CPC from earth terminal of back box.
This goes for single or multiple gangs.
 
Whoever invented Wago connectors will be feeling quite pleased with him/herself. I was wondering if they are well enough insulated to be left in a metal box.
 

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