Hi all

Some progress on the kitchen front!
OK, so I believe "we" have an agreed layout, so I have started preliminary
wiring/routing in readiness.
The kitchen is single storey and concrete floor so is wired from the loft
down.
My question really relates to the use of junction boxes for terminating
wiring, rather than at the fitting.
There have been numerous complaints recently concerning lack of available
space at the fitting itself to terminate switch wires, loop in power etc.
and also I think comments about using choc blocks pushed into ceiling spaces
and the like.

So my solution will be to create a "wiring centre" on the loft wall.
This comprises 3 junction boxes for concealed lighting, main lighting and
outside lighting mounted on the loft wall above the switch drops.
Loop in and switch wires will be terminated in these junction boxes, with
single supply feeds radiating to each fitting/location.

Are there any regs-related issues that would rule out this scheme?

TIA

Phil

On Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:54:07 +0100, "TheScullster"
wibbled:

Hi all

Some progress on the kitchen front!
OK, so I believe "we" have an agreed layout, so I have started
preliminary wiring/routing in readiness.
The kitchen is single storey and concrete floor so is wired from the
loft down.
My question really relates to the use of junction boxes for terminating
wiring, rather than at the fitting.
There have been numerous complaints recently concerning lack of
available space at the fitting itself to terminate switch wires, loop in
power etc. and also I think comments about using choc blocks pushed into
ceiling spaces and the like.

So my solution will be to create a "wiring centre" on the loft wall.
This comprises 3 junction boxes for concealed lighting, main lighting
and outside lighting mounted on the loft wall above the switch drops.
Loop in and switch wires will be terminated in these junction boxes,
with single supply feeds radiating to each fitting/location.

Are there any regs-related issues that would rule out this scheme?

TIA

Phil

Hi Phil,

Only regs applicable is that the junction box is either accessible for
checking the screw tightness, or is suitable for a non accessible
location.

Which does yours fall under? Accessible I presume as you said "loft"?

Otherwise, it is an excellent idea.


--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

On 14/06/2010 10:54, TheScullster wrote:
Hi all

Some progress on the kitchen front!
OK, so I believe "we" have an agreed layout, so I have started preliminary
wiring/routing in readiness.
The kitchen is single storey and concrete floor so is wired from the loft
down.
My question really relates to the use of junction boxes for terminating
wiring, rather than at the fitting.
There have been numerous complaints recently concerning lack of available
space at the fitting itself to terminate switch wires, loop in power etc.
and also I think comments about using choc blocks pushed into ceiling spaces
and the like.

So my solution will be to create a "wiring centre" on the loft wall.
This comprises 3 junction boxes for concealed lighting, main lighting and
outside lighting mounted on the loft wall above the switch drops.
Loop in and switch wires will be terminated in these junction boxes, with
single supply feeds radiating to each fitting/location.

Are there any regs-related issues that would rule out this scheme?

TIA

Phil



I don't think so. If you're using junction boxes with screw terminals
(as opposed to crimping or soldering), they're supposed to be
'accessible'[1] - as yours presumably will be.

[1] I'm not totally sure what that means - I think probably not buried
in plaster etc. I've got quite a lot under floor-boards - not sure
whether that qualifies or not!
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:54:07 +0100, "TheScullster"
wibbled:

Hi all

Some progress on the kitchen front!
OK, so I believe "we" have an agreed layout, so I have started
preliminary wiring/routing in readiness.
The kitchen is single storey and concrete floor so is wired from the
loft down.
My question really relates to the use of junction boxes for terminating
wiring, rather than at the fitting.
There have been numerous complaints recently concerning lack of
available space at the fitting itself to terminate switch wires, loop in
power etc. and also I think comments about using choc blocks pushed into
ceiling spaces and the like.

So my solution will be to create a "wiring centre" on the loft wall.
This comprises 3 junction boxes for concealed lighting, main lighting
and outside lighting mounted on the loft wall above the switch drops.
Loop in and switch wires will be terminated in these junction boxes,
with single supply feeds radiating to each fitting/location.

Are there any regs-related issues that would rule out this scheme?

TIA

Phil

Hi Phil,

Only regs applicable is that the junction box is either accessible for
checking the screw tightness, or is suitable for a non accessible
location.

Which does yours fall under? Accessible I presume as you said "loft"?

Otherwise, it is an excellent idea.


--
Tim Watts

If there is a loft hatch then it an excellent idea. If the loft hatch is
some distance from the wiring centre then it may be better to reposition the
wiring centre onto a wooden board above any insulation that is closer to
the hatch.

Adam

"TheScullster" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi all

Some progress on the kitchen front!
OK, so I believe "we" have an agreed layout, so I have started preliminary
wiring/routing in readiness.
The kitchen is single storey and concrete floor so is wired from the loft
down.
My question really relates to the use of junction boxes for terminating
wiring, rather than at the fitting.
There have been numerous complaints recently concerning lack of available
space at the fitting itself to terminate switch wires, loop in power etc.
and also I think comments about using choc blocks pushed into ceiling
spaces and the like.

So my solution will be to create a "wiring centre" on the loft wall.
This comprises 3 junction boxes for concealed lighting, main lighting and
outside lighting mounted on the loft wall above the switch drops.
Loop in and switch wires will be terminated in these junction boxes, with
single supply feeds radiating to each fitting/location.

Are there any regs-related issues that would rule out this scheme?

TIA

Phil

Reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask. Being of poor memory and
limited brain power, whenever I have to use a junction box for a light and
switch, I seem to find myself staring blankly at 4 connector poles in a
square arrangement and wondering why on earth, in the ceiling fittings they
give you a whole row of oodles of connectors that you can rarely squeeze the
cable into, but in a junction box they leave you a complex topological
puzzle as how to arrange everything in a square. I always end up drawing a
circuit on paper first, as I find the square arrangement so counter
intuitive and confusing. (Yes, I know you can get boxes with the poles in a
row, but when I bought my last lot from Screwfix there was nowhere to
specify this...)

So folks, why square and only four poles in a junction box, but oodles in a
line in a ceiling fitting?

Cheers,
S

On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:43:39 +0100, "Spamlet"
wibbled:

"TheScullster" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi all

Some progress on the kitchen front!
OK, so I believe "we" have an agreed layout, so I have started
preliminary wiring/routing in readiness.
The kitchen is single storey and concrete floor so is wired from the
loft down.
My question really relates to the use of junction boxes for terminating
wiring, rather than at the fitting.
There have been numerous complaints recently concerning lack of
available space at the fitting itself to terminate switch wires, loop
in power etc. and also I think comments about using choc blocks pushed
into ceiling spaces and the like.

So my solution will be to create a "wiring centre" on the loft wall.
This comprises 3 junction boxes for concealed lighting, main lighting
and outside lighting mounted on the loft wall above the switch drops.
Loop in and switch wires will be terminated in these junction boxes,
with single supply feeds radiating to each fitting/location.

Are there any regs-related issues that would rule out this scheme?

TIA

Phil

Reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask. Being of poor memory
and limited brain power, whenever I have to use a junction box for a
light and switch, I seem to find myself staring blankly at 4 connector
poles in a square arrangement and wondering why on earth, in the ceiling
fittings they give you a whole row of oodles of connectors that you can
rarely squeeze the cable into, but in a junction box they leave you a
complex topological puzzle as how to arrange everything in a square. I
always end up drawing a circuit on paper first, as I find the square
arrangement so counter intuitive and confusing. (Yes, I know you can
get boxes with the poles in a row, but when I bought my last lot from
Screwfix there was nowhere to specify this...)

So folks, why square and only four poles in a junction box, but oodles
in a line in a ceiling fitting?

Cheers,
S

There are 6 pole round JBs (2 extra in the middle). Don't forget, you can
also twist the earths loosely outside the box to get an extra pole[1]

[1] Nooo! But I have seen boxes where some cheapwad thought this was a
good idea...

Anyway, you might like the Hager-Ashley JBs - 4 cable entries and 4
poles, arranged "on the flat". Lots of room and cable clamps too. Like a
breath of fresh air.



--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

"ARWadsworth" wrote


If there is a loft hatch then it an excellent idea. If the loft hatch is
some distance from the wiring centre then it may be better to reposition
the wiring centre onto a wooden board above any insulation that is closer
to the hatch.

Nice idea Adam, but the question was a little retrospective, the JBs are
already mounted and some cables pre-run.
I was really just concerned that I hadn't done something that had been
outlawed recently by the ever-changing regs.

The loft is fairly small with a good size hatch, so although the wiring
centre isn't next to the hatch, it's only a hop and skip away.

Phil

"Tim Watts" wrote

Anyway, you might like the Hager-Ashley JBs - 4 cable entries and 4
poles, arranged "on the flat". Lots of room and cable clamps too. Like a
breath of fresh air.


If I'd been aware of those before I started, I would probably have been
tempted.
As it is, the JBs are mounted and trunking run and I simply don't have the
energy for re-work.

Phil

"TheScullster" wrote in message
. uk...

"ARWadsworth" wrote


If there is a loft hatch then it an excellent idea. If the loft hatch is
some distance from the wiring centre then it may be better to reposition
the wiring centre onto a wooden board above any insulation that is
closer to the hatch.

Nice idea Adam, but the question was a little retrospective, the JBs are
already mounted and some cables pre-run.
I was really just concerned that I hadn't done something that had been
outlawed recently by the ever-changing regs.

The loft is fairly small with a good size hatch, so although the wiring
centre isn't next to the hatch, it's only a hop and skip away.

Phil

That is fair enough. As long as they are not crammed away in a corner/eaves
that you cannot get to then that is fine.

Adam