2 way lighting alternative method

Hi Gents & Ladies,

Excuse my ignorance on this. It's just never occurred to me or haven't indeed ever seen it.
Normally with two way lighting I have used the loop in at the ceiling rose, 3 core between switches then 2 core from switch to rose for switching method (although looping in at the switch is growing on me). My query is if the light is between the two switches (i.e. in a hallway) is there any reason you can't have loop in/out at the rose then deviate the 3 core between the switches via the rose and terminate the switch and return switch within the rose - thus saving having to feed an extra switch 2 core to the switch. I haven't checked through the regs yet but off the top of my head I can't think why not (I am tired tho :/ )

that's just a version of a standard 2 way circuit instead of the switch conversion method.

What've the regs got to do with it? No Problem.

all you are doing is L to L1 and S/L to L2. same wherever on the conductors you connect.

I see no problem with that

So will your strappers be running through the ceiling rose.?

This sound's like a lot of hassle, if running a 3 core & earth to rose from each switch. Where do you plan on terminating the extra conductor you have in the rose?

What is pretty much normal practice here in Northern Ireland is a set of stappers (twin brown) between switches, a feed from the rose to one switch, a switched live from rose to the other switch. It's not a method I use very often though, I much prefer taking a 3 core & earth between the switches.

FWIW Running the 3C+E from switch to switch via the rose is pretty standard in the USA, albeit with the provision of an actual joint box to accommodate the extra connections. They have a scheme with the colours that looks bonkers at first, in that L1, L2 & C are different at the two switches and one strapper changes colour on its way through the rose, but there is logic to it that helps when tracing as certain ambiguities in the UK convention are avoided.

If you have space for the connections I can't see any objection to it, although a basic 3-plate rose might not be ideal. You can actually connect up either way. 'conventional'; PL to one Com, L1 & L2 strappers pass through the rose, SL back from the other Com; or 'conversion'; Both L1 to PL, Both L2 to SL, Com passes through the rose to the other Com.

Personally, I avoid the 'conventional' method anyhow, as it causes the current to flow around a loop enclosing significant area, which can increase the interference emitted from the lamp. I.e. it works like a loop aerial, whereas the conversion method does not, because the cables carry balanced currents. It wasn't important in the days of tungsten lamps, which don't generate any interference to start with.

123 said:

This sound's like a lot of hassle, if running a 3 core & earth to rose from each switch. Where do you plan on terminating the extra conductor you have in the rose?

What is pretty much normal practice here in Northern Ireland is a set of stappers (twin brown) between switches, a feed from the rose to one switch, a switched live from rose to the other switch. It's not a method I use very often though, I much prefer taking a 3 core & earth between the switches.

Click to expand...

Generally used that method before flat 3 core and earth was available.....quite a while ago.