Anyone still use round JBs ?

[lozarus]

Square ones do exist - interestingly B&Q still sell these MK ones at £3.47 each. They're a bit of an anomaly, as they still feature the rounded pre-1990-something MK logo. I used one of these in the last few years when the particulars of what I was doing meant that it was an easy, neat solution (a straight exposed run with just not enough slack to enter an adaptable box and curl around to a wago and I didn't want to introduce a short link). Personally seems a better idea than the round ones as you can get cores to equal length.

But anyway, no I can't really see me using traditional jb's again. That said I do keep 2 of these in stock. Just in case...

 

[Pete999]

Making off JBs used to be an art, now just bang the cables in a WAGO box and throw it about the loft space,

On a rewire council estate rewire contract, we would wire the lighting via a 6"by 6" square plastic adaptable box, install a strip pf connectors inside wire all the lights, switches to this JB make all the connections, leaving a single twin at each point red and black at the light point twin red at the switch, this made life easier for all concerned.
As far as I know all these houses are still standing with no problems,, some this was in 1970, some 50 years ago, so much for MF JBs flung everywhere, a retrograde step in my eyes, suits the new breed of Electricians, that bash out a rewire in a day and a half, but does nothing for the profession, all pride gone for burton, money being the key issue in todays climate, sorry for the rant.
The site was "The Oval " in Southdown Bath, The JBs were at the top of the stairs on the landing all marked up on the flooring and at the Roof hatch for the upstairs lighting, info for all the Bath base Sparkles on the forum, Gavin in
particular.

 

[lozarus]

On a rewire council estate rewire contract, we would wire the lighting via a 6"by 6" square plastic adaptable box, install a strip pf connectors inside wire all the lights, switches to this JB make all the connections, leaving a single twin at each point red and black at the light point twin red at the switch, this made life easier for all concerned.

I have to say it's a good idea in my view. My place had received a rough attic extension before I moved in, and the upstairs lighting circuit had been chopped around. I ended up doing exactly that, bring it all to one accessible point in a hatch. It's made it very easy for the many changes of lighting design I've gone through here. For example adding a pair of hotel style bedside lamps was a breeze as I just had to go back to one point rather than battle with a ceiling rose buried under the insulation.

It's not too dissimilar to the octopus wiring system of yesteryear

 

[Pete999]

I have to say it's a good idea in my view. My place had received a rough attic extension before I moved in, and the upstairs lighting circuit had been chopped around. I ended up doing exactly that, bring it all to one accessible point in a hatch. It's made it very easy for the many changes of lighting design I've gone through here. For example adding a pair of hotel style bedside lamps was a breeze as I just had to go back to one point rather than battle with a ceiling rose buried under the insulation.

It's not too dissimilar to the octopus wiring system of yesteryear

Agree but all the JBs were screwed to a platform between the joists, all cables clipped to prevent movement, not slung about like they are today

 

[Dartlec]

Wonder how many people don't realise that the Wago MF boxes only officially comply (as MF boxes) if they are secured via their 'button' or screwed to a joist...

Suprisingly, seems that Hager still do a 701 junction box that is like the old ones I was thinking about.

I've seen one original in a loft simlar that was black and in VIR (fortunately had been disconnected) but used a similar system - so it's been around for a good while...

And did one odd house a while back that had been wired with large metal junction boxes and some sort of plug socket arrangement with flexes labelled to switch, light, fan etc. New builds done by a farmer so used some system more common in industrial I think. Did make for fairly easy isolation of wiring though!

 

[Dustydazzler]

I like the old JBs where you could spin the top on & off

 

[Pete999]

Wonder how many people don't realise that the Wago MF boxes only officially comply (as MF boxes) if they are secured via their 'button' or screwed to a joist...

Suprisingly, seems that Hager still do a 701 junction box that is like the old ones I was thinking about.

I've seen one original in a loft simlar that was black and in VIR (fortunately had been disconnected) but used a similar system - so it's been around for a good while...

And did one odd house a while back that had been wired with large metal junction boxes and some sort of plug socket arrangement with flexes labelled to switch, light, fan etc. New builds done by a farmer so used some system more common in industrial I think. Did make for fairly easy isolation of wiring though!

Exactly like I used to do , but about twice the price, good though, trouble with using this method it is not deemed MF, and you need certain skills to do it properly, and it's not crewed to a plain wall. you have to get down and dirty to do it right.

 

[ipf]

Nothing wrong with them , in suitable situations.

In the 80's or 90's we did a conversion of 2 ground floor flats into a council office unit. it was a concrete structure so all the wiring was above a shallow suspended ceiling. After Ist fix and plastering they decided on a complete rearrangement. About 20 double sockets had to be moved, 3 RFC's. They wouldn't let us knock it apart again so it was a case of pvc down to surface mounted sockets......horrible......nearly as bad as above the ceilings with two Ashley 401's above every socket drop. ?

Nobody ever had to go back to them, though.

 

[westward10]

I wouldn't give those so called MF Wago boxes van space they are nasty looking things, one step up from a Choc Box.

 

[buzzlightyear]

i used some the other day 6 terminal ones at dormouse bungalow has could not drop the loop in to room to room , and yes they where accessible in storage area and could be tested in a area's ,the trouble was the cables had to be snaked through the building and the customer did not want all floor boards ripping up by the three bears has granny was still in the bed .

 

[telectrix]

I like the old JBs where you could spin the top on & off

i like the all metal ones with the clamps for the lead sheath , but i can't buy that cable anymore. was a far superior R2 than this new-fangled T/E shyte.

 

[ipf]

I like the old JBs where you could spin the top on & off

Last week............and get the old rubber, it was all over the heating pipes.

 

[ipf]

I wouldn't give those so called MF Wago boxes van space they are nasty looking things, one step up from a Choc Box.

I use Wiska boxes with lever wagos, these days.

 

[westward10]

I don't really care if it has MF on it providing my connectors are suitable the enclosure I use will be many steps above those Wago boxes.

 

[lozarus]

I use Wiska boxes with lever wagos, these days.

I think that's an excellent combination and one I use myself. However, 'by the book' if used in an inaccessible location it wouldn't meet the MF requirements. Which seems completely bizzarre to me.

You can probably tell I'm not a fan of the MF requirements. Certainly surrounding wago, they have to be enclosed in the specific enclosure, in a certain way - and then you have the aggregate current bits to establish.

I would suggest that it's too complex and somewhat restricting and open to error. But apologies, I've gone off topic.