Lighting Via Central box

[OWLelectrical]

Just had a call out for a lighting fault. Whilst looking for all the cables as every light and switch had 1 cable I found a junction box with all cables in. How often were houses wired like this as never come across it myself? Well the fault was the Xmas stuff had been dumped on the jb and smashed to pieces. Where could I find a similar box as it was fairly discreet and tidy. Cheers

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Theres no doubt IMO, standards have dropped considerably over the last 15-20 years.

That's what we used to say 15-20 years ago.

 

[MDJ]

you might not want to wire every light to a control box, thats up to you, but tell me....... why is it MAD to do this??
you say you have no joints in any of your circuits, are you sure??

It is a totally crap way to wire a lighting circuit, total rollocks, why the fe*k would a spark want to wire every light and switch in a house to a large Joint box? why? and the only joints I have,if any, would be for downlighters, they would be in a accessable appropriate connection unit, Quite honestly I am pretty Fec*king supprised you and one or 2 others are even asking this, the end of the industry IMO, appalling, absolutely appalling.

 

[MDJ]

That's what we used to say 15-20 years ago.

HAHA, yeah your right about that, I used to say it then as did others

 

[Jonny66]

Calm down fella, your over reacting and getting hold of the wrong end of a stick......theres loads of reasons you might want to use an adaptable box to centrally feed lights (grant you its not always appropriate in domestic setting)...but it is not mad, rough or bad practice and is certainly not non-compliant if accessible ect.......try wiring lighting circuits in commercial premises without this type of method....... in fact klik and many others make boxes just for this,:rolleyes2: some even with extra low voltage switches.

 

[MDJ]

Calm down fella, .

Okay

 

[Engineer54]

Those Octopus central box affairs were mainly used in Bungalows. I remember my uncle's council bungalow in Broadstairs Kent, was wired using this system, but also covered the sockets too. From what i can remember, it didn't look like a bad wiring system, all the cables in the box were in allocated terminal connections, it was neat and tidy and clearly marked. This Octopus box was probably purpose made for these bungalows requirements, all the switch and outlet box drops etc, were via PVC 20mm conduit. The central box was located just beside the loft access, which was pretty much central of the bungalow.


To be honest, although strange to me at the time, it didn't seem to be a bad wiring system. I can't see it being that useful in a standard house or even in most flat/apartments, but it well suits single storey buildings with a loft area...

 

[MDJ]

Calm down fella, your over reacting and getting hold of the wrong end of a stick......theres loads of reasons you might want to use an adaptable box to centrally feed lights (grant you its not always appropriate in domestic setting)...but it is not mad, rough or bad practice and is certainly not non-compliant if accessible ect.......try wiring lighting circuits in commercial premises without this type of method....... in fact klik and many others make boxes just for this,:rolleyes2: some even with extra low voltage switches.

Yup I often use the click method for wiring lights, but I didn't think we were talking about this, I thought we were talking about wiring all domestic lights and switches to on Large JB, I wouldn't consider a clix system the same, sorry if I came over as a tw*t.

 

[Jonny66]

But whats the difference between an adaptable box in a domestic setting and an adaptable box in a commercial setting, as long as both are accessible and cable/box is fixed, clipped/ glanded secured whatever etc etc cant see there being a problem......

 

[paul_h]

Yup I often use the click method for wiring lights, but I didn't think we were talking about this, I thought we were talking about wirind all domestic lights and switches to on Large JB, I wouldn't consider a clix system the same, sorry if I came over as a tw*t.

Can I just say a flat would normally get 1 JB And a house 2 ( one on each floor ) I.e downstairs usually wired to top of the stairs and upstairs wired to beside loft hatch. Just in case that wasn't clear....

 

[MDJ]

well it isn't an adaptable box, there are PCRs in commerical premises from Clix boxes, usually above suspended ceilings, a little different from JBs and large ones containing all cabling from everY light and switch as mentioned in the OP.

 

[Jonny66]

Another thing if you've not already sussed it.....it can help with volt drop and zs..I like this clappy thing:hurraygiven up smoking and sucking on an e-cig at mo.....tell you what there bloody good........but only been 3 days)

 

[telectrix]

1 advantage of using the central box for all lights, , located adjacent to the loft hatch, is that you can get at it without crawling over those stupid roof trusses in a 3ft high loft that has 2 ft of insulation in it, and the only place big enough to crawl through has been nicely blocked with the wet head's cold water tank. give me a loft with proper 12" x 6" purlings and proper rafters, with a sensible 3" of insulation between the ceiling joists any day.

 

[Jonny66]

PCRs..polymer chain reactions in klik boxes above suspended ceilings??

 

[MDJ]

1 Advantage for not using it, no joint anywhere, thats my preference.

 

[Jonny66]

Apart from CU, light, switch, ceiling rose, aqueduct, roads, security, plumbing.... but apart from that what have the Romans ever given us etc etc