Wiring lightswitch

Its_not_paranoia

I'm putting some downlights and an extractor fan in a new WC. 

Previously when I've done this, I've used a junction box above the ceiling to do the switching - I like the hagger J80x boxes. When I've wired a normal pendant ceiling light, the switching happens in the ceiling rose, with the switching wire running down to the switch.

Can you do switching at the light switch to avoid the junction box? Or is junction box above the ceiling the preferred option for downlights? I'm thinking if you took power and neutral down to the switch, threw another block connector into the switch box to take the neutral straight through, you could send the switched live and neutral up to the lights from there. 

Is there any reason not to do this? Probably a couple of extra metres of wire, but it avoids a junction box in an inaccessible location (maintenance free or not). You'd also have neutral at the light switch which would be handy for a smart switch, not that I'm ever going to want a smart switch on a WC. 

Thanks,

Jeepers_Creepers

I think this has now become the preferred option for most sparkies? Certainly the method chosen in our recent extension.

It makes total sense for all the reasons you mention. Behind our light switches is a neutral, easily ID'd and accessible for any future use.

I would personally much prefer this instead of a hidden JB in the ceiling.

fenwick458

what you want to avoid is a hidden joint, so if possible make it easy and wire to the switch and have all the connections there.

the "old" methods of wiring house seem to come from the days when cable was expensive, and nobody had fitted floors upstairs so it made sense to use joint boxes under the floor as it was easy to get to them and it saved on on cable

Its_not_paranoia

Thanks both for the confidence that what seems sensible to me is done by other people too. Will get on with it at the weekend.