Nick M

Thank you for your advice,  singles it is, as the multi core would have to be in gaine any way as it will be in partition walls and false ceilings with no access for rewiring. Nick M

I’ll try not to make this too long but Can anyone tell me if 2 way switching in France can be carried out using multi-core rigide cables (RO3V to 1st switch and RO4V between switches) or is it all done in gaine with single cables as this is the only method I’ve seen in my French wiring book. And I have not seen the 4 core (3 + Earth) cable in  brico depot although I seen it in their catalogue Also if using single cables do the switch feeds, switch lines, strappers ( L1 & L2) and common conductors have a specific color codes, because I;ve only used multi- core rigide cables so far with brown and black conductors. Thank you for your answers Nick M  

Nick Thanks for the answer, not the one i was hoping for, but  rules are there for a reason so thank you for putting us right. Nick

Nick thank you for your help it is much appreciated just one question, if I use the 230 v downlighters can you use small j/bs if they exist that will fit through the aperture in the ceiling and therefore laying loose in the ceiling to connect all the fittings on the same switch all together (except for the first fitting which would go back to the j/b with the switch line in) or would you have to run each one back to the main j/b (obliviously using a lot more cable). The energy efficient fittings I was thinking of using were not LEDs but 7 watt GU10 compact fluorescent lamps which is claimed to give out the same amount of light as a 35w halogen, not quite sure of that but they are quite bright after they have warmed up (about 5 mins). Thank you again for your advice nick  

Apologies if this has been posted before, but I can't find the answer to my question. I gather that the norms say that a maximum of 8 light fittings can be fitted to a 16 amp circuit. Is this dependent on the wattage of the fittings or is it cut and dried 8 fittings full stop. I have a living area were I would like to install 9 ( 3 rows of 3) spotlights on one switch, but according to what I’ve read this is not possible, I was thinking of using energy efficient down lighters at 7watts each which is only 63watts on a 16 amp circuit breaker, well within the circuit limits. Another option I have is to use low voltage halogen down lighters with there own transformers, if I use 9 individual fittings with there own transformers I will be over the limit, but if I use a 3 fittings with 4 lamps on each fitting will that still be ok as it is technically only 3 fittings. Also when connecting down lighters that are on the same switch can I 1) loop from the fitting connector to the next fitting 2) use a small joint box at each fitting that can be accessed throw the fitting cut out or 3) do they all have to go back to an accessible junction box. Sorry if the answers are obvious but I’m used to working with lighting circuit loads not numbers of fittings. Thank you for your help Nick M  

Thank you for all of your replies. We're leaving tonight for France, so I will post back in a couple of weeks and let you know how it went. All the best, Nick.        

Thanks for your help on the lighting ( do most lighting circuits have one large boite de derivation to feed a number of rooms, or one for each room). Also Does the same apply for socket outlets, I wanted to keep them on there own radial circuit and  loop from one socket to another can i do this or do i have to use aboite de derivation and come off this for each socket. Thanks again Nick

We are just starting work on our house in Limoux and are about to start the wiring, on lighting circuits can you have the joint for the switch drop in the ceiling point as in the UK, or do you have to have a seperate joint box? On power circuits can you link from one socket to another (up to a max of 8, I think) or again do you have to use separate joint boxes ?  Thank you for your advice, Nick.