GB2481007A

GB2481007A - Pre-wired junction box

Info

Publication number: GB2481007A
Application number: GB1009471.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-05
Filing date: 2010-06-05
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: GB201009471D0

Abstract

A junction box 100 for electrical mains ring and spur circuits or lighting circuits comprises: a housing with a removable lid and slots for electrical cables 116, 118 with three wires; and a terminal block 108 for each of the cables. Each terminal block 108 has a live connection 110, neutral connection 112 and earth connection 114, whereby the respective live, neutral and earth connections 110, 112, 114 of each terminal block 108 are interconnected (e.g. via insulated bus-bars 124). In the lighting circuit embodiment, a pair of terminal blocks 108 receives mains cables 116 and one or more terminal blocks 108 receive one or more pairs of lighting cables 118. One member 120 of each pair of lighting cables 118 connects between the junction box 100 and a light fitting while the other member 122 of the pair connects between the junction box 100 and a light switch. The live connections 110 of the mains cable terminal block 108 and the light switch supply terminal block 108 are electrically connected. The neutral connections 112 of the mains cable terminal block 108 and the light fitting supply terminal block 108 are electrically connected. The neutral connection 112 of the light switch supply terminal block 108 is connected to the live connection 110 of the light fitting supply terminal block 108.

Description

A Pre-Wired Junction Box

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a pre-wired junction box for electrical mains ring, lighting and spur circuits.

Background of the Invention

GB1478111 discloses a mains supply electrical junction box having terminals interconnected in distinct groups by a preformed substrate-borne electrically conductive pattern, one of the groups serving as a mains input and each of the other groups serving as mains output. The box is not suitable for non-lighting circuits.

Disclosure of Invention

From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a junction box which dramatically improves the ease and speed of wiring mains ring, lighting and spur system.

The junction box for electrical circuits of the present invention comprises a housing with a removable lid and slots for electrical cables having three wires, and a terminal block for each of the cables. Each terminal block has a first way for a live connection, a second way for a neutral connection and a third way for an earth connection. One pair of terminal blocks is for receiving mains cables, and one or more pairs of terminal blocks are for receiving one or more pairs of lighting cables. For use with lighting circuits, one member of each pair of lighting cables connects between the junction box and a light fitting, and the other member of the pair connects between the junction box and a light switch. The first ways of each of the terminal blocks for receiving a wire from the mains cable and a wire from the cable connecting the junction box and the light switch are electrically connected together, the second ways of each of the terminal blocks for receiving a wire from the mains cable and a wire from the cable connecting the junction box and the light fitting are electrically connected together, and the third ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together. The second way of a terminal block for receiving a wire from the cable supplying the light switch is connected to the first way of a terminal block for receiving a wire from the cable supplying the light fitting. For ring main and socket spur circuits, first ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together, the second ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together, and the third ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together.

Brief Description of Drawings

For a more complete explanation of the present invention and the technical advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the connections inside a junction box for a pair of electrical sockets; Figure 2 shows the connections inside a junction box for multiple electrical sockets; Figure 3 shows the connections inside a junction box for a single lighting circuit; Figure 4 shows the connections inside a junction box for multiple lighting circuits; Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a junction box for multiple lighting circuits; Figure 6 shows an open view of a junction box for multiple lighting circuits; and Figure 7 shows an exterior view of a junction box for a single lighting circuit or pair of electrical sockets.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

mbodiments of the present invention and their technical advantages may be better understood by referring to Figure 1.

The present invention is an improved junction box, which increases the speed and ease of wiring electrical ring main and lighting circuits.

Commonly used junction boxes require wires in electrical cable to be connected to different terminal blocks within the junction box housing. The wires have to be cut and stripped to different lengths and fed around the terminal blocks in the housing. Generally each junction box can provide spurs for two sockets, or can provide the connections to a single light switch and light fitting.

The junction box of the present invention, the wires are cut to the same length and the insulation stripped by the same amount. There is provided a terminal block for each cable, and there is no need to feed lengths of wire across or round the inside of the junction box. The junction box of the present invention can provide spurs for two sockets, or can provide the connections to a single light switch and light fitting as before. The junction box of the present invention can also provide a connection for multiple lighting circuits and multiple sockets from a single box. The key element of the invention is that internal connections between the terminal blocks are preconfigured, and are typically provided by insulated bus bars.

Referring now to Figure 1, which show the connections inside a junction box (100) for a pair of electrical sockets, and to Figure 2, which shows the connections inside a junction box (100) for multiple electrical sockets, a housing (102) having a removable lid (104) has slots (106) for electrical cables having three wires, and a terminal block (108) for each of the cables.

The first ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together, the second ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together, and the third ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together.

Referring now to Figure 3, which shows the connections inside a junction box (100) for a single lighting circuit, and to Figure 4, which shows the connections inside a junction box (100) for multiple lighting circuits, a housing (102) having a removable lid (104) has slots (106) for electrical cables having three wires, and a terminal block (108) for each of the cables.

Each terminal block has a first way (110) for a live connection, a second way (112) for a neutral connection and a third way (114) for an earth connection.

One pair of terminal blocks is for receiving mains cables (116), and one or more pairs of terminal blocks are for receiving one or more pairs of lighting cables (118), in which one member (120) of each pair of lighting cables connects between the junction box and a light fitting, and the other member (122) of the pair connects between the junction box and a light switch. The first ways of each of the terminal blocks for receiving a wire from the mains cable and a wire from the cable connecting the junction box and the light switch are electrically connected together, the second ways of each of the terminal blocks for receiving a wire from the mains cable and a wire from the cable connecting the junction box and the light fitting are electrically connected together, and the third ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together. The second way of a terminal block for receiving a wire from the cable supplying the light switch is connected to the first way of a terminal block for receiving a wire from the cable supplying the light fitting.

For the electrical junction boxes shown in Figures 1-4, the means for electrically connecting the ways of the terminal blocks to each other is provided by insulated bus bars (124). The insulation can be provided by dip-coated PVC insulation.

Figures 5 and 6 show exploded and interior views of junction box for multiple lighting circuits.

Figure 7 shows an exterior view of a junction box for a single lighting circuit or pair of electrical sockets.

The housing and the lid of the junction box of the present invention may include flame retardant PC-ABS, which may be injection moulded to the shape required. There is clear labelling (126) indicating the purpose of the slots, so that the electrician may easily secure the wires to the various outlets, lights, or switches that are being installed. -.5-

Claims

Claims 1. An electrical junction box (100) for use with mains ring and spur circuits including: (a) a housing (102) having a removable lid (104); (b) slots (106) in the housing for electrical cables having three wires; and (c) a terminal block (108) for each of the cables, each terminal block having a first way (110) for a live connection, a second way (112) for a neutral connection and a third way (114) for an earth connection; characterised by: the first ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together, the second ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together, and the third ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together.
2. An electrical junction box (100) for use with lighting circuits including: (a) a housing (102) having a removable lid (104); (b) slots (106) in the housing for electrical cables having three wires; and (c) a terminal block (108) for each of the cables, each terminal block having a first way (110) for a live connection, a second way (112) for a neutral connection and a third way (114) for an earth connection; wherein a pair of terminal blocks is for receiving mains cables (116), and one or more pairs of terminal blocks are for receiving one or more pairs of lighting cables (118), in which one member (120) of each pair of lighting cables connects between the junction box and a light fitting, and the other member (122) of the pair connects between the junction box and a light switch; characterised in that: the first ways of each of the terminal blocks for receiving a wire from the mains cable and a wire from the cable connecting the junction box and the light switch are electrically connected together, the second ways of each of the terminal blocks for receiving a wire from the mains cable and a wire from the cable connecting the junction box and the light fitting are electrically connected together, and the third ways of each of the terminal blocks are electrically connected together; further characterjsed in that the second way of a terminal block for receiving a wire from the cable supplying the light switch is connected to the first way of a terminal block for receiving a wire from the cable supplying the light fitting.
3. The electrical junction box of claims 1 or 2 in which the means for electrically connecting the ways of the terminal blocks to each other is provided by insulated bus bars (124)