Electrical problem - no earth. Help!

preciosa

I have recently had an electrician fit a new socket in my kitchen. A few days later he came back to fit a light and said that there was a problem, no earth. He says it must have been this way before he started and seemed unsure how to fix it. He is due back tomorrow to look at it again. Can anyone advise if this is likely to be difficult/expensive to fix and shouldn't he have noticed this when he did the first job?

Alias_Omega

Was there no earth at the light or the socket.?

or was he saying there was no earth on the light fitting.?

madjay

How old is the wiring in you house?

is that there is no earth at the ceiling rose or no earth in the house..... why is he coming back tomorrow and not fixing it now. is he being paid by the hour???

ormus

never mind the labour rate, if hes not sure how to fix it, perhaps you should be looking for another electrician?

Pssst

I tend to agree with madjay and ormus on this one...it shouldnt be rocket science to a qualified electrican.

madjay

If I was you I would get another sparky in, I think this one is only out to make money!

JohnnyM_2

preciosa wrote: »

I have recently had an electrician fit a new socket in my kitchen. A few days later he came back to fit a light and said that there was a problem, no earth. He says it must have been this way before he started and seemed unsure how to fix it. He is due back tomorrow to look at it again. Can anyone advise if this is likely to be difficult/expensive to fix and shouldn't he have noticed this when he did the first job?

Many older houses dont have earths in their lighting, and in fact they are not necessary if you have a plastic ceiling rose and lamp holder. I guess that you are putting a metal light fitting up hence the need for an earth (so you dont electricute yourself on the metal fitting in the event of a fault).

Your cheapest solution is to go for a plastic ceiling rose and lamp holder. As for how much it would cost to earth your lights, the cost of parts (i.e earth wire) is minimal, it will all come down to labour costs. Basically he needs to take an earth from the light fitting back to the consumer board.

madjay

"Many older houses dont have earths in their lighting, and in fact they are not necessary if you have a plastic ceiling rose and lamp holder. I guess that you are putting a metal light fitting up hence the need for an earth (so you dont electricute yourself on the metal fitting in the event of a fault).

Your cheapest solution is to go for a plastic ceiling rose and lamp holder. As for how much it would cost to earth your lights, the cost of parts (i.e earth wire) is minimal, it will all come down to labour costs. Basically he needs to take an earth from the light fitting back to the consumer board"

Wrong .. If the cables in the lighting circuit are those that do not have a earth than this means the whole circuit has to be rewired.... you just DON'T run a earth cable to it....VERY BAD PRACTISE....but in this case I think it just a way of making money

JohnnyM_2

madjay, what you say is what I actually meant, but I didnt make it clear having read it again.
I have just had the very same done in my house as one of the lighting circuits was not earthed.

preciosa

I have been having a new kitchen fitted so he initially came to add a socket for an appliance which was changing location. Then he came back after the wall units were in to do under cupboard lights and the main ceiling light. After he had done that he checked with a meter and said there was no earth. He said something about ring mains or something that I didn't really understand. When I said he didn't seem to know how to fix it what I meant was that said he was going to have to locate the problem which would take time and as it was the end of the day he would have to come back. He was recommended by a friend. The house was built in the 70's. I'm just worried that fixing the wiring might involve messing up my new kitchen.

Incisor

preciosa wrote: »

... I'm just worried that fixing the wiring might involve messing up my new kitchen.

Don't fix the earth wire and have a nice place in which to fry :rolleyes:. Seriously, forget about the decor, it needs fixing.