Changing ceiling light...electrical wiring question?

stephen25uk

i have bought myself 2 sets of spotlights for my living room ceiling to replace the standard ceiling pendant thats there now

when i took the pendant down for a look there is no earth wire there,there are four neutral wires and one yellow switch wire..all the wiring in my house runs in metal conduit pipe which connect to metal boxes at the wall socket or in this case the ceiling so i have 2 questions...

speaking to a mate at work who is an electrician he says that the conduit acts as the earth and there is an earth conection in the wall boxes that the socket earth connects to so this would make sense,but there is no conection on the ceiling boxes,could i connect a piece of earth wire to the light fitting as normal,then on the other end fit a ring conection,then as new light is metal,could i then pass the screw that connects it to the ceiling box through the new light fitting,then through the ring conection ono the my earth wire,then screw it back into its hole on the ceiling box so as the same screw holds up the light to the box on ceiling and has the earth attatched to it....

also as there are 4 neutral wires i cant get them all ito the terminal block on the new fitting,can i connect them all together in a terminal block in one side,and have a single wire coming out the other side to the light fitting..

bit of a long winded question,so thanks in advance for any help or any other suggestions you might have..its appreciated

phill99

stephen25uk wrote: »

speaking to a mate at work who is an electrician he says that the conduit acts as the earth and there is an earth conection in the wall boxes that the socket earth connects to so this would make sense,but there is no conection on the ceiling boxes,could i connect a piece of earth wire to the light fitting as normal,then on the other end fit a ring conection,then as new light is metal,could i then pass the screw that connects it to the ceiling box through the new light fitting,then through the ring conection ono the my earth wire,then screw it back into its hole on the ceiling box so as the same screw holds up the light to the box on ceiling and has the earth attatched to it....

If you have a mate that is an electrician, why are you asking us? Why don't you ask him to come round to your house and give you the definitive answer?

stephen25uk

phill99 wrote: »

If you have a mate that is an electrician, why are you asking us? Why don't you ask him to come round to your house and give you the definitive answer?

why dont you help out if you can mate instead of posting and looking like a knob.......no harm in asking for a 2nd opinion as i do with allmost everything i do

Canucklehead

Hi,

I think asking a question involving 4 wires of the same colour over the internet is a 'big ask'.
I would say a human being, also qualified as an electrician, in front of said wires will serve you much better,and safer.

Bit like phill99's answer I suppose.
Good luck.

GSR

1984ReturnsForReal_2

If the box behind is metal & has an earth terminal connection to securely connect an earth wire you could run earth from there but you would have to check continuity of earth from the consumer unit to ensure it is safe.

However from what you have written you shouldnt do it.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

could i then pass the screw that connects it to the ceiling box through the new light fitting,then through the ring conection ono the my earth wire,then screw it back into its hole on the ceiling box so as the same screw holds up the light to the box on ceiling and has the earth attatched to it....

No .................

keystone

Canucklehead wrote: »

Bit like phill99's answer I suppose.

Just a bit more diplomatic.

However its still the right answer.

Anyway - your mate is the conduit can be used as an earth.

What colour are your "three neutrals"?

Cheers

1984ReturnsForReal_2

keystone wrote: »

What colour are your "three neutrals"?

Cheers

Lets face it Mr Keystone.

There aren't 3 neutrals just 3 wires that the OP thinks are neutrals + wire that the OP thinks is a switch live.

He shouldn't even attempt it.

keystone

Oh I agree Mr 1984. I was just curious. :cool:

Cheers

1984ReturnsForReal_2

keystone wrote: »

Oh I agree Mr 1984. I was just curious. :cool:

Cheers

Well all I know if there is 4 wires exposed up there & no earth is that there is more than one live/switch live.

That reminds me... I have to go out in the morning & replace a light fitting now that I have passed my electrics.

keystone

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

That reminds me... I have to go out in the morning & replace a light fitting now that I have passed my electrics.

Y'all take care now.



:D

Cheers