Changing light fixture, no earth wire

Hi,
I am trying to replace an existing light fixture in downstairs WC with a new metallic one, However, there is no earth wire I can see.
Is there any easy solution to this or only option is to keep using the current one (It's not that bad to be honest) or get a new plastic one?
Thanks
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Comments

  • Ant555
    Ant555 Posts: 1,591 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 10 January 2019 at 2:23PM
    I dont think it has to be restricted to plastic, find something rated as 'double insulated' as that doesn't need the earth wire

    Hope this helps
  • Rodders53
    Rodders53 Posts: 2,625 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Photo of the existing wiring would maybe help?

    Some cut back the unused earth in a twin and earth lighting cable when connecting to a double-insulated luminaire. It may just need stripping back and sleeving in green-yellow (assuming there's some slack cable).

    It's also possible that a two-core cable has been taken from a lighting circuit terminal box/connection strip with earths available and that has been pushed up into the void above.
  • Risteard
    Risteard Posts: 2,000 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Rodders53 wrote: »
    Some cut back the unused earth in a twin and earth lighting cable when connecting to a double-insulated luminaire. It may just need stripping back and sleeving in green-yellow (assuming there's some slack cable).
    You couldn't possibly have confidence that the type of moron who had done that had actually connected the cpc at the other end, or at every other point through the circuit, however.

    This is just one reason why all work must be inspected and tested before being put into service.
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  • cybervic
    cybervic Posts: 598 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    We had the same thing and we were told without earth, we can't use metal switch plate because it's conductive and we we will get a electric shock if something goes wrong.

    Your best bet is probably a plaster switch painted silver. I've seen them in ideal home, they look pretty slick and modern.
  • shu32876
    shu32876 Posts: 53 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts
    Rodders53 wrote: »
    Photo of the existing wiring would maybe help?

    Some cut back the unused earth in a twin and earth lighting cable when connecting to a double-insulated luminaire. It may just need stripping back and sleeving in green-yellow (assuming there's some slack cable).

    It's also possible that a two-core cable has been taken from a lighting circuit terminal box/connection strip with earths available and that has been pushed up into the void above.
    Thanks, here is the photo:
    https://imgur.com/a/DJCf9JT
  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Is it possible to pull the wire further down to see if there is an earth beside the red black wiring at the connection block? Usually small diameter bare copper cable.
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • Can you pull that connector block down out hole to see what is connected to it? In one of the photos it looks like there might be a yellow/green wire connected to it!
  • greyteam1959
    greyteam1959 Posts: 4,705 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Looks like an earth wire in the second picture.
    Just carefully pull that chock block down so you can look at it properly.
    And make sure you have turned OFF THE POWER & DOUBLE CHECKED THAT IT IS OFF.
    Some of those wires look to me as those they are they old rubber covered wires ??
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Some of those wires look to me as those they are they old rubber covered wires ??

    Is that likely in brown and blue?
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