light switch with no earth question

t3rm3y

we have had the hallway redecorated, smoothed and painted. Door frames all tarted up etc.
Came to replacing the white plastic light switch downstairs and up - and there is no earth. Naturally the wife wants satin or a brushed metal effect.
My understanding is that the earth is required with a metal socket in case one of the main wires came loose and touched the metal surface it prevents electrocution , is this the same for a hallway switch? it controls a downstairs light which has an earth in the ceiling rose itself, and one of the switches controls the upstairs light, there is another switch upstairs this also doesnt have an earth...
Is there a metal light switch we can use in this environment?

stator

It's not impossible, what you would need to buy is a "class 2" aka double insulated light switch

https://www.thelightingsuperstore.co.uk/appliance-class-2-double-insulated


I'm not sure where you can buy them though

Owain_Moneysaver

I don't think there is any metal switch you can use. It would have to be certified as double insulated and carry the square-in-a-square symbol.

You must use plastic switches, and preferably plastic faceplate screws to fix them to the back box. You must also fix a warning notice to the consumer unit.

Can I install metal light fittings & switches?

NO. Absolutely not, these should be removed immediately and plastic double insulated fittings & switches should only be fitted.

http://www.crannistech.co.uk/lighting/

baldelectrician

Its a bit concerning - no earth means the wiring is pre 1968

It's amazing the amount of people who don't even get a cursory check for their electrics and expect it all to be OK.

I would recommend an EICR (electrical check) for your house as things may or may not be bad.

t3rm3y

baldelectrician wrote: »

Its a bit concerning - no earth means the wiring is pre 1968

It's amazing the amount of people who don't even get a cursory check for their electrics and expect it all to be OK.

I would recommend an EICR (electrical check) for your house as things may or may not be bad.

Will do. Do they just test sockets/working at sockets or pull cables all back if is old wiring and make you pay for rewire?
Oh-can any electrician do these or it needs to be a specialist type?

Mr.Generous

If its just one or two isolated switches and everything else is earthed its often possible to fit a single core earth wire inside the existing conduit and feed it down to the switches once floorboards are up. As said though, best get the whole thing checked sounds like it needs a major update. Out of interest any RCD or MCB protection at all?

Ectophile

Be aware that if you get an electrician in to do an EICR on an old installation, then they will produce a scary long list of things that need fixing.


Once you have the report, you don't have to get them to fix everything; you can hand the report to another electrician to quote for the work if you wish.

t3rm3y

It seems it is only the hallway light switches (the ceiling rose itself has the earth, i can see that, and the new colour cable,s but then for the switch i see the black and red wire, which is then present at the switch.
Same on the upstairs light, it has earth in the ceiling rose, but not the switch.
The other light switches and power sockets all seem ok and earthed, as we did the front room a year ago, and i have changed light switch fascias on other sockets to clean them up.. Bath room was also refitted when we moved in about 4 years ago.

I am struggling to find a double insulated light switch ,it all seems to be the light fittings themselves.
still waiting for an electrician to come round and check / advise.

stator

When you remove the switch cover (Safely) can you see where the cable is run?
Is it inside a tube/conduit for example?

Does it go straight up and is there a removable floorboard above the point where it goes?

If so, then pulling a new cable (with earth) is usually a simple matter

t3rm3y

Cable is in the wall. Doesn't appear to have any conduit. Not that I can see.

stator

You may have to remove the backbox to see the conduit