Fitting wall light without earth wire

Crumble2018

Hi, we want to fit a new wall light, but the new light has no earth wire, but there is an earth wire coming from the wall. From what I can see, we should put a terminal block on the earth wire and tuck it back into the wall.
But I have noticed that they come in different amps - any idea as to what we should be using? And is it this type below?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/6a-terminal-strips-pack-of-10/60804
Thanks!

FreeBear

Use something like this - https://www.screwfix.com/p/insulated-crimp-blue-ring-5mm-pack-of-100/24964 - Smaller packs & different sizes available from your local car accessory shop.
Crimp one to the earth wire and use one of the mounting screws to secure it to the fitting & wall. Put a bit of yellow/green earth sleeve over the bare wire before crimping the terminal on.

buglawton

Our electrician informed us that our metal wall lights were illegal as he spotted there was no earth wire to either. He said double insulated non metal ones only permitted.

We wanted to keep our lamps for now and keep options open for the future. But rewiring all the way back to light switch at opposite end of room was daunting.

Then our electrician saw an opportunity, there was a wall socket near each lamp. So he channeled and laid a single earth wire back to each. I refilled and repainted in same colour, all good.

I'd be very surprised to hear that it's possible to buy a metal bodied lamp holder without a proper earth terminal in it. Even our ancient ones did.

molerat

Crumble2018 wrote: »

Hi, we want to fit a new wall light, but the new light has no earth wire, but there is an earth wire coming from the wall. From what I can see, we should put a terminal block on the earth wire and tuck it back into the wall.
But I have noticed that they come in different amps - any idea as to what we should be using? And is it this type below?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/6a-terminal-strips-pack-of-10/60804
Thanks!

£4.24 :eek: are they having a laugh, get them in pound shops ! Is there a back box in the wall ? If so what is it made of ? I would just sleeve it in a bit of green and yellow and tape it back to the sheath if there is nowhere for it to go.

grumbler

buglawton wrote: »

He said double insulated non metal ones only permitted.

My desk/wall mounted office lamp from Ikea with a plug doesn't have earth wire at all. I think it's pretty common.
I am no expert, but "double insulated non metal" makes no sense to me.

molerat wrote: »

I would just sleeve it in a bit of green and yellow

So would I.

shaun_from_Africa

molerat wrote: »

£4.24 :eek: are they having a laugh, get them in pound shops !

That's £4.24 for a pack of 10 of the blocks.

Crumble2018

molerat wrote: »

£4.24 :eek: are they having a laugh, get them in pound shops ! Is there a back box in the wall ? If so what is it made of ? I would just sleeve it in a bit of green and yellow and tape it back to the sheath if there is nowhere for it to go.

No black box, just the 3 wires hanging out of the wall (we’ve just moved in, and removed the old light.)
Ok - now I’m totally clueless here - “sleeve it in a bit of green and yellow” - green and yellow what? And what is the sheath?

FreeBear

Crumble2018 wrote: »

“sleeve it in a bit of green and yellow” - green and yellow what? And what is the sheath?

Sleeve it in a bit of this "green and yellow" - https://www.screwfix.com/p/pvc-sleeving-3mm-x-100m-green-yellow/18132
Tape it to the outer grey (or white) covering on the cable sticking out of the wall.

buglawton

grumbler wrote: »

My desk/wall mounted office lamp from Ikea with a plug doesn't have earth wire at all. I think it's pretty common.
I am no expert, but "double insulated non metal" makes no sense to me.
So would I.

A factory wired double insulated desk lamp is legal. The consensus on the trades forums seems to be that metal light fittings must be earthed.
https://www.mybuilder.com/questions/v/42258/ikea-wall-light-has-no-earth
Though I’ve yet to find the relevant British Standards doc.

Ectophile

If the light fitting is double insulated, then it doesn't need an earth, even if it has metal parts. Covering the earth wire in insulating sleeving, or sticking it in a terminal block and tucking it out of the way is fine. A small 5A terminal block would be big enough. Don't cut the earth wire off, as it may be needed in future.


The risk is that some cheap imported light fittings aren't really double insulated, but the manufacturers couldn't be bothered to fit an earth terminal. Earthing things in China seems to be largely optional.

Norman_Castle

FreeBear wrote: »

Sleeve it in a bit of this "green and yellow" - https://www.screwfix.com/p/pvc-sleeving-3mm-x-100m-green-yellow/18132
Tape it to the outer grey (or white) covering on the cable sticking out of the wall.

Or https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-1m-green-yellow-earth-sleeving/p/5376648 if you're unlikely to need 100 metres.
Or https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Earth-Sleeving---Green-Yellow-3mm-x-5m/p/710807 if closer.