bought a new light fitting for the landing which must be earthed but no earth cable on upstairs light circuit?

Answer 1

Is the wiring grey sheathed cable? If so the earth wires may have been cut off, you will have to open the sheath to find out, and then make sure that they are earthed at the other ends and so on. If not sheathed cable they may be 'single' cables in conduit which means there will (Should be!) a metal box in the ceiling which is part of a steel conduit system, this is earthed, or SHOULD BE, you can connect a short green/yellow wire to the box and then to the light to provide an earth.

Don't 'connect to any water line' as suggested, you may introduce a voltage to an unearthed section of metallic pipe which could cause shock or death!

Bob the Boat- most of what you say is rubbish, 'if your light fitting is supplied with an earth screw, it does not mean that it has to be connected to your domestic earthing'!!! Why not? Twin wiring without an earth is not pemitted in the UK, and what's the middle east got to do with uk wiring. The fitting has an earth terminal and requires to be eathed for safety.

Answer 2

Bob The Boat needs to go back to college and learn that 2 core systems no longer comply under any regulation.
Earthing must be supplied at all lighting points even if the light fittings are plastic, in the case of a metal light fitting being installed onto the circuit the earth cable will be there for use.
You have two options , rewire the lighting circuit(s) or run a seperate earth cable around the whole circuit to supply all the lighting points back to your fuseboard/consumer unit. ( not ideal )
I suggest you rewire.

Answer 3

The simple answer is if your wiring has no earth then you must not connect it up.
You would however be allowed to wire in a plastic fitting instead, which is going to be your best option for the time being.
As a further safeguard it would be best if you could have your lighting circuit either rewired or at least have it RCD protected.
But as someone has alread pointed out are you quite sure there is no earth?

Answer 4

Hi Terry,
I seem to be a bit of a qualified power engineer, so if this is of any help >
Accordind to regs, the big blue book, if your light fitting is supplied with an earth screw, it does not mean that it has to be connected to your domestic earthing.
It is purely a safety thing, for properties that , say in the mid East, need a bit of back-up.
In most UK residential places, no earthing is required on twin feed, as things in lighting circuits usually do not have an earth return. However, if the item is metallic, it should have an earth wire connected, so that, as in all domestic stuff, you touch the casing and get a belt.
Oh, I love electrics.
You want to see a 33kV line go bang like fireworks.
Great fun !
I am still alive, so to us electricians, or electric-men.
All the best with it.
Bpb.

Answer 5

Bob the Boat's right, if a bit long winded. (The book's now brown not blue because of Part P).

If it is metal and labelled "MUST BE EARTHED", or similar, then you MUST Earth it or you risk danger, and probably your insurance company won't pay out if there's a fire anywher in the house however it was caused (they'll nit-pick on any excuse not pay, believe that).

If you have not got any convenient earth point to use then take the fitting back and buy one which is all plastic and doesn't need an earth.

Answer 6

tricky if it has to be earthed you really need to run an earth cable from your nearest earth. If it was me I would not bother - just change the lamp for lamp which needs no earth loads of them out there. I take it the light is metal and this is why you think it needs to be earthed.

Answer 7

You can run a wire to any metal water line.

Answer 8

do you mean a ground wire ? It will work without one , but is not completly safe , dont put you tounge on it