How do I wire a two wire lamp?

Question

I wish to fit new overhead lights in my kitchen, however the new lights only come with two wire connectors (Live Brown and Blue Neutral) but the house cabling also includes an earth wire. There is nowhere on the new lamps to connect the earth wire to? What should I do?

Answer 1

That business about getting only a qualified electrician to do any work etc etc - that ONLY applies if you are connecting MORE than one socket to a ring or branch, so providing you know what you're doing (Oh, you don't, otherwise you wouldn't have asked here.......) you can add as many lamps onto a branch as you wish, so long as you protect the circuit with the correct fuses or breakers. As already told, modern UK plastic lamp holders don't need earthing so therefore neither does the frame of the lamp.

Answer 2

I assume the new lamps are not of metal construction as if they are the casing should be earthed to prevent the possibility of electric shock to anybody touching the lamp.If the lamps are plastic or non conductive you can just connect the live and neutral and insulate the earthwire with a connector or tape and tuck it up in the ceiling out of the way If on the other hand the lamp is metal you will either have to find a way to connect the earth wire perhaps by inserting a selftapping screw and washer in a not evident part of the lamp casing or either that take it back to where it came from and select an alternative lamp that is more suitable.

Answer 3

Assuming that you have bought lights that are manufactured for the UK market and therefore `approved' for use here then you do not always have use the earth wire. If the lights are working from mains voltage then they only require the earth connection if the case or body of the light is conductive (metal, brass, stainless steel). I just fold back and insulate the unused earth wire. Many other ceiling lights are low voltage systems and are powered from a transformer, in which case the transformer normally has an earth connection but the lights powered from it do not.

Answer 4

Replacing a light fitting is not a new wiring installation and can be carried out by a competent person without recourse to the regs etc.

However in a kitchen be aware that all exposed metal parts of a light fitting must be earthed. Your new light fittings should have an earth connection (normally on the casing somewhere)
If not are they approved for UK use?

Answer 5

Yes, it is more dangerous than wiring it the other way. The wire, light bulb and switch doesn't care which way the electric flows. But when you have the lamp switched off there is still the possibility of someone getting shocked as electric will flow the path of least resistance. Lamps, fixtures and appliances are not governed by the NEC, but are supposed to be UL approved.

Answer 6

Wire it brown to red and blue to black, insulate the earth wire with insulation tape. Most two wire light fittings don't need an earth wire as they are made from plastic and cannot cause an earth short.

Answer 7

The earth wire (or ground) is only needed when the lighting fixture is made of metal. It will provide a safe path to ground should a hot wire come in contact with the metal housing. Usually the fixture hanger strap has a ground screw that the ground wire can be connected to.

Answer 8

Sometimes the light will have a screw or nut inside the lamp's base. If the lamp is small enough it won't have a ground wire. And sometimes they will have a metal cable with a ring on then end of it that gets mounted to junction box. Then the ground wire from the house gets attached to the junction box also.

Answer 9

The new lights may be non metallic and/or class II/double insulated construction, do they have a 'two squares' symbol on them?? IF so you need not earth them, and in fact SHOULD NOT introduce an earth to them. Terminate the earth core in your t and e cable.

If you are replacing the lights on existing wiring it is not notifiable...http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/Pocket%20Guide%208.pdf

Answer 10

if there is no where for the earth wire then the light fitting is not metal for a guess???

If so you can use a wire block connector all you need is one screw the earth cable into the connector then your lighting is earthed..

good look..