I have just bought a new ceiling fan and the instructions make it clear that it has to be earthed before use, however i am waiting for my local authority to re-wire mine and other neighbours properties.
Is there a way around this if i employ a qualified electritian??
2007-06-27 04:09:24 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
thank you everyone who answered, i will wait till my nearly 40yr old home is rewired.
Doesnt look much like i'll have a use for the fan with this horrible weather.
2007-06-28 11:35:51 · update #1
what sort of ceiling fan have you bought do you mean fan/light most fans are usually double insulated plastic and dont require an earth, whereas fan/lights have metal surrounds and do need earthing, also please be careful of americans answering, different regs and terminology create misunderstandings
if it is a ceiling fan/light do not fit it if you have gas fire in the room potentialy fatal
one final thing if the instructions say you must connect earth then you MUST connect one
2007-06-27 11:28:02 · answer #1 · answered by dave kp61 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay - that sounds a little odd ... surely the landlord (are you renting?) has responsibility to provide approved and safe dwelling? If you own, then your local council will check, and help rectify potentially unsafe wiring. Put simply, the Earth is there just to protect you from being shocked if the casing of the fixture should become live. That's why the green/Earth usually attaches to the light fitting, and not to the light itself. To answer your questions: 1. You can install it. It's a little dangerous, but how low is the ceiling? If it's way high and unlikely to be accidentally touched, then no real issue. Also if the casing is plastic, not metal, you'd be safer. But I guess the fan veins are metal(?) 2. You can make an earth by running an earth wire to the fitting from any other Earthed location. Typically all the metal fittings in the bathroom will be Earthed - so radiators / pipes / bath / shower. If you have access to enough of the ceiling spaces to run that wire, you can make an Earth. How easy depends on the construction of the ceilings and the layout of the apartment. Personally, I'd just install without an Earth. If you install it correctly, there's little chance of you needing the 'back-up' of the Earth connection.
2016-05-17 11:25:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your home does not have earth wiring, then the wiring must be pretty old. Tell your council to pull their finger out as it colud be dangerous. The ceiling fan is usually made of metal and if not earthed and a fault developed, could electrocute you. You're better off waiting until your wiring is replaced. Just have to use a plastic fan for now.
2007-06-27 04:21:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The only way around it is to take an cpc (earth wire) back from the fan to the fuseboard. Lots of money and lots of hassle.
Wait for the rewire.
2007-06-27 05:00:08 · answer #4 · answered by Girlie Electrics 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My best advise as a retired EE is to a) consult an electrician, b) wait for the local authority to install an "earth".
In the USA we commonly find the third wire, or "earth" wire if you will, is at the entry of the service cable into the house and clamped to a cold water pipe (most all USA homes built in last 50 yrs or so have copper plumbing pipes.).
Homes can have a copper stake in the ground in redundant configuration to improve the earthing of telephone service lightning protection devices
2007-06-27 05:50:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
By the terms you are using, it sound like you are in Europe. If that's the case, I can't answer that question. If you are in the USA it will work without a ground. The old two wire systems should be upgraded when ever possible. If it is not possible then GFCI should be used, not as a replacement for ground, but for a safety to shut down the circuit in the even of circuit failure to a path other than the intended circuit path.
2007-06-27 04:20:34 · answer #6 · answered by awake 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you employ a qualified electrician he can earth it for you. Of course you will have to pay him. The question is - do want to pay him to do it for you now or do you want to wait for the council to do for you FREE! The choice is yours!
I know which option I'd choose.
2007-06-28 05:24:06 · answer #7 · answered by nigel t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all new appliances have this requirement in the instructions..but the fan will work good without it...this is for safety only should the fan becomes grounded.....your main disconnect box will or should be earth grounded but the wiring doesnt have the green or bare wire to the outlets or plugins..this will not prevent your fan from working but an earth ground is a safety feature...Most likely no electrical appliance in your home has an earth ground if there is not one for the fan....your local authority will not rewire your home if you live in the USA..you will have to do this yourself...until such time you have you house rewired i would just install the fan and make arrangements to have my house rewired..
2007-06-27 04:54:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
earth wiring- ground, 1 alternative i know of that works is to install a ground rod (any electric supply store) typical is 10 feet copper 3/4 ", at the top of this you clamp a copper ground wire under a clamp. this is your ground also called earth ground. run this into house and terminate next to power box. Now when your electrician hooks up he just needs to hook the green wire from the fan to this ground wire or ground bar if you think ahead to future needs. But always call or go to your local building permits office and ask to be sure your area allows this.
hope this helps
2007-06-27 04:31:21 · answer #9 · answered by Ms Bowbow 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
do you mean grounded? The green wire needs to be connected to the box for grounding. Get an estimate from an electrician. If you have a light fixture already in your ceiling, I don't see that there would be a problem.
2007-06-27 04:14:48 · answer #10 · answered by northville 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋