Change Wall Switch - Plastic to Chrome - Earthing?

benny80 · 29 Apr 2007

Hi
Am looking to change the wall switches from plastic to metal/chrome ones. I have a question about the earthing - Basically the metal back boxes are already earthed in that the earth cable is wired into them. The red and black cables are self explanatory, but i also have an earth connection on the back of the switch plate. This isn't mounted on the actual metal of the switch plate but white plastic. Do i also need to connect this with an earth cable and run it to the same place as where the earth cable is connected on the back box? if that makes any sense?
Any help/guidance would be appreciated
Thanks

jj4091 · 29 Apr 2007

Yes, get some yellow/green wire or copper & sleeving & connect the back box to the earth terminal of the switch.

benny80 · 29 Apr 2007

Thanks. Main reason for asking is that two switches had already been done in the house (plastic to chrome) but do not have this second earch cable between the switch plate and the back box and the house was originally owned by an electrician who made these changes. Also, these lights work fine - does that mean these also have to be changed?

Spark123 · 29 Apr 2007

Yes, the switches should all have a proper earth connection to them.
Something working and something being safe are 2 different things.

benny80 · 29 Apr 2007

Ok Thanks. quite strange though that an electrician would not have done it correctly or 'safely'?!?

RF Lighting · 29 Apr 2007

You should see some of the wiring in my house

benny80 · 30 Apr 2007

Ok, so i have just bought some earth cable as advised, but then realised that i have not checkd the size of the earth cable currently being used (as connected to the back box). Do you think that 1.5mm2 will be ok for what i need to do here (back box to switch plate)?
Thanks (again)

johnnyjb · 30 Apr 2007

1.5 mm ok

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Change Wall Switch - Plastic to Chrome - Earthing?

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