Wiring up an LED light

[Colin Macdonald]

Hi,

I've got a ceiling LED light I'd like to swap out from a conventional bulb, but the cables from the LED light aren't labelled at all - they're just in clear plastic rather than blue/brown, with no markings/texture difference etc to tell them apart. From a quick Google it sounds like because it's a UK AC supply it'll make no difference which is connected to live or neutral, but wanted to get some expert opinions before I try it?

Thanks, and Happy New Year

C.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I presume you mean a whole new light fitting. What sort is it?

It's unusual to have clear plastic. Have you a link to the product or can you post a picture?

It won't matter which way round the lamp is connected.

 

[Colin Macdonald]

Hi,

Thanks. It's a smaller version of this: http://www.lightinthebox.com/modern...bedroom-dining-room_p4978385.html?prm=1.5.1.1

And pic of the cables attached.

C.

 

[EFLImpudence]

That's alright - not what I was thinking of.


It says the 'shade' is plastic so that's ok but it does not actually say it is Class 2 - double insulated so no earth required.

The fixture material it says is metal but the ceiling 'cup' looks plastic.


As long as yours is the same with no metal parts touchable it seems alright.

 

[Colin Macdonald]

Thanks for checking this out. The ceiling cup is metal unfortunately - I could line it with something before fitting though?

C.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Does it screw to a bracket which may be earthed?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'd suggest not buying from companies like that - the risk of these:

being fake is just too high. Plus they don't seem to understand safety certification (or are hoping to bamboozle their customers) - The Federal Communications Commission does not make safety regulations.

 

[JohnW2]

... they don't seem to understand safety certification ...

And nor do they appear to understand the difference been Insurance and Assurance.

However, I'm not at all sure what the average person could be expected to do to satisfy themselves that any such documents/claims were genuine - it's really a matter for 'the authorities'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Translation from Chinese follows. Interestingly, the english version of this leaves out most of the references to china.
Obviously we know that most everything these days is made in China. The US style web site is more distressing though, as you have to look harder to realise that it isn't an American company taking responsibility for the goods. The importer (i.e. the purchaser)is taking that legal responsibity. I am finding the pricing rather higher than usual for direct from Hong Kong goods.
I suppose they have to call it Safty Insurance because neither certificate refers to safety, but rather EMC.

In 2007, Light In The Box Limited was established in Hong Kong with a registered capital of 3 million US dollars, its website www.LightInTheBox.com is currently ranked the first foreign trade sales site. The company's mission is to provide small and medium-sized retailers around the world a global integrated supply chain based on the Internet. The inception of the company was well-known venture capital companies to inject capital, the establishment of high-tech enterprises. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Light In The Box Limited has established partnerships with a number of companies in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen in order to attract more outstanding suppliers to join our global supply chain.

LightInTheBox.com currently covers clothing, electronics, toys, accessories, household items, sporting goods and other 14 categories, a total of more than 60,000 kinds of goods. Company annual sales of more than 200 million yuan. After several years of development, the company sourcing throughout China, in Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, Shandong and Beijing provinces and cities have a large number of suppliers, and has accumulated a good reputation. Many brands, including Newman, Patriot, Founder Technology, Yadu, Shenzhou computers have also joined the LightInTheBox.com sales platform, as the company's partners or suppliers.

LightInTheBox.com ranks 2620 (Alexa Rank 2620, all the websites in the world), with more than 200,000 foreign visitors and more than 2 million pages of visitors from more than 100 countries. At present, the site already has millions of registered customers from around the world, with a total of 160 shipping destinations in North America, Asia, Western Europe, the Middle East, South America and Africa. The company also won the Paypal "2008 Best Innovator Award" and other awards.

 

[stillp]

neither certificate refers to safety, but rather EMC

Also CE Marking is not dependent on a certificate, but on a declaration.

 

[JohnW2]

Also CE Marking is not dependent on a certificate, but on a declaration.

Indeed. However, as I asked, how on earth is the average consumer meant to understand, or be capable of assessing, any of this? As I said, this sort of thing can surely only be policed by 'the authorities', who hopefully have the appropriate knowledge and investigational facilities to allow them to do it?

Kind Regards, John

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

this sort of thing can surely only be policed by 'the authorities', who hopefully have the appropriate knowledge and investigational facilities to allow them to do it

Ha Ha Ha Ha! Good one! An apparent american website - based in Hong Kong - the customers are doing the importing. You are of course making a joke.

 

[endecotp]

The ceiling cup is metal unfortunately - I could line it with something before fitting though?

A better option would be to earth it by drilling a small hole and attaching a ring crimp terminal using a small nut and bolt or self-tapping screw.

 

[JohnW2]

Ha Ha Ha Ha! Good one! An apparent american website - based in Hong Kong - the customers are doing the importing. You are of course making a joke.

Not at all. I realise the problems of practicalities (and resources) but, as I've said, there is no way that most end-consumers can get reassurance themselves - so, unless we are just going to give up and accept the situation, we have no choice but to expect the PTB to satisfy themselves about the acceptability of everything at the point of import - regardless of who does the importing.

As I said, in practice the only alternative (to 'trying' the above) is to do nothing, and hence accept that UK purchasers might be subjected to unsafe imports. Is that what you feel we should do?

Kine Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

A better option would be to earth it by drilling a small hole and attaching a ring crimp terminal using a small nut and bolt or self-tapping screw.

As EFLI implied, its possible that the metal cup screws onto an earthed bracket.

Kind Regards, John