Metal light switch’s with no earth

[Chris_909]

Recently brought a new house, fitted new ceiling lights and they had an earth connections (possibly fitted after the original wiring was?)
I’ve just fitted metal light switch’s however there’s no earth connection there, just 2 core wire (definitely nothing else up the insulation) they should be earthed but as the light itself is earthed can I still use it or will I have to go back to plastic?

 

[pete01]

Youll have to go back to plastic I'm afraid

 

[Jurassicspark]

You'll have to revert back to plastic switches.

Does the cable feeding the switch come in a metal conduit?

What color are the wires at the light and what are the colors at the switch?

 

[pete01]

Does the cable feeding the switch come in a metal conduit?

Good point.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Youll have to go back to plastic I'm afraid

Sometimes you see nutters adding new circuits on the old lighting circuits (without earth) and they cut off the earth wire and still use a metal switch /fitting.

 

[Chris_909]

You'll have to revert back to plastic switches.

Does the cable feeding the switch come in a metal conduit?

What color are the wires at the light and what are the colors at the switch?

No metal conduct, just wires in the wall and old colours, red,black and yellow/green at light and red and a black at switch

 

[Jurassicspark]

No metal conduct, just wires in the wall and old colours, red,black and yellow/green at light and red and a black at switch

Back to a plastic switch then.

Safety over asthetics.

 

[Murdochcat]

How old is the property / wiring?

Seen many 1960’s home with twin and Earth between lights and twin on switch drops (and 3 core with no CPC on 2 way switching)

 

[Chris_909]

How old is the property / wiring?

Seen many 1960’s home with twin and Earth between lights and twin on switch drops (and 3 core with no CPC on 2 way switching)

Late 60s I think, most of the wiring has been updated except the socket ring main and the lighting, but the lighting circuit is two core and a separate earth so I assume earth wires were added at a later date

 

[Murdochcat]

Late 60s I think, most of the wiring has been updated except the socket ring main and the lighting, but the lighting circuit is two core and a separate earth so I assume earth wires were added at a later date

Just because there is a CPC at some points there is no guarantee that it’s connected back to the fuseboard unless you get it properly tested.

 

[Chris_909]

Just because there is a CPC at some points there is no guarantee that it’s connected back to the fuseboard unless you get it properly tested.

I believe it’s all electrically sound, got it all tested before I brought and got all the certificates etc

 

[ericmark]

I believe it’s all electrically sound, got it all tested before I brought and got all the certificates etc

Then if done correctly there will be an earth at the switch.

I have looked at the old 13th edition, over what does not require an earth.

(ix) Lighting fittings using filament lamps installed in a room having a non-conducting floor, mounted at such a height that they cannot readily be touched and are out of reach of earthed metal.

How can a switch be mounted at such a height that they cannot readily be touched?

OK, the switches back then often Bakelite, so all plastic, and the back boxes were wood. In 1966, it changed to

D.6 At every lighting point an earthing terminal shall be provided and connected to the earth-continuity conductor of the final sub-circuit.

But the problem is how to test, I can clip on my meter, and with sockets simply plug it in, press a button and test. But most DIY electricians don't have the equipment to test with. So simple option is to use plastic switches.

 

[flameport]

got it all tested before I brought and got all the certificates etc

What do these certificates say about the lighting circuit and the lack of earth connections at the switches?

 

[ebee]

"bought a new house" - second hand house.

"most of the wiring has been updated except the socket ring main and the lighting" - a substantial part of it was not updated then ?

"got it tested and got the certificates" - what does certificate say? - as Flameport asks!

It is not looking good so far methinks

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

OK, the switches back then often Bakelite, so all plastic, and the back boxes were wood. In 1966, it changed to

I remember there being toggle switches, porcelain base, then a metal dome cover, which screwed onto a thread, around the toggle - no earth. I also remember, switches sunk into the wall, wooden back box, single and multi-way, metal toggle switch, metal faceplate, fixed to the toggle switch by a threaded metal ring - again, no earth.