Wooden Wall Light....no earth

[Nikibaabaa]

Hello I bought 2 new wooden wall lights to replace previously fitted brass versions. They are mainly made of wood with a small metal cup where the bulb sits. The wall is wired with an earth wire but the product doesnt have an earth to connect it to.

Should it have an earth wire as the metal can be touched, and if so, how do I add it to my wall light? Front and back photos provided. Thanks all

 

[ericmark]

To not require an earth, it needs to have a sign

and to be sold in the UK it also needs UKCA marked on it, there should be a terminal to park the earth even if not required, but they are often missing.

Having said that, likely the unit is OK, but not been submitted for UK testing. But if I was testing and inspecting, I would need to reject it. I would likely use it at home, but would reject it in a works' environment, as I know at home I turn off lights before changing a bulb.

Being pedantic, I have yet to see a bulb marked with

which clearly if to be used without an earth, they should have, so sometimes one needs to use common sense. But as an electrician, can't tell you to break the rules.

 

[SUNRAY]

Hello I bought 2 new wooden wall lights to replace previously fitted brass versions. They are mainly made of wood with a small metal cup where the bulb sits. The wall is wired with an earth wire but the product doesnt have an earth to connect it to.

Should it have an earth wire as the metal can be touched, and if so, how do I add it to my wall light? Front and back photos provided. Thanks all

I have dealt with something with a similar bracket arrangement with fixing screws through top and bottom of wood. Not wanting to lose the earthwire for future use I trapped the end of it under a washer on one of the fixing screws into the wall. However that didn't earth the metal part of the light.

Also I had to shave some of the wood away with a router beside the bracket to make space for the T&E cables and connector - be careful as the central part of the wood is very thin

 

[morqthana]

To not require an earth, it needs to have a sign View attachment 389655 and to be sold in the UK it also needs UKCA marked on it

It has neither of those.

Niki - return it for a refund.

 

[ericmark]

I have some lamps where the double insulated sign is on the bulb holder, also found a mag mount drill where drill was class II but mag mount class I so it did seem at first glance that the whole was class II (double insulated).

It really depends on how much you want the lamp? Unless rented, when rules must be followed, it is up to you. You clearly can send it back, it does not comply with UK rules, but I have things which do not comply, only the left-hand one complies, but plugged into an extension lead, the extension has the fuse, and I have a load of stuff from living in Hong Kong which has non BS 1363 plugs, so I still use them, even with no shutters, as I do not intend to do anything daft. But any kids in the house, they will find the way around safety shutters.

So how much cotton wool do you want to wrap them in? I knew my son would at some point do something daft, can't really stop him once he became a radio ham, so I fitted RCD's back in the mid 90's, and he is still around, but it's him wrapping me in cotton wool now.

I know it is a rare commodity, but just needs some common sense.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Most fittings (even Class II) have an earth terminal so you can ensure continuity round the circuit.

Your one does not.

What if the fitting (or any other fitting) doesn’t remain as class 1?

Was this purchased from eBay?

 

[Taylortwocities]

DI not mentioned when I translate the labels either!

 

[morqthana]

DI not mentioned when I translate the labels either!

Presumably those instructions were repeated in the printed documentation which came with the light.

Otherwise that's another trading offence....

 

[Nikibaabaa]

Most fittings (even Class II) have an earth terminal so you can ensure continuity round the circuit.

Your one does not.

What if the fitting (or any other fitting) doesn’t remain as class 1?

Was this purchased from eBay?

I bought them from Amazon.

 

[foxhole]

Technical name for that type of fitting is “Chinese cwap”

 

[Nikibaabaa]

Thankyou for your helpful opinion foxhole! I got them from Amazon and they weren't cheap. They are solid wood.

 

[morqthana]

There's more than one meaning of 'cheap'...

 

[Risteard]

Throw them in the bin. They do not meet safety standards.

 

[Nikibaabaa]

So ive consulted with the factory who made them. They informed me that the metal cup and the lamp's electrical wiring are separated, so it is merely a decorative component.

Wood isn't a conductor of electricity.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

So ive consulted with the factory who made them. They informed me that the metal cup and the lamp's electrical wiring are separated, so it is merely a decorative component.

The point is - are there two insulating barriers between live parts, and any metalwork you can touch, the answer to which is almost certainly no.

Wood isn't a conductor of electricity.

It certainly can be..

If you are desperate to use the fitting, see if you can find some means by which you can securely attach an earth wire, to both the bracket, and the metal surround of the lamp holder.