I remember the big bang and nice flashing lights when as a very small child I bent a bit of wire and poked one end into each hole on a 5a two pin socket. It would have been about 1950 that I survived the foolish action so I am unsure how old the socket was. My father had to decide if he should rewire the fuse or smack me first. (He probably smacked me, repaired the fuse then smacked me again)
Should I earth my wooden wall lights?
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When I was a kid in the 90s, I went down the beach with a friend of mine for a night walk/explore. It was early hours in the morning by the time we got back, but still excitable we went into the old shack outhouse and plugged in the two bar heater for warmth. Being kids we poked and prodded with bits of wood and newspaper to burn until a bit of newspaper got stuck in there. Unfamiliar with the ways of electricity, or maybe just being completely thick, I tried to get it out with a screwdriver. Didn't get a shock but there was quite a bang. My mate and I were always playing jokes on each other, so the bugger went and told me that I'd likely knocked out the power to the whole village and that nobody's alarm clocks would go off in the morning.
When I woke my dad at 3am I'm not sure which he was most annoyed and mad about... The stupidity of my actions or for being so thick and gullible!
When I woke my dad at 3am I'm not sure which he was most annoyed and mad about... The stupidity of my actions or for being so thick and gullible!
If they were that adventurous and determined to do themselves harm, rather than wait (probably for a few lifetimes!) until the "metal parts became live because of a fault", they would probably be better advised to remove the bulb/lamp and plug their fingers into the holder (all that, of course, assuming that it was switched on)
Kind Regards, John
Noted, my point was made in response to EFLI suggesting that the earth conductor could be connected but that it made no difference!
If it would take "several lifetimes" before the metal parts (might) become energised, is there any statistically appropriate basis for extraneous conductive parts to be earthed?
Blup
Extraneous-conductive-parts are not part of the electrical installation but are bonded together, (joined electrically) because they are already earthed (by some means), in order to reduce potential difference (voltage) between them in the event of a fault.
It's purpose is not to operate the protective device.
If you think it is likely that they will become live by contact with live conductors then they are Exposed-conductive-parts and should be earthed.
It's purpose is not to operate the protective device.
If you think it is likely that they will become live by contact with live conductors then they are Exposed-conductive-parts and should be earthed.
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I said it would do no harm.
Earthing parts (the proverbial spoon or door handle) which do not require it could be hazardous - because they will become live in the event of a fault to earth until the protective device operates.
But I'm still ok to earth the lights EFLI?
Yes, you may as well as you can't touch it.
Indeed, and mine was really just suggesting that the scenario being discussed was an extremely improbably one, and far less probably than a hazard which could fare more easily be invoked by an unsupervised child
[ As has been said, I presume that you are talking about exposed-conductive-parts.]
I suppose I was asking for trouble by writing those words, but the real point is that this fitting is not an 'exposed-c-p', which is a metal part of an electrical item which 'can be touched'. The regulations require that the bottom and sides of an enclosure (enclosing live parts) be IP2X, which essentially means that the surface may not have holes in it which will allow an object 12 mm in diameter (e.g. a finger) to be inserted - which the small hole in the OP's fitting clearly would not permit.
In fact, the OP's (wooden) 'enclosure is not really enclosing live parts, since there are no parts within it which are loive in the absence of a fault. If one accepts wood as an insulator, it could be argued that his fitting is therefore essentially 'double insulated', since it would require two 'faults' before anything live could be touched.
Kind Regards, John
The OP hasn't explained the function of the hole - might it not take a metal bolt or such like to fix the casing to a wall fitting.
Blup
Indeed, and mine was really just suggesting that the scenario being discussed was an extremely improbably one, and far less probably than a hazard which could fare more easily be invoked by an unsupervised child
[ As has been said, I presume that you are talking about exposed-conductive-parts.]
I suppose I was asking for trouble by writing those words, but the real point is that this fitting is not an 'exposed-c-p', which is a metal part of an electrical item which 'can be touched'. The regulations require that the bottom and sides of an enclosure (enclosing live parts) be IP2X, which essentially means that the surface may not have holes in it which will allow an object 12 mm in diameter (e.g. a finger) to be inserted - which the small hole in the OP's fitting clearly would not permit.
In fact, the OP's (wooden) 'enclosure is not really enclosing live parts, since there are no parts within it which are loive in the absence of a fault. If one accepts wood as an insulator, it could be argued that his fitting is therefore essentially 'double insulated', since it would require two 'faults' before anything live could be touched.
Kind Regards, John
The larger of the two holes in OP's first picture might just be 12 mm, it is difficult to tell from the photo alone
Blup
Kids will be kids. In school, nearly 50 years ago, the screws to a metal socket outlet fitted to a bench in the chemistry class were loose. We took them out and pulled it off. The wires came out of the socket and we were pushing the wires together with a pencil and making sparks while waiting for the teacher to arrive. Anyway, someone said he was coming and we told the nearest kid to push the socket cover on. He did but some wires touched and there was a massive spark which blew him off his stool. He was shaken but uninjured. I still see him these days as he became my brother in law and he became an electrician so it didn’t put him off of electricity? I’m sure if one of us had a stiff bit of wire, we'd have had a poke about!
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Just as well it would not happen now in a lab
I'm not sure what hole you are talking about but, as you imply in your first quote above, I would imagine that the hole in (what I assume is) the bottom and at least one of the holes in (what I assume is) the top will be for fixing bracket screws/bolts.
Kind Regards, John
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As an aside, they look like they had (or could have) a pullswitch fitted. There's a hole in the wood for a cord to pass through and a bracket where a pullswitch body might be mounted.
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