Replacing ceiling light, confused by wiring

[pete01]

isnt it good practice to wire the screw bulb holder so that live is at the bottom center ?

It used to be, with the newer fittings it doesn't matter.

 

[SUNRAY]

Done by the same person who just twisted the earth wires together. Assume everything is wrong.

Might be wise to inspect the whole property looking especially for missing earths. Get a cheapo socket tester.

Edit: I see there is no bit of tape saying “live” in the latest photo??

My initial interpretation:

 

[wanderlywagon]

The 'Blue' sticker is one I stuck on myself after taking to existing rose off. I put it there to remind me which connector the neutral had been connected to!

 

[endecotp]

The 'Blue' sticker is one I stuck on myself after taking to existing rose off. I put it there to remind me which connector the neutral had been connected to!

Ah, that makes sense! I was trying to read it as all sorts of things.

Still wrong - and yes it doesn’t matter in the sense of no electrocution risk here, but still a sign of some historical incompetence.

I’m not sure I’d recommend getting an electrician to inspect. It’s time consuming for them to open up every fitting. They’ll use a fancy meter to record some numbers, which will be OK, and they’ll tell you that your consumer unit is plastic not metal, which you can already see. The point is that most people who ask for an inspection just want the piece of paper that they need in order to rent or sell the house.

 

[morqthana]

Convert the fitting to Class I by connecting an earth wire(s) to the metal part(s).

And if the instructions say it must not be earthed?

 

[morqthana]

It used to be, with the newer fittings it doesn't matter.

What newer fittings prevent a finger touching the thread of an ES bub as it's being screwed in or out?

 

[FrodoOne]

If they're the wrong way around, they've been like that since before I moved in. I live here a few years... Yikes

I think I'll call an electrician to have a look at it

While I am sorry to write it,
if you do not know that which you are attempting to do,
perhaps you should.

 

[ebee]

While I am sorry to write it,
if you do not know that which you are attempting to do,
perhaps you should.

Not attempt it?

Clint might say "Each man should know his own limitations!"

 

[pete01]

What newer fittings prevent a finger touching the thread of an ES bub as it's being screwed in or out?

 

[EFLImpudence]

What newer fittings prevent a finger touching the thread of an ES bub as it's being screwed in or out?

None actually does that but - they do not use the lamp-holder threads as one of the contacts.

 

[ebee]

That is interesting. I was not actually aware of it - well I have retired and not up to date with 18th regs so. I was Morqthana asked a good question and we received a good answer . I was always a little hesitant with ES anyway for a few reasons (rightly or wrongly) and the danger of wrong polarity and the risk from the screw thread was one strong reason, problem is there will be plenty left in use for a long time yet and if people become less aware cos the modern ones are safer then it could result in bigger riskiness of them I suppose.

 

[Ragnar_AT]

EU Edison sockets have had insulated threads (plastic or ceramic) since the 1960s, some even longer I think. US ones still have metal threads that are used as one of the contacts and even with the correct ES 26 lamps they leave a lot of lamp thread exposed. ES 27 lamps have longer threads, which makes the problem even worse.

 

[SUNRAY]

None actually does that but - they do not use the lamp-holder threads as one of the contacts.

They don't? Really?

 

[ebee]

I think he might actually mean they dont use the thread on the lamp holder but they do use the thread on the lamp itself, probably anyway.

 

[Ragnar_AT]

I think he might actually mean they dont use the thread on the lamp holder but they do use the thread on the lamp itself, probably anyway.

Exactly. They have a small tab on the bottom that touches the thread of a fully inserted lamp. The thread on the lamp holder is plastic or ceramic. Ceramic sockets can have metal threads but they‘re isolated from the supply too.

https://lightbulbsocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wire-E27-lamp-holder.jpg