No earth from wall sockets for wall lights so does that mean I can't have chrome dimmer switches?
Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.27 PM
Hi,
We had an issue with wall lights and my usual electrician (who has now gone back to Poland so I can't ask him) told me to change my wall lights to double insulated lights due to there being no earth coming out the walls. However, he didn't tell me if I must also change the chrome dimmer switches too. The dimmer switch has 2 dimmers, one to the ceiling lights (that are earthed) and the other to the wall lights (no earth in sight). So my question is, if there is an earth at the dimmer switches connected (I'm not sure as I have t opened it but I would presume so), but earthed ceiling light but no earth at the wall lights (which I'm changing to class 2 asap), does it mean I have to also change my wall dimmer sockets to plastic dimmers? p.s I can't earth the wall lights as it would be a crazy massive job smashing the walls and ceilings.
Thanks for any answers or help.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
If they are metal of course you have to get them changed to plastic. Did the electrician put a label on the consumer unit. Reading between your many lines i think you may need an electrician in with some proper test equipment to give you a definitive answer, as I can't make head nor tail of what you actually mean.
Answered26 February 2017
3
Anonymous user
If the ceiling light is properly earthed and the earth to the switch is connected to the earth terminal on the faceplate rather than the terminal in the back box then the switch is perfectly safe. This can be checked with a simple continuity test, if you don't have the equipment ask an electrician to pop round quickly. If the wall lamps are then double insulated and don't require an earth then you're all good
All metal(conductive) parts that can be touched must be earthed. This means a physical route for the electricity to travel back to the main earthing point and safely to ground. An electrician insures that the earth wire is both continuous to earth( no breakers on the wire) and the resistance of the route is not to much for the circuit to be safe to use. Electricity takes the easiest route to earth so make sure it's not through your body. And if your metal face plates are connected to earth the circuit should be switched of as soon as the earthed metal plate be comes live.
For your question I would either disconnect the wall lights or replace the cable with twin and earth as it has been wired over 20 years ago and houses are recommended to be rewire s every ten years. The insulation of the cables that hold the electricity in the cables deteriates over time. It may be a dirty and expensive job but electricity can cause fires or death so that why it has to be a number 1 priority.
