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Electrical

Brass light Earth?

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.39 PM

Hi. I’ve bought some old brass (Victorian) wall lights. I’m going to rewire them as plug in lights. My question if anyone can help is - How do I earth them? Do I need to buy new bulb fittings that take 3 core flex? My second question is how do I wire up one that has 3 bulbs? I know how to do 2 bulbs using a choc box and connector, do I just do the same but use a larger one? These lights will be checked by an electrician once I’ve done them. We have a wonderful electrician but he’s so busy that I know he doesn’t have time to do them for me so I’d like to get them done and then ask him to pop in when he’s passing to give me the thumbs up.

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

1 Answer

Anonymous user

Hiya, Earthing old, metal fittings can be a trick business if they do not have appropriate electrical lugs fitted to each part. The idea is that you should ensure that all exposed metal parts or parts which could come into contact with one of the live or neutral wires in a fault condition are very well connected back to the earth (we call it the CPC) of the circuit. Even if the metal parts are connected together mechanically it is bast that each is wired in separately in case the electrical connection between them is poor. You might be able to put your own lugs or studs on each metal part or drill holes through and use a nut and bolt. Your friendly electrician will be able to test the results you achieve and will have a view on how well you have it covered. If you know how to wire two fittings together, three is just the same, in parallel. If you are using flex and choc-blocks then you should be ferruling each stranded end. In the trade we use Wago's now which are better and quicker (but more expensive).

Answered9 April 2018