Uncut earth wire for Light Fitting

ChunkyLover_53

Hi all

Replacing an old light fitting with a new metal one which needs to be earthed.

The old fitting wasn't connected to an earth wire but I can see an uncut earth wire tucked up into the ceiling.

is it alright to cut this and hook it up to the new fitting? The connector on the new fitting only has room for 3 wires what would I do with the extra bit of earth if i cut it?

cheers

M cebee

it should be connected assuming it's the cpc(circuit earth)

you won't know for sure without testing

ChunkyLover_53

M cebee wrote: »

it should be connected assuming it's the cpc(circuit earth)

you won't know for sure without testing

Cheers for the reply. I've gone around the rest of the light fitting in the house and its all the same. Live and Neutral connected and an uncut Earth wire tucked into the ceiling.

I need to earth the metal light fitting so I presume the only way to do that is cut the earth cable and attach it. What should I do with the other end of the earth? Tape it up or ground it somewhere?

Bruthal

Check and see if the uncut earth is a loop by gently pulling as much out of the hole as possible, without pulling it too hard. So if its a loop, and you cut it, both ends now need to be connected to the earth terminal of the fitting so the earth is continous again.

Avns1s

If you cut that wire and both ends are connected to something, how do you know that the end you connect to your light is the one to the earth terminals in the consumer board and not a loop to another light?

You may cut and join a new piece of cable to it and then onto your new light fitting or better still connect both ends of the cut earth cable to the earth terminal on your new light fitting. It should be a safe bet that one end is going back to the consumer board and you're not disconnecting the light on anything else.


If you're in doubt, get someone who knows what they're at.

ChunkyLover_53

Cheers for the replys lads

its a loop alright I pulled it and another one out from the ceiling as far as it will let me.

Wasn't sure about leaving the Earth wire there on its own so will definitely ensure that its all connected up again.

Thanks

DublinDilbert

If you cut into this earth wire, you need to strip & wrap the two ends back together, then connect into the earth terminal in your fitting, so your not breaking the earth loop. Based on your question it looked like you were going to cut and just connect one end to the light fitting earth.

Bruthal

Post #4 must be invisible:D