Should I re-wire this lamp?

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Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Just bought this Fase lamp from eBay. It still has it's original wiring from (i'm guessing) the 70's with a European two pronged plug on the end. I placed the plug into one of those adaptors you can get with a 3A fuse https://www.lindy.co.uk/power-c8/power-accessories... however there's no earth wire and the wiring goes from the plug to the switch on the base then up through the arm and out into the shade where the two wires connect into a connector block with the actual bulb holder wires coming out the other side.

It works perfectly but the lack of wiring and metal body is making me nervous.


Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
  • lack of earth wiring I meant.

welshjon81

631 posts

140 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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You could do but it hasn't killed anyone in 40 odd years....

Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
welshjon81 said:
You could do but it hasn't killed anyone in 40 odd years....
That's what I was thinking. I like to think the 3A fuse would do it's job in time as well.

h0b0

7,557 posts

195 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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welshjon81 said:
You could do but it hasn't killed anyone in 40 odd years....
How do you know? It could have been an ebay estate sale.

tex200

438 posts

170 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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Orchid1 said:
That's what I was thinking. I like to think the 3A fuse would do it's job in time as well.
Well if are scared of dying in a house fire then the fuse will most likely do it’s job.

That fuse is not to save you from getting electrocuted.

finlo

3,731 posts

202 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
If it's double insulated you must not earth any of the metal parts, look for a square within a square symbol for confirmation.

Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
finlo said:
If it's double insulated you must not earth any of the metal parts, look for a square within a square symbol for confirmation.
No such symbol i'm afraid, it was made before such a thing became commonplace I reckon.

TonyRPH

12,963 posts

167 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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Orchid1 said:
That's what I was thinking. I like to think the 3A fuse would do it's job in time as well.
If the live wire shorts to the metal work, a 3A fuse won't save you.

It won't even blow.

And if you touch said metal work in the event of live being shorted to it - the fuse still won't blow, but you likely will.

The fuse is there to protect against short circuits in the wiring between Live and Neutral.

If there is no proof of double insulation, it should be rewired with an earth to the metal work.


Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
TonyRPH said:
If the live wire shorts to the metal work, a 3A fuse won't save you.

It won't even blow.

And if you touch said metal work in the event of live being shorted to it - the fuse still won't blow, but you likely will.

The fuse is there to protect against short circuits in the wiring between Live and Neutral.

If there is no proof of double insulation, it should be rewired with an earth to the metal work.
Fair enough, looks like i'll need to find a good electrician then.

Pheo

3,324 posts

201 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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Is your fuseboard equipped with RCDs? In the interim this would help.

Would still re-wire it though. If nothing else it’s all nearly 50 years old...

Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Pheo said:
Is your fuseboard equipped with RCDs? In the interim this would help.

Would still re-wire it though. If nothing else it’s all nearly 50 years old...
No RCD's just regular circuit breakers although could I use it with this in the meantime until it's sorted?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-ARCDKG-RCD-Saf...

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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Orchid1 said:
No RCD's just regular circuit breakers although could I use it with this in the meantime until it's sorted?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-ARCDKG-RCD-Saf...
That'll certainly do as a stopgap.

I'd still be thinking of rewiring it, though I'd just DIY. Get some of the braided cotton cable - £3 or so per metre off the 'bay, or a damn sight more at your local retro-fashionable home shop...

Laplace

1,090 posts

181 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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You'd be quicker and safer just rewiring the thing.

An RCD may save your life if you come in contact with the live unearthed case but it will likely not prevent you from experiencing an electric shock, at whatever the fault current may be.

Once the chassis is earthed and an RCD is present the circuit "should" trip if the case becomes live as there is now a fault path for current to flow.

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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100-500mA is enough to kill You, 3A is plenty spare. Keep safe!

Orchid1

Original Poster:

877 posts

107 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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Thanks. I'll need to find someone who's done lamps like these before. I'm happy to do it myself but I'm guessing there's no earthing lug inside it so one would have to be created and I don't know how I'd go about that.

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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Orchid1 said:
Thanks. I'll need to find someone who's done lamps like these before. I'm happy to do it myself but I'm guessing there's no earthing lug inside it so one would have to be created and I don't know how I'd go about that.
You could try cleaning a bit of the metal with wet/dry paper and soldering it on, but if unsure get an electrician.

TonyRPH

12,963 posts

167 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
To earth to the metal part, there might be a screw somewhere that you could undo, and put a solder tag under it and tighten back up.

Obviously you'd need to solder the earth wire to the solder tag!

Also, use a shake proof washer to ensure it remains secure, and ensure there is electrical continuity throughout the entire metal part structure of the lamp, right up to the bulb holder (which is likely to be brass).


dickymint

24,089 posts

257 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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200Plus Club said:
100-500mA is enough to kill You, 3A is plenty spare. Keep safe!
It’s the volts that jolts but the mills that kills thumbup