No earth connection in a light fitting (ceiling rose)

[alex_rsa]

Wife has just bought a light fitting that requires an earth (it is a metal fitting) and I realised the ceiling light she wants to replace is the only one in the house without an earth at the ceiling rose or switch (the house was rewired 10 years ago and they did not use cable with an earth wire for the wiring on the stairs).

Can I run an earth to the ceiling rose from a known good earth in one of the other light fittings, and does the switch need to be earthed as well (plastic switch so does not need one now)?

We had a new consumer board fitted a few months ago and the electrian did note the lack of earth in these fittings.

Thanks

Alex

[Ganglandboss]

Without seeing it myself, it is impossible to advise the best way to sort this. It is worrying that the house was rewired only 10 years ago and they didn't run a protective conductor. I think you need to get a competent electrician to inspect it and advise.

[vdp1]

Cant believe they used a cable without an earth only 10 years ago, what is it, twin flex? Are you sure the earth has not been snipped out of them. Although I have seen a piece of twin and earth used for a two way lighting circuit with the earth sleeved up as a live. Can you post a picture of it.

Maybe that part of the installation was not rewired as it was too awkward/lazy to do for some reason.

[cpas]

You may find that the earth wire is there but has just been snipped short to get it out of the way. Try stripping some of the outer insulation back and see if it's there.

[alex_rsa]

The wiring to the switch is only twin core (black and red with no cut-off earth). But this is the switch for the stairs light so there is another switch downstairs so they may have "bodged" it when re-wiring. The rest of the switches have twin-and-earth but most of the earths have been cut back.

I will check the wiring by the ceiling rose to see if there is a earth in the cable.

This was checked by an electrian and was deemed OK as long as I did not use metal switches or fittings, unfortunately that does not agree with my wifes plans.

Alex

[jason s4]

alex_rsa said:

This was checked by an electrian and was deemed OK as long as I did not use metal switches or fittings...

Alex

Did he give you a signed certificate stating that it was 'ok'?