Electrical wiring (strip lighting) question

[NDA]

I'm putting some additional lighting in the garage and note in the instructions with the strip lights (fluorescent tubes) that it says 'this appliance must be earthed'.

In the little connection box within the tube assembly, there's a live and neutral (going to various gubbins within the tube assembly) but the earth connector is connected to nothing - there's no wire that would go from my earth to anywhere. Is this normal?

Thanks

N

[sjj84]

The earth will be connected to the metal body of the strip light.

[ray_von]

Wot he said

[Ganglandboss]

Is it a plastic enclosure or is it a metal one and you have not noticed the little metal tab going into the connector? If it is the former it will not need an earth connection to the case but it must still have somewhere to terminate your earth should you extend the circuit, install a switch wire from it or replace it with a metal bodied fitting in the future.

Dave - qualified spark.

[ray_von]

and him

Edited by ray_von on Wednesday 17th December 17:29

[NDA]

Guys, you're right. There is a tiny tab - I thought that was to hold the little connector in place.

Feel a bit of twot now.

Thanks for the speedy replies. Let there be LIGHT!

[NDA]

PS Dave, just out of interest, if I hadn't earthed the fitting, what happens? Is there a risk of shock or fire? Just curious, I'm not going to do it of course!

[Sciroccology]

NDA said:

Just curious, I'm not going to do it of course!

Of course you're not.

But if you did, you'd die.

[GKP]

Sciroccology said:

NDA said:

Just curious, I'm not going to do it of course!

Of course you're not.

But if you did, you'd die.

I think I can safely say he's going to die no matter what he does with the light.


/morbid.

[Ganglandboss]

NDA said:

PS Dave, just out of interest, if I hadn't earthed the fitting, what happens? Is there a risk of shock or fire? Just curious, I'm not going to do it of course!

The earth (or Circuit Protective Conductor (CPC)) is there to carry fault current should the case become live. A very high current will flow as a result and the protective device (fuse or MCB) will operate and disconnect the supply. If you don't connect it, it may well operate without a problem indefinitely but it sure ain't worth chancing it!

[Deva Link]

Ganglandboss said:

Is it a plastic enclosure or is it a metal one and you have not noticed the little metal tab going into the connector?

If the little metal tab isn't there then you need to make a connection from the connector block to some metal part of the fitting.

[NDA]

Deva Link said:

If the little metal tab isn't there then you need to make a connection from the connector block to some metal part of the fitting.

There is a wee tab there.

Thanks for the replies, I was a bit anxious about firing up the light without checking the answer.