earthing brass light

[plasticpigeon]

I just bought a cheap but attractive reproduction brass ceiling light. I was surprised that it only has connections for a live and neutral despite being made of brass. However there is a small black plastic cylinder fixed inside which has an earth wire coming out of it and connecting to the brass casing, but no provision for an earth in. What is this?? Is it dangerous??? I have connected it up and it works and doesn't trip the consume unit.

 

[Feltwell]

A picture of the black plastic cylinder & earth wire would be help us to comment.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Yes I did think about that as I was putting it up! Are there any systems that connect earth to the neutral within the wiring of the light? Could the black thing be a diode. I can only describe it as a black cylinder which I think had an internal thread that was fixed to the top of the hook on the inside of the rose. there was a live and neutral in and an obvious earth out that used a spade connector to attach to a tab on the inside of the rose.There didn't look to be any cut wires. very strange as it would be just as easy to attach an earth wire from the main circuit to the tab.

 

[Lime]

Are there any systems that connect earth to the neutral within the wiring of the light?

No, none whatever.

Could the black thing be a diode.

Highly unlikely.

If there is an earth connection within the light it needs to be connected to the supply cable earth.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think I shall take it down and connect an earth wire from supply to the tab on the inside of the rose. How annoying. Is there such a thing as a straightforward job?

 

[Feltwell]

Is there such a thing as a straightforward job?

Do you REALLY need to ask that PP? :lol:

The Feltwell rules for how long a job will take:-

1) Analyse the job and decide how long each part will take, in a logical and scientific fashion
2) Treble the total for no logical reason whatsoever
3) Double that again if you have young kids
4) Add a bit more for going and getting the bits you thought you had but can't find
5) Add a bit more for tea and Kit Kat breaks
6) Double the total again if any part of the job relies on the weather being good.