Do I Connect Clean Earth On Metal Switched Socket

[Mark Huddleston]

I’m replacing old plastic light switches and sockets for metal ones. I’ve gone with BG Nexus range but I’m a little confused as to whether or not I need to connect a wire to the clean earth connection. Looking at the wiring diagram it is not used. I know I need to run a fly lead from the switch to the back box but looking at the diagram there are two earth wires leaving the earth socket. One will go to the back box but where does the other one go to?
I’ve also read on a forum that I should run a link between the clean earth and the earth socket.....or do I just leave it empty.
Thanks in advance.

 

[westward10]

You only need to use one of the earth terminals on the sockets. For the light switches connect an earth to the front plate.

 

[MDJ]

Westward is correct, if you look at the earthing terminals, they are actually linked and in theory one terminal

 

[Mark Huddleston]

You only need to use one of the earth terminals on the sockets. For the light switches connect an earth to the front plate.

Yeah I've done the light switches following advice on here but I've never heard of a functional and clean earth before. From reading it would seem that the clean earth is only for computer equipment??

 

[Mark Huddleston]

Then looking at the diagram for the double sockets has me more confused. The pic on the right I can understand but the one on the left is baffling. I know the 2 earths are linked with a bar so effectively one but can someone explain what the functional earth is on the left please

 

[Deleted member 26818]

You need to bin those instructions.
To start with, there is no Regulation 607.
A clean earth is nothing to do with computers, it’s something to do with audio/visual equipment.
Functional earth is for equipment that requires a connection to earth in order to function.

 

[MDJ]

The second terminal is there so you can install extra CPCs for computer equipment, lots of carp about this online, but basically in your case forget all about it and connect your CPC to either terminal

 

[MDJ]

Like spinlondons reply, and agree hense my comment about carp online

 

[westward10]

It is for circuits with high inherent leakage to earth and where the loss of an earth to a socket could create a hazard. For a ring final circuit which incorporates two cpcs (circuit protective conductor or earth) you connect one into each so the theory being both would have to fail for you to lose the earth. Nothing to concern you.

 

[buzzlightyear]

FFS ,beaten to it by big London, me thought was see in 607 reg .
must be a reg in china .

 

[Mark Huddleston]

OK thanks everyone. So just to confirm I conect both the CPCs from the wiring circuit into the standard earth and I could run the fly lead from the back box into either the same terminal, so all earth cables are together, or run it into the extra "clean" earth terminal. Basically as long as all the earths are connected to either/both terminals I'll be OK?

 

[buzzlightyear]

did you get the face plates from screwed fix ?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I have seen some FCUs, where there are two Earth terminals, which were not connected together.
I just figured they were faulty, but apparently they are used for clean earths.
One terminal is a parking terminal for the CPC, and the other connects to the load side earth so you can run a separate clean earth.

 

[Mark Huddleston]

did you get the face plates from screwed fix ?

Even worse.....B & Q...but the BG nexus range was recommended from a member on here when I was looking at light switches so I have just started buying the sockets to match as I work round the house

 

[Mark Huddleston]

I have seen some FCUs, where there are two Earth terminals, which were not connected together.
I just figured they were faulty, but apparently they are used for clean earths.
One terminal is a parking terminal for the CPC, and the other connects to the load side earth so you can run a separate clean earth.

I'm sorry but you've lost me there......

 

[buzzlightyear]

but the BG nexus range was recommended from a member on here

who

LOL.

 

[Mark Huddleston]

The second terminal is there so you can install extra CPCs for computer equipment, lots of carp about this online, but basically in your case forget all about it and connect your CPC to either terminal

....and the fly lead to earth the back box? Can I use any terminal for that?

 

[Mark Huddleston]

The second terminal is there so you can install extra CPCs for computer equipment, lots of carp about this online, but basically in your case forget all about it and connect your CPC to either terminal

....and the fly lead to earth the back box? Can I use any terminal for that?

 

[buzzlightyear]

and the fly lead to earth the back box? Can I use any terminal for that?

and the fly lead to earth the back box? Can I use any terminal for that

repeat please .

 

[MDJ]

....and the fly lead to earth the back box? Can I use any terminal for that?

Well obviously as they are linked together

 

[buzzlightyear]

and the fly lead to earth the back box? Can I use any terminal for that

yes if you want .

 

[buzzlightyear]

miss the dog MDJ .

LOL.

 

[MDJ]

miss the dog MDJ .

LOL.

Was thinking that myself lol

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I'm sorry but you've lost me there......

I can only explain it in relation to situations I have experienced.
Say you have an amplifier which is picking up earth hum.
Disconnecting from earth will get rid of the earth hum, but there will be no fault protection.
So if you then run an earth conductor direct from the amplifier to the main earth, you will bypass all the hum producing equipment.
This is called a clean earth.
Whether it works or not, I do not know.

 

[Mark Huddleston]

Apologies for maybe asking what would seem like daft questions. I am your average DIYer. Forums like this are great for me to learn from. Thanks for your input peeps.