Down light earthing

[Ponty Massive]

Lately I've been finding a lot of down lights which have no earth. It seems people are in the habit of terminating the live and neutral and just putting the CPC into a connector block and not attaching to the body of the light.

However I've also seen some lights with no earth terminal, not the fire rated ones but the cheap type with just the lamp holder part.

How do you earth these?

 

[Guitarist]

Are you sure they are not double-insulated? Just because they have a metal body does not mean they need earthing.

 

[Ponty Massive]

Didn't see any double insulated symbol on the fittings?

 

[DurhamSparky]

probably saved a few quid on the etching or pressing process to keep price below 50p

 

[telectrix]

a lot of them don't require an earth. i generally just blank terminate the cpc, but make sure it's connected through the cables.

 

[Ponty Massive]

a lot of them don't require an earth. i generally just blank terminate the cpc, but make sure it's connected through the cables.

What happens if they come into contact with a live? I always thought unless it has a double insulation symbol on it, it should be earthed?

 

[DurhamSparky]

out of sight out of mind...!!! its high up so its safe!! lol

 

[Ponty Massive]

So how would you code it on an EICR?

 

[cbw]

It will be class 2 as allready mentioned.........fingers crossed!!??

 

[DurhamSparky]

just dont touch it!!

lol..!

 

[Ponty Massive]

Just seems strange. How can it be class 2 if it's metal without an insulated case?

 

[plugsandsparks]

About 7 years ago i fitted out a commercial with loads of DI downlighters. about 6 months later they had an outfit do a PIR. Guess what, they gave my downlighters a code 1 for no earth. When i pulled one down to show the client they were DI - they passed that on to the outfit and it all went quiet. These were brushed stainless from memory. Nowadays it is very common to find these, basically the live parts are protected from the metal parts by at least two levels of insulation to who cares what its made from, and yes there is no provision to terminate the cpc and the instructions specifically state not to attempt to connect the cpc to it.

 

[Sparky_Ben]

just to add a quick question, what is the code for suitable 3-core flex used on the downlighters? this flex obviously being from the loop in, loop out junction only to the fitting its self,

i know it needs to be heat resistant/heat proof just ensuring i order the correct type