Earthing

[voltage]

Hi all

Looking at changing some fluorescent lights in my kitchen one 4ft and one 5ft. On inspection the 4ft has a pull cord by the side of it which operates this light. The cable 1.5mm twin an earth then goes from the pull chord wired into a plug which is plugged in to a socket for its source of power.

The second light the 5ft has old black sheathing and red and black cable no earth. This light also has no access above celling cable just pokes down through so there is no access at all.
This is not right and needs earthing, my question is can i run an 2.5mm earth cable from the 4ft fluorescent to the 5ft and would this be ok ?
My initial thoughts or ideas are run a earth from consumer unit to light but this would be a bit destructive and not really ideal.
Or can you buy double insulated fluorescents which might be an option ?

Any help or alternative options would be great many thanks.

 

[BlueToBits]

Voltage

Check through your course notes, as a qualified Domestic Installer you should have covered this sort of thing.

If the old black cable feeding the 5' fitting is rubber sheathed, your installation could be over 50 years old, and it would be well worth getting an inspection and test carried out and a report.
You would not be able to 'borrow' an earth from the other fitting, least for the fact that this is connected via a plug (itself an issue) and the earth would be lost if unplugged.
If you are considering running an earth from the CU (front to back of the house?) it may also be worth considering considering rewiring as you would already be a significant way there in labour.
I never tried to buy a DI flu fitting but I have seen 3 or 4' flu fittings that connect directly into a BC lamp holder I doubt there is a 5' version though.

 

[Amp David]

Is it possible to bring an earth into it from a close by lighting point.

 

[voltage]

yeah thanks for the reply. Yeah i knew the install was old as soon as i saw the black sheathed cable. I thought the borrowed earth would be a problem as like you say the plug if unplugged you would lose the earth connection. Yeah the plug being wired in 1.5 is also an issue as soon as i saw it i thought oh dear. Stinks of D.I.Y to a very bad standard.
Like you say an inspection and testing worth doing to see what else is not right.
Many thanks for the info

 

[voltage]

How about if i spur off the double socket into a switched FCU run 1.5 from their to the pull cord switch then onto the fluorescent that would solve the plug issue and make that light comply.
I would be able to then feed an earth 2.5 cable from that fitting to the unearthed one ?

 

[Amp David]

At the end off this will both lights be fed from the same circuit?

If not, then running a CPC from another circuit thats not supplying the light is not a good idea. For instance if the circuit you have borrowed the CPC from is ever disconnected for testing or work you loose the CPC to the fitting.

 

[voltage]

Thanks for the reply David. looks like the only option for the second fitting is to run a earth from consumer unit to fitting then.

 

[Amp David]

Is this problem fitting on the lighting circuit? Is there not a lighting pendant close by.

If you're going to the expense and effort to just get a CPC back to the CU, then you may aswell pull in new feed or loop, as the wiring sounds like its past it anyway.