have a look at this

[VoltzElectrical]

I have been asked to rewire this foreign bought lamp, or at least assess it for the safe possibility of doing so.

Now it was supplied with a two pin plug and flex and the lampholder is plastic. The metal body is obviously unearthed.

I was going to re flex it in 3 core and earth the body, but on closer inspection the contacts look dangerous to me.

I can fit my pinky finger down in there and touch the live terminal.

My opinion is leave the thing unflexed and let them use it as an ornament only as to me it's as bad a reversed polarity on a metal edison screw lampholder. (which by the way the father of the owner has recently had a belt off I have just found out so I will be looking to go over and fix that too!)

Cheers.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Dunno whether what Voltz is on about is difficult for us to see in the pics. It looks to me like you might still be able to touch both the contacts even with a lamp screwed in but there's no perspective so I can't really tell. Not a huge deal though.

When rewiring I would be tempted to make it double insulated and take the flex sheath right into the holder, like most metal lamps these days. Seems to be a grommet at the exit point already.

As for BC lampholders with self-isolating contact plungers, I remember when Crabtree came out with the safety range, must have been late 1980s, and I fitted them all round the house. I think they were the first with this feature, not sure if there are others now because I never install lampholders. They weren't very reliable, even after a couple of years some started going intermittent and had to be replaced. Presumably they improved them.

do you mean by this that when a lamp is out of the fitting, that the contacts are not live, that the live contact is only made when the lamp is inserted and twist locked?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

They were energised when the edge of the lamp cap depressed two plastic actuators just inside the body of the holder. IIRC you can press the contacts themselves down without them becoming live. I'm not sure if the current Crabtree Safety Lampholder works exactly the same way or whether other makes are out there, because I don't do domestic installs and it must be a decade since I fitted a BC holder.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

They were energised when the edge of the lamp cap depressed two plastic actuators just inside the body of the holder. IIRC you can press the contacts themselves down without them becoming live. I'm not sure if the current Crabtree Safety Lampholder works exactly the same way or whether other makes are out there, because I don't do domestic installs and it must be a decade since I fitted a BC holder.

Thanks a lot Lucien,
I will see if i can find a suitably safe lampholder for this fitting for a family member, modify it and return it for continued use!

Cheers.

 

[guest119]

Thanks a lot Lucien,
I will see if i can find a suitably safe lampholder for this fitting for a family member, modify it and return it for continued use!

Cheers.

As per post 15 :smug:

 

[Guest55]

glad to see all the animosity has subsided........
voltz got some useful info for his troubles......
and miraculously didnt get a taste of the banstick for his tourettes outburst lol.

just remember kids its just another day in the office.

;-)

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Thanks, why couldn't you have just put that in the beginning! Now I just have to find one that fits!

because that would be just too easy....
not to mention dull..
i must say..you really did put a smile on my face with that tantrum....lol...

 

[Silly Sausage]

glad to see all the animosity has subsided........
voltz got some useful info for his troubles......
and miraculously didnt get a taste of the banstick for his tourettes outburst lol.

just remember kids its just another day in the office.

;-)

There was some argy bargy on Friday night between two regulars, hilarious!
I seem to remember that there are some Mod vacancies going since a few dodgy characters got promoted to Admin. I'm going to apply.

 

[ackbarthestar]

Umm.....

Lol...... Looks like some of you need to do a 5 day part P course on how to wire up lamp holders - :crowngrin:
:29:

I'll be off now.....

 

[Marvo]

......
and miraculously didnt get a taste of the banstick for his tourettes outburst lol.

I was feeling sorry for Voltz after the vultures started circling plus his tourettes outburst had me in tears laughing so he got a pass on this occasion

 

[Clive P]

Hi,

Just to get back on thread, I only use safety lamp holders, wouldn't use anything else.

Regards.

 

[UNG]

i only had in mind that E/s fitting lampholders had to have the line connected to the pin, not the screw, therefore, by omission, that the pin was deemed to be inaccessible. Hence my post.

Once a lamp is inserted the the lampholder pins / contacts are inaccessible so problem solved fit a lamp and turn it on and it will provide light as intended

No matter how safe you try to make something there will always be a smart rear end who has to defeat the safety features just to check they work