I have a metal pendant light fitting, with plastic arms, which was bought on holiday (impulse buy!). It was supplied with a moulded 2 pin (12mm centre) plug which can be removed as it uses a small plastic covered connector box to connect to the light cable itself. As it is 2 pin can I safely just wire the live and neutral or does it still need an earth? I can't see a double-insulated sign anywhere.

Simon, April 2010

Cheers Peccavi - your advice is much appreciated.

Let there be light indeed........

Simon, April 2010

Double insulated usually refers to hand held appliances - garden strimmer - kitchen coffee grinder or hand blender etc - mains cable has just two wires - your light has just two wires (quite unusual) but it may be that because it's not expected to be hand-operated it falls outside the ClassII double box labelling requirements.

Mains cables are always double insulated unlike for instance bell-cable or speaker wires. I guess you will be cutting the plug and most of the wire off and hiding the wire tail in the ceiling.

I really don't mind answering your questions but you do seem to be worrying a little overmuch. Be aware my answers express no gurantee or warranty - I am singularly unqualified to offer anything other than an opinion.

Good luck... Let there be Light!

Peccavi, April 2010

Thanks Peccavi - it's pretty much as I thought, and agree about Swedish H&S!

I've checked the light for any clear labeling and, apart from the symbols I described, there doesn't appear to be anything that refers to it being double-insulated. Would the plug attachment be the double-insulated part, or would the whole cable length need to be double-insulated?

Simon, April 2010

I once visited a modern private house in Sweden (1990) and was surprised to see overhead lamps having exposed cables strung across the ceiling and running down the wall to a socket - i.e. there did not appear to be any concealed wiring as we have in the UK - power to the wall sockets was concealed but not to the ceiling lights.

Your problem with earth safety will only arise if the light develops a fault at some time during use and the casing becomes live.

Careful examination should tell you if it's double insulated or not - the standard classification for this is ClassII or a double box symbol - wikipedia article here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appliance_classes

If it were my lamp I would fit it anyway - but I'm a bit of a risk taker. I still can't imagine the Swedish safety authorities permitting an unsafe lamp to be sold - any manufacturer or retailer would be severly prosecuted if they passed it on to the public.

Peccavi, April 2010

Thanks for the advice Peccavi. The instructions are useless for this - they just give how to assemble the item and don't include any electrical fitting (except showing to put the plug in an invisible socket somewhere above the light! - ok if there is one, but not for me in uk)

On the lamp itself there are a couple of symbols:
"CE" mark
triangle with "F" inside
another triangle with angular "S" inside

The connector has the following symbols:
"2 x 1.5 1 P"
"10A - 250V"

And finally, the plug has the following symbols:
"5/250"
triangle
"1042"

I've asked a local electrical supplier and they've mentioned the possible need to be double-insulated. Is there a way I can install it and check that no-one will fry when it's used?

Simon, April 2010

If the cable has only two conductors then it's doubtful that the light fitting requires an earth... Assuming you might intend to fit an earth then you will need to fit a cable with three conductors and there will need to be a place - in the fitting - for the earth conductor to attach to.

If there's no earth connector in the fitting and the cable has only two conductors - then it's reasonable to assume that no earth is required.

I would imagine Sweden to be relatively compliant with respect to electrical safety despite there being no appropriate symbol - what to the fitting instructions say?

Peccavi, April 2010

That's what's confusing me - to earth or not to earth...
I have identified live and neutral wires in cable, but have nowhere to put an earth.

The ceiling concealer is aluminium, but has a plastic buffer between this and the metal body of the light. The insulated cable continues down this to the metal bulb holder/arm fitting.

Simon, April 2010

If it is made of metal and doesn't have a double insulated symbol you should assume it needs earthing.

Under certain circumstances it may not, but it's difficult to visualise the fitting without actually seeing it - all the metal parts may be sufficiently well insulated.
Is there an earthing point on the metal casing somewhere?

Adam, April 2010