Only a live and neutral going to 240 light fitting?

[timski]

Hi Guys,

When I was doing some work on my van I managed to break the light fitting that works off the hook-up. I discarded that and I've finally got round to buying a new light fitting but it says it must be attached to an earth and there is a connector block inside the fitting which has connections for live, neutral and earth.

There is only a live and a neutral fed to the light fitting though? I'm pretty sure there was only a live and neutral when I removed the old fitting but can't be sure. I couldn't feel any other cable lurking behind the wooden casing where the cables come through and the wire itself only has 2 cables (not sure of the proper terminology - 2 core?). Is that normal?

LiveNeutral.jpg

Should I connect a wire to the earth connection in the light fitting, cover it with earth sheath and feed it back through where the live and neutral are coming through and attach it to the shell of the van? Where would be a suitable place? The only metal I can access in that area is the tin that remains of the old roof, i.e. just above where the gutter would be and where the high-top starts, and some of the frame. The picture below might make it more obvious

whereItIs.jpg

Thanks,
Tim.

[1664]

The original light fitting was probably what is known as Class II which does not require an earth.

You could use the bodywork as an earth but only if the mains hook up earth is attached to the bodywork too; some conversions attached it, some didn't. Earth from hook up to bodywork should be 4mm minimum, fixed to a substantial/welded van section rather than some old flappy nib rivetted on and be electrically and mechanically robust. I'm assuming the original circuit breaker is suitably sized as there was a light there in the first place. If you're in any doubt get an electrician to do it, it's no different to domestic electrics really. They might balk at using the bodywork as an earth but it's no different to using metal conduit or trunking as an earth.

Or you can run a separate earth cable from the hook up to it or replace the 2 core cable with 3 core flex, up to you.

Or fit another Class II light fitting of course

[Jeff J]

Best way to do it is get class 2 fitting, but you should be able to get an earth from that socket next to the wire easily enough.

[timski]

Hi Guys,

I think the old light fitting was a class 2 as you say. I hadn't heard of class 2 fittings before but it was a plastic light.

Best way to do it is get class 2 fitting, but you should be able to get an earth from that socket next to the wire easily enough.

Jeff, do you mean I could run a cable from the earth connection in the light fitting into the earth connection of the plug socket? The consumer unit is definitely earthed. There is an earth running down through the rear cabinet floor and connecting to the chassis as far as I can tell.

Thanks,
Tim.

[1664]

Didn't notice the second picture with the adjacent accessories yep,, come off there like Jeffsaid