Earth wire for plastic back box?

tadaska · Post by **tadaska** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:55 am

I'm replacing a light switch and back box for my hallway. One of them. It's one of those one at each end and it goes on or off regardless of the switch position.

It was a metal back box even though it's a plasterboard partition wall. The entire flat is done with metal boxes, maybe it was a thing back in 70s?

Anyways, there are two earth wires that were attached to the metal box. The plastic box has no earth terminal. Neither does the light switch. What do I do with those earth wires?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:59 am

Join the two together in a choc bloc / wago connector (To maintain continuity) and tuck it out the way.

ahfix · Post by **ahfix** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:05 pm

Are you sure the switch has no earth terminal? Pic?

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:13 pm

tadaska wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:55 am It was a metal back box even though it's a plasterboard partition wall. The entire flat is done with metal boxes, maybe it was a thing back in 70s?

Hum ........ I still use metal back boxes in stud walls today - not only does it mean the switch is firmly fixed in the wall, it also means I don't have to go hunting in a newly plastered wall for a cable or 2