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Hi, just wondering if anyone can help

I've bought two metal freestanding lamps without any wiring.

I nearly bought an electrical cable for lights with a live and neutral wire (which seemed to be the only ones that would connect to a normal bulb holder)

However, I saw another lighting cable that had an earth wire in it.

Now I'm confused, do I need to have an earth wire for these lamps, and if so, how do I do it, given that the bulb holders only seem to have 2 connection points.

Hope you can help

Thanks

the bulb holder only needs live & neutral, connect either wire to either hole.

earthing will depend upon the construction of the lamp. some will need earthing, some wont. does teh lamp have two squares one inside the other, on the label indicating double insulated, this doesn't need an earth.

what do the instructions with lamp say about earthing?

Firstly I am no sparks, but I have done this

I changed the bulb holders for metal ones and then I could attach the earth wire

Thanks to both of you for replying

The whole lamp is made of cast iron, there isn't a bit of plastic or any insulation on it.

I got it in Germany so there are no instructions.

I didn't realise that the metal bulbholders took 3 wires, however would a metal holder in direct contact with the metal lamp not make for even more chance of getting a shock - or would the earth wire negate that ?

Sorry if I'm sounding a bit thick

Many thanks

it all depends upon the construction of the lamp... german standards are different from ours.

as with the metal bulb holder a earth connection point is supplied.

I'm thinking you will have to use a 3 core wire, and find a way of connecting the earth to the metal internally.

One of the sparks may even say you cant use it at all here, as doesn't met our regulations.

This is why all lamps sold in the uk have a pre wired flex, to ensure is earthed correctly if need be.

Can you post a picture of the lamp here then we can advise you better. As Hinton heating says you will need to use a 3 core flex, and will probably have to change the lampholder for one with an earth terminal if it is a normal BC or ES lampholder. If its another sort of lamp then will have to change my advice.

Nick

Here's a picture of the lamp, I'm beginning to wish I'd never bought the flipping thing

OK, so I obviously screwed that up as well, how on earth do I post a picture on this site ?

I'm obviously not doing very well today, medaybe i should just go back to bed

Maybe the picture size was too big for the site, try using photobucket or similiar to size the picture then post it, or send it to and Chez will re-size the pic for you and post it.

Nick