Class 1 appliance with no exposed metal work to connect test lead too

Arran Cameron:

Sparkingchip: More interestingly I have identical downlights in my ceiling, some are Class I with an earth and some are class II, when I enquired why the manufacturer told me that they make them up to customers specifications, so the Class depends on what the customer asked for; they could all be Class II, but some customers prefer to see them earthed, so they add an earth fly lead and terminal if requested and I had ended up with a mixed batch.

There is an unofficial class 1.5. This is technically a class 2 but the earth conductor of the mains cable is connected to a metal stud attached to a plastic casing. The sole purpose of the metal stud is to convert a class 2 appliance into a class 1 appliance for electrical safety testing.


A certain medical device manufacturer sells class 1.5 equipment in the UK and class 2 equipment in Continental Europe. If customers request, then they can buy the opposite type.

Oh wow. Now we know we in the UK like making problems for ourselves - a hardware workaround to a purely administrative problem so we can perform an earth continuity test for an earth it does not need.

Arran Cameron:

Sparkingchip: More interestingly I have identical downlights in my ceiling, some are Class I with an earth and some are class II, when I enquired why the manufacturer told me that they make them up to customers specifications, so the Class depends on what the customer asked for; they could all be Class II, but some customers prefer to see them earthed, so they add an earth fly lead and terminal if requested and I had ended up with a mixed batch.

There is an unofficial class 1.5. This is technically a class 2 but the earth conductor of the mains cable is connected to a metal stud attached to a plastic casing. The sole purpose of the metal stud is to convert a class 2 appliance into a class 1 appliance for electrical safety testing.


A certain medical device manufacturer sells class 1.5 equipment in the UK and class 2 equipment in Continental Europe. If customers request, then they can buy the opposite type.

Oh wow. Now we know we in the UK like making problems for ourselves - a hardware workaround to a purely administrative problem so we can perform an earth continuity test for an earth it does not need.