Hi all,
we are having a discussion in the office and wanted your thoughts on the subject. If you have a metal conduit fitted between two plastic light fittings, the circuit is wired in singles (including a separate CPC), is there a requirement to earth the metal conduit?
Is this a real issue, or just an office debate?
What the lamp fittings are made of, even if they are double-insulated, is irrelevant. The risk arises from the cables passing through the conduit.
Hi Chris, It is a real issue, we are installing earths to the ends of the conduits hence why it started the discussion. they area GRP linear fittings the span is approx 1m of conduit at around 3m ceiling height
Ross has summed up the Regs very well. Mind you, I struggle to see how a fault could arise within the conduit unless mice could find their way in.
Would PVC conduit not be simpler?
Hello Chris:
Your question that PVC conduit would be simpler -- is the right answer and cheaper too.
Over here in the US we have flat rectangular PVC conduit
Peter Brooks
It would be if the conduit wasn't already there. We are simply swapping lights over on an existing installation. The original conduits were not earthed and we connecting fly leads via the lock nuts to the terminal of the fittings. The question was raised in the office weather there was a requirement to do so, but as all here have agreed with the majority of us. It has validated what we are doing. Thanks all!
Hello Mark:
Just for my education "why" and "what" are you swapping the office lights from - to.
Peter Brooks
The works are in a carpark. Swapping fluorescent linear fittings for LED. The discussion was in the office.
The works are in a carpark. Swapping fluorescent linear fittings for LED. The discussion was in the office.
Hello Mark:
So you were talking about metal Troffers with plastic lens in effectively an outside but covered area.
As a frame of reference I use troffers in my home ,in work areas (family room, kitchen etc) and changed them over from Fluorescent to LED about 5 years ago.
The LED's are on magnetic stripes and the AC/DC Converter is also mounted on a magnetic strip. This allows one to magnetically attach to the metal in the troffer, without any screws.
The new version of the magnetic LED kit which I recently purchased now allows one to switch lighting intensity and color.
Regarding the carpark -- I hope you are not parking EV cars in the closed area"
Peter Brooks
Palm Bay FL
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