Earthing a T5 Fluorescent Fitting

[Vital Spark]

I have a row of fluorescent fittings under the kitchen wall cupboards - all fed from a fused spur at one end. One of the fittings (near the end of the run) has failed and I've bought a replacement but unlike the existing fittings, the replacement requires an earth connection. The existing fittings are all linked by two core wire and plugs from fitting to fitting so putting in three core all the way along from the fused spur would be a bit of a pain. On the other hand the new fitting will be situated near the extractor hood for the cooker, which has an earth connection. Would it be in order to leave in the two core all the way along and simply add a single core earth wire from the earth on the hood (less than a metre)?

The earth connection to the T5 appears to be needed for kicking the startup (metal band along the length of the tube) rather than for safety purposes because the fitting is largely plastic.

 

[Flanders]

You would be beter off changing the first light near the spur for the new one and using that fitting to replace the faulty one, I would not sugest using the earth from the extractor.

 

[suffolkspark]

Why not source a direct replacement for the failed fitting or replace with a similar double insulated model

 

[Vital Spark]

You would be beter off changing the first light near the spur for the new one and using that fitting to replace the faulty one, I would not sugest using the earth from the extractor.

Unfortunately the fittings are all different sizes so can't do a swop - I did think about that!

 

[Vital Spark]

Why not source a direct replacement for the failed fitting or replace with a similar double insulated model

I've already bought the replacement unfortunately - didn't think to check!

 

[Vital Spark]

You would be beter off changing the first light near the spur for the new one and using that fitting to replace the faulty one, I would not sugest using the earth from the extractor.

Any particular reason why using the extractor earth would be a no-no? They are both fed by fused spurs from the same ring.

 

[davesparks]

I've already bought the replacement unfortunately - didn't think to check!

So return it to where you got it from.

 

[Vital Spark]

So return it to where you got it from.

Maybe will. Shame really though because it's a top quality fitting - far better than the existing stuff!

 

[123]

Maybe will. Shame really though because it's a top quality fitting - far better than the existing stuff!

It's dated, everything like this is LED now.

 

[Vital Spark]

It's dated, everything like this is LED now.

I know - ideally I would have ripped the whole lot out and replaced with LED but the rest are OK and I've got a collection of spare tubes so it seemed the quickest solution. They're not that easy to source though, especially in the small sizes.

 

[Flanders]

Any particular reason why using the extractor earth would be a no-no? They are both fed by fused spurs from the same ring.

Just a bit of a bodge , The problem with using the extractor earth is that if at some point someone comes along and disconnected the extractor they may remove the earth to the light at the same time. If this is for your own house where know one else is going to touch the electrics then I guess it would be OK , Maybe put a label on the new earth cable identifying what its for for future reference.