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Hi,
I build lamps from copper piping and various other bits and bobs (including the occasional trumpet!!).
The lamps are made from sections of copper pipe connected to elbow joints and other copper plumbing connectors. The lamp terminates at a brass lampholder at one end and a plastic clamp at the other to prevent the cable being pulled through the lamp.
I use 3 core cable rated at 3amp (I think - this is supplied read-made by a lamp parts supply company and complies with regs). It has an in-line on/off switch and a fused plug at the end. Each cable is sheathed in plastic and there is an outer sheathing covering all 3 cables i.e. 2 layers of plastic sheathing. I connect the other end to a brass lampholder which has a screw down earth terminal in a ceramic housing.
The copper pipe lengths and connectors are joined using a copper glue, rather than solder. This is done for speed, tidiness and to avoid the risk of melting the inner cable by brazing.
The issue that concerns me is that this glue is not electrically conductive, and so the body of the lamp does not have earth continuity end to end. It finishes at the first glued join.
Does this matter?
There is no chaffing risk to the inner cabling as it is firmly held at each end and there are 2 layers of plastic protecting the wires, with no break in the wiring inside the lamp. So no chance as far as I can see of an exposed wire touching the lamp body. And the lampholder is earthed so no issues from there to the first joint.
I worry because a PAT tester says 'it's a grey area', whereas another says it's fine.
Thoughts?
And thanks in advance.
Julian
I build lamps from copper piping and various other bits and bobs (including the occasional trumpet!!).
The lamps are made from sections of copper pipe connected to elbow joints and other copper plumbing connectors. The lamp terminates at a brass lampholder at one end and a plastic clamp at the other to prevent the cable being pulled through the lamp.
I use 3 core cable rated at 3amp (I think - this is supplied read-made by a lamp parts supply company and complies with regs). It has an in-line on/off switch and a fused plug at the end. Each cable is sheathed in plastic and there is an outer sheathing covering all 3 cables i.e. 2 layers of plastic sheathing. I connect the other end to a brass lampholder which has a screw down earth terminal in a ceramic housing.
The copper pipe lengths and connectors are joined using a copper glue, rather than solder. This is done for speed, tidiness and to avoid the risk of melting the inner cable by brazing.
The issue that concerns me is that this glue is not electrically conductive, and so the body of the lamp does not have earth continuity end to end. It finishes at the first glued join.
Does this matter?
There is no chaffing risk to the inner cabling as it is firmly held at each end and there are 2 layers of plastic protecting the wires, with no break in the wiring inside the lamp. So no chance as far as I can see of an exposed wire touching the lamp body. And the lampholder is earthed so no issues from there to the first joint.
I worry because a PAT tester says 'it's a grey area', whereas another says it's fine.
Thoughts?
And thanks in advance.
Julian