How To Earth Two Way Lighting On PVC?

[babySparkie]

Hi, need some advice on earthing PVC lighting switches. I am doing an assignment (unit 4, 2330) and normally in the past, I connected the earth from the CCU to the first lighting switch, then with a connector block to the second lighting switch (screwed into the wall) then from second switch with an earth running to the ceiling rose.

I asked my tutor and he said, I can use connector blocks through the first, second switch then leading it into the ceiling rose (without screwing the earth into the wall). He said, pvc doesn't need to be earth and the only reason to have earth in pvc lighting switch is for testing.

Can anyone confirm this connector block method please? And give me advice how to go about it. Thanks

 

[Adam W]

Does your tutor mean the connector in the backbox? The earth should be connected there in case someone decides in the future to replace a plastic switch with a metal one.
The earth should loop around to the rest of the lighting circuits for the same reason.

 

[babySparkie]

Novus, thanks for replying. Nope, he said connnect blocks. The surface box we are using don't have the new connectors on back box...It the plain old ones? Any advice on how to wire the earth in those? Thanks

 

[johnboy6083]

just chock block them then if there is no facility for earthing. there is a regulation stating that every point in a circuit must have a CPC but i cant remember it. also i find it helpful if the CPC follows the same route as the live and neutral in conduit installs. it makes it easier for testing and to add to the circuit at a later date

 

[babySparkie]

Thanks Guys!

 

[Spudnik]

CPC's should be present in all 240V cables.

 

[Engineer54]

Don't understand Why the manufacturers have stopped providing an earthing terminal in plastic switch boxes, when they know that a CPC will be present an needs a terminal to connect too!!!

 

[Spudnik]

Don't understand Why the manufacturers have stopped providing an earthing terminal in plastic switch boxes, when they know that a CPC will be present an needs a terminal to connect too!!!

That would be down to costs....

 

[Adam W]

That sounds somewhat spurious to me - great so they save a couple of pence on not attaching a connector, so you have to fork out for connector block instead, which IMO looks less professional, and can make it difficult to screw the plate back.

 

[Des 56]

great so they save a couple of pence on not attaching a connector, so you have to fork out for connector block instead, .

Perhaps it helps with the shipping costs from those countries that manufacture what we used to make

I wonder why we dont manufacture as much as we used too
Perhaps we ought to have shoddy lessons to compete with them

 

[Engineer54]

If these terminal points were there before, there must have been a reason why they were provided, ...eg complying with a standard or directive or similar. ....Likewise there must be a reason why they now don't provide this facility.

 

[malcolmsanford]

That sounds somewhat spurious to me - great so they save a couple of pence on not attaching a connector, so you have to fork out for connector block instead, which IMO looks less professional, and can make it difficult to screw the plate back.

If there was just the one CPC I use to fit an insulated red crimp and if there were a couple a blue one. Like Novus if there was a samll 16mm box fitted then a block would be fiddly.