Double insulated wall light?

Treat it as class 1, earth it.

NT

or upgrade it to class 2

NT

They're wall lights, not relics!

That's what I've done. I would've returned them for a refund, but I couldn't face the traipsing around shops with 'er indoors to find alternatives.

Incidentally a ceiling light fitting in the same range and which has very similar internals, is described as "Class 1, must be earthed" and

Methinks a call to the vendor's[1] customer relations department would be in order.

Oh dear.

One wouldn't normally equate them with cheap tat.

Owain

"Never knowingly under-insulated" ?

Methinks a call to trading standards would be more likely to get something done...

I've just called JL and was asked to email the details, order number, photo etc.

If John Lewis lives up to its reputation for responsive customer service I'd expect it to be taken very seriously and to hear from them soon what action they'll take.

Otherwise Trading Standards will be hearing about it.

No a friend got a brass light switch which seemed to be very suspect recently, as there seemed to be every possibility of either the earth coming off of a naff attached connection with a loose rivet, and not enough insulation of the live wire. OK so youearth the box its in, but that might not always be metal. Brian

Some people do find that awful tingle you get on metal parts of double insulated gear very offputting. I find this sort of thing a lot on hi fi stuff these days. Why don't they use an earth any more? Brian

I can see that approach would offer better protection than no earth connection at all, and I did consider it.

However, in a fault situation you'd need to detach the unit from its wall fixing in order to investigate, hence detaching the earth connection. The dangling bare live wire that could be lurking behind may then touch the metal casing you are holding with shocking consequences. The jolt may not be lethal, but the fall from the ladder might be painful or worse.

Well, you would have turned the circuit off before taking things apart?

Yes. I'd switch off at the light switch and open the lighting circuit breaker. I'd also check for voltage on the terminals before touching 'em, which I'd only be able to do once the unit is detached from its wall fixing that would be providing the protective earth...

...

When I went around international medical exhibitions, there were overseas manufacturers who would happily supply equipment with a CE mark, but who, when questioned, obviously had no idea what that implied or entailed. I doubt that electrical goods are any different.

I guess it's simply to avoid hum loops.

The wall lights are of Chinese manufacture but as they're packaged and offered as John Lewis branded products, I'd expect JL is responsible for quality issues IMO.

Interestingly the ceiling light fitting in the same range is of similar construction but is designated Class 1, has a protective earth connection and the instructions state "must be earthed".

They are undoubtedly responsible in law, but that doesn't mean they haven't simply relied upon their supplier following the correct procedures.

which is either a bit naive or knowing the results well enough, choosing that cheaper option.

nt

A few years ago, I bought some theatre lights. One of them, looking ever so slightly different from the others, failed a PAT test because the earth pin of the moulded-on plug had no connection with the metal work of the fixture.