Sofia Martinez
Grounding a plastic light fixture can be a tricky task. Unlike most other electrical devices, light fixtures can be sold without a grounding connection, and if your home was built before 1985, your wiring may not be compatible with newer light fixtures. In the case of a plastic box, the box itself is not grounded, and all ground connections must be made by connecting the ground wires together. This can be done by attaching the ground wire to a screw through the box or by connecting the ground wire from the supply to the ground wire from the fixture using a twist-on connector.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic light fixture with no ground | Attach the ground wire to the box with a screw |
| Cut the ground wire near the insulation | |
| Attach the ground wire to a screw through the box | |
| Attach the ground wire to a grounding screw | |
| Plastic light fixture with ground | Connect the ground wire from the supply to the ground from the fixture using a twist-on connector |
| Connect the ground wire to the bracket | |
| Connect the ground wire to the fixture ground with a marette |
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What You'll Learn
Grounding a plastic light fixture without a ground wire
Grounding a light fixture is important as it helps to prevent electrical hazards. The ground wire is designed to divert the current in case the live wire comes loose and touches the light fixture, thereby protecting you from electrical shocks.
If your light fixture is made of plastic, it may not have a ground wire. This is because plastic is not conductive and therefore does not require grounding in the same way that metal fixtures do. In fact, LED lights often do not have ground wires as they operate at low voltage and have double insulation, which minimises the need for grounding.
However, if you are installing a plastic light fixture and are concerned about safety, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, check if your electrical box is made of metal. If it is, you can connect the ground wire from the electrical box to the ground wire of the fixture using a ground screw. This will ensure that the fixture is grounded.
If your electrical box is also made of plastic and does not have a ground wire, you can attach the ground wire of the fixture directly to the box using a screw. While this will not provide any additional grounding, it will keep the wire secure and prevent it from moving around.
It is important to note that if you are unsure about how to ground a plastic light fixture, it is always best to consult a professional electrician. They will be able to advise you on the best course of action and ensure that your light fixture is installed safely and correctly.
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Connecting the ground wire to a plastic box
It is pointless to try and ground a plastic box as there is no ground screw hole. However, you can put a wire nut on the end of the ground wire and tuck it far back inside the box to prevent the free end from poking a hot wire. Some people attach the ground wire to a screw through the box, to keep it from flopping around and avoid the off-chance of it shorting across the hot and neutral wires.
If you are connecting the ground wire from the fixture to the ground wire from the supply, you can use a twist-on connector or another approved connection. If your plastic box has a metal strip for ground, you can connect the ground wire to the metal screw receptors. If not, you can connect the ground from the panel to the fixture ground with a marette and twist the fixture ground around the green screw.
It is a good idea to make the ground wire shorter than the power wires. This ensures that if the fixture falls, the ground wire attached to the mount will stop it, rather than stressing the power wires. However, one negative is that if all the stress is on the ground, the ground could become disconnected, leaving a dangling fixture with no ground.
In Canada, boxes seem to have a ground lug built-in, and the ground lug in plastic boxes is attached in a way to self-ground switches through the devices' 6-32 screw.
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Using a twist-on connector to ground a plastic light fixture
Grounding a plastic light fixture can be done using a twist-on connector. This method is suitable when the electrical box is made of plastic and the wire coming from the supply has black (hot), white (neutral), and copper (ground) wires.
Firstly, locate the ground wire from the supply and the ground wire from the fixture. These are typically identified by their green colour or bare appearance.
Next, take your twist-on connector and hold the wires together, ensuring that the stranded wire extends about 1/8-inch beyond the solid wire. Twist on the connector, locking the end of the stranded wire in place to create a secure connection.
In addition to using a twist-on connector, some sources suggest attaching the ground wire to a screw through the box to prevent it from moving around and accidentally touching the hot and neutral wires. This can be done by connecting the ground wire to a grounding screw on the mount, although this is not critical.
It is worth noting that lights can be sold without a grounding connection, which may raise safety concerns. In such cases, one possible solution is to cut the ground wire near the insulation to prevent it from touching anything. However, this approach may not be advisable as it eliminates the protective function provided by a proper ground connection.
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Ensuring the light fixture is compatible with pre-1985 wiring
If your home was built before 1985, it's likely that you have pre-1985 wiring. This is important to know because many new light fixtures cannot be connected to this type of wiring due to the insulation on the wiring not being able to withstand the heat generated by the fixture.
To ensure that your light fixture is compatible with pre-1985 wiring, you should look for a warning label on the fixture that states: "Use wire rated for at least 90 degrees C." If you see this warning, do not purchase or install this fixture.
Instead, opt for a fixture that does not carry this warning. Hanging fixtures, for example, usually don't require newer wiring because they don't heat the wiring as much as fixtures that mount directly against the ceiling.
Additionally, when replacing a light fixture with pre-1985 wiring, it's important to consider the wattage of the bulbs you'll be using. To avoid overheating the wiring, it's recommended to use LED bulbs with a lower wattage.
- Before disconnecting any wires, use a non-contact voltage detector to check all the wires in the junction box for live wires.
- The mounting brackets supplied with your new fixture may not work with your junction box, so it's a good idea to purchase a few different styles of mounting brackets just in case.
- If the fixture mounting screws are too long to fit in the box, you'll need to cut them. A hacksaw will work, but it may make a mess of the threads. Instead, use a wire stripper with built-in bolt cutters.
- When dealing with short wires in the box, pick up some stab-in connectors as they're much easier to use than twist-on nuts in tight spaces.
- If your plastic light fixture does not have a ground wire, you can attach the ground wire from the supply to the ground wire from the fixture using a twist-on connector or another approved connection.
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Grounding a plastic light fixture with a metal strip
If you have a plastic light fixture, you may be wondering how to ground it. While plastic boxes are not grounded, there are ways to ground the fixture by connecting the ground wires together. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it using a metal strip:
First, check if your plastic light fixture has a metal strip for ground. If it does, you can use this to connect to the metal screw receptors. If not, you will need to create your own connection. Ensure you have turned off the power before you begin.
If your fixture doesn't have a metal strip, you will need to create a connection. You can do this by connecting the ground wire from the supply to the ground wire of the fixture. Use a twist-on connector or a wire nut to secure the connection. You can also use stab-in connectors, which are easier to use in tight spaces. Make sure to use a wire of the same gauge as the existing wire.
Now, connect the circuit ground wire to the fixture's ground wire. The fixture's ground wire is usually green or copper. Twist the exposed wire tips together and use a wire nut to secure the connection. Tug on each wire to ensure they are secure.
If you are working with a metal box, you will need to ground it as well. You can do this by connecting a bare copper wire to the box using a ground screw. Ensure the box itself is grounded before proceeding.
Finally, you can also connect the ground wire from the fixture to the grounding screw on the mount. This step is not critical, but it is a good idea for added safety. Make sure this ground wire is shorter than the power wires to reduce stress on the power wires in case the fixture falls.
By following these steps, you can safely ground a plastic light fixture using a metal strip or by creating your own connection. Remember to take the necessary precautions and always ensure your connections are secure.
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Frequently asked questions
If your plastic light fixture does not have a ground wire, it is pointless to try and ground it as plastic is non-conductive. However, you can attach the ground wire to the box with a screw to keep things neat and to have the wire available if you ever replace the fixture.
If your plastic light fixture has a ground wire, you can ground the fixture by connecting the ground wire to the bracket. If there is no bracket, all ground connections must be made by connecting the ground wires together. You can do this by using a twist-on connector or another approved connection.
It is important to ensure that the ground wire is shorter than the power wires. This ensures that if the fixture falls, the ground wire attached to the mount will stop it, rather than stressing the power wires. Additionally, some plastic boxes may have a metal strip for grounding, so it is good to check for this first before proceeding with the methods mentioned above.
