Basic Lighting question for the sparkies

[Ultraviolet]

All

Just replacing my plastic light switches with metal ones. The metal terminal box in the wall is earthed. The new metal front plates connect to the metal terminal box via metal screws. Is it necessary to also connect the earth terminal on the front plate to the earth terminal in the terminal box? Surely the earth connection is made via the screws?

Can anyone confirm before I electrocute someone in my family!

cheers,

UV

[cyb]

I didn't connect the earth terminal for the face plates when I changed any of mine on any that screwed into an earthed metal box, only the ones that went into plastic boxes.

Obviously someone will be along to advise that I'm sitting on a time bomb where everyone will be electrocuted to death very painfully and my property will burn to the ground in an instant, but hey

[Gingerbread Man]

I would have thought that it was good practice to earth the faceplate and the back box together. If anyone ever has the faceplate off for maintenance or any reason (painting/ wallpapering the wall!?), then the faceplate is still earthed.

[Plotloss]

You should earth them...

[Meeja]

Plotloss said:

You should earth them...

This.

For an extra minute per fitting, it will be time well spent.

[Paulbav]

Yes they should defiantly be earthed.

[richelli]

You earth the front plate as well. If you remove the two screws and pull the switch away from the backing plate for any reason then you have no earth. If while you were pulling the switch forward the live wire came out of the terminal and touched the front plate which is in your hand, you would have no earth as the extra protection. Although your body may make a good earth its self. Which would be no good to you lol.

[Ultraviolet]

Thanks all

have now overcome my pathological laziness and earthed them... also having a nightmare with some of the sockets which seem to require 3-4 cables into some of the terminal sockets on the backplate. Joy.

UV

[Meeja]

Ultraviolet said:

Thanks all

have now overcome my pathological laziness and earthed them... also having a nightmare with some of the sockets which seem to require 3-4 cables into some of the terminal sockets on the backplate. Joy.

UV

Three I can understand..... ring in, ring out and a spur.

Four?... Hmmmmmm.

[Gingerbread Man]

Meeja said:

Ultraviolet said:

Thanks all

have now overcome my pathological laziness and earthed them... also having a nightmare with some of the sockets which seem to require 3-4 cables into some of the terminal sockets on the backplate. Joy.

UV

Three I can understand..... ring in, ring out and a spur.

Four?... Hmmmmmm.

Light switches that can be switched from two places. e.g. top and bottom of stairs?

[Meeja]

Gingerbread Man said:

Meeja said:

Ultraviolet said:

Thanks all

have now overcome my pathological laziness and earthed them... also having a nightmare with some of the sockets which seem to require 3-4 cables into some of the terminal sockets on the backplate. Joy.

UV

Three I can understand..... ring in, ring out and a spur.

Four?... Hmmmmmm.

Light switches that can be switched from two places. e.g. top and bottom of stairs?

We are talking sockets here rather than lighting circuits.....

[Gingerbread Man]

Meeja said:

Gingerbread Man said:

Meeja said:

Ultraviolet said:

Thanks all

have now overcome my pathological laziness and earthed them... also having a nightmare with some of the sockets which seem to require 3-4 cables into some of the terminal sockets on the backplate. Joy.

UV

Three I can understand..... ring in, ring out and a spur.

Four?... Hmmmmmm.

Light switches that can be switched from two places. e.g. top and bottom of stairs?

We are talking sockets here rather than lighting circuits.....

Opening post; "Just replacing my plastic light switches with metal ones.".

Doing the whole lot I guess.