No ground wire

[RedMF40]

Here is something to talk about. I recently decided to install the floodlights I bought new in the box some years ago. Had enough of dealing with a dark walkway.

Anyway, the lights work, but there is no ground wire to hook up to the house wiring. The floodlights didn’t come with a ground wire. I guess I could go crazy and run a wire directly to a ground rod into the Earth. Is that really necessary? I’m open to just buying better floodlights that actually come with a ground wire.

Thanks for any thoughts. Gerrit

 

[Ericp351]

The lights will light without the ground wire. The N, white, should tie to ground at your box, buss bar. If you feel safer with the housing grounded, just attach a wire to same and put to your house wire. Easy, cheap. Post script. Assuming metal box, you can ground simply by proper mounting, again assumes metal light base. Remember the B x days? Good stuff, actually.

 

[buickanddeere]

Here is something to talk about. I recently decided to install the floodlights I bought new in the box some years ago. Had enough of dealing with a dark walkway.

Anyway, the lights work, but there is no ground wire to hook up to the house wiring. The floodlights didn’t come with a ground wire. I guess I could go crazy and run a wire directly to a ground rod into the Earth. Is that really necessary? I’m open to just buying better floodlights that actually come with a ground wire.

Thanks for any thoughts. GerritView attachment 137505

Your house wiring out to the lamp lacks a ground wire ?

 

[RedMF40]

The lights will light without the ground wire. The N, white, should tie to ground at your box, buss bar. If you feel safer with the housing grounded, just attach a wire to same and put to your house wire. Easy, cheap. Post script. Assuming metal box, you can ground simply by proper mounting, again assumes metal light base. Remember the B x days? Good stuff, actually.

Thanks, that would have worked but it’s a cheap plastic base and light housing. Yes, the light and motion sensor work without the ground wire.

 

[Texgasser1]

Our whole barn shop was lit and not grounded for years. Worked fine.

 

[RedMF40]

Your house wiring out to the lamp lacks a ground wire ?

It’s the floodlight assembly itself that has no ground wire.

 

[leroy in ne]

Plastic fixture, plastic is an insulator. What would you ground?

 

[RedMF40]

Plastic fixture, plastic is an insulator. What would you ground?

No need for a ground then? I’m showing the outer limits of my knowledge of electricity.

 

[Non-farmer]

No need for a ground then?

Correct. Its purpose would be to ground a metal housing, which would conduct leaking current to a person who touched it. With the plastic housing, it becomes a non-issue.

 

[MM-TX]

No need for a ground then? I’m showing the outer limits of my knowledge of electricity.

The metal box the plastic fixture attaches to should be grounded with the wire from the source and the plastic light with no ground is ok as long as its innards are protected from the weather and the fixture is intact.

 

[used red MN]

No need for a ground then? I’m showing the outer limits of my knowledge of electricity.

The only time you would need it would be when your flood light is in a flood, at which time you would have other larger problems in lower elevations of your home.
Let’s not hope for this.
PS: Those items in the fore ground are far more likely to cause a problem with your dwellings structure, enjoy your Yule log but be careful. Merry Christmas!

 

[Stephen Newell]

Here is something to talk about. I recently decided to install the floodlights I bought new in the box some years ago. Had enough of dealing with a dark walkway.

Anyway, the lights work, but there is no ground wire to hook up to the house wiring. The floodlights didn’t come with a ground wire. I guess I could go crazy and run a wire directly to a ground rod into the Earth. Is that really necessary? I’m open to just buying better floodlights that actually come with a ground wire.

Thanks for any thoughts. GerritView attachment 137505

It's pretty rare to need a ground wire. Then it's more important for a device to need a ground wire that is handled a lot. Since it's only handled when it's being worked on it you can shut the breaker off and the ground wire isn't needed. The ground is just something to protect you in case a hot wire comes loose and touches the body of the device.

 

[moresmoke]

No ground wire needed. Fully plastic housing can’t transfer any fault current. Same principle as a double insulated power tool that only has a 2 prong cord.