Can't find the ground wire...
#1
04-15-06, 12:40 PM
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Can't find the ground wire...
Hi,
I bought a new IKEA light fixture and am trying to install it. The problem is that I don't see a ground wire hanging from the ceiling. I can see the black and white wires, but there is no green.
What should I do with the installation? Use electical tape to seal the green wire on the fixture? Is it dangerous to install it this way?
I bought a new IKEA light fixture and am trying to install it. The problem is that I don't see a ground wire hanging from the ceiling. I can see the black and white wires, but there is no green.
What should I do with the installation? Use electical tape to seal the green wire on the fixture? Is it dangerous to install it this way?
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#2
04-15-06, 01:07 PM
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Remember that a ground wire on a circuit can be bare copper or can be green insulated.
Older houses do not have ground wires on many of their circuits.
If there is no ground in the box, then attach the ground wire to the box, if the box is metal. If the box is plastic then tuck the ground wire out of the way.
Older houses do not have ground wires on many of their circuits.
If there is no ground in the box, then attach the ground wire to the box, if the box is metal. If the box is plastic then tuck the ground wire out of the way.
#3
04-15-06, 01:09 PM
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Hi,
Yes...I see a copper wire...but it's quite thick. It's not made up of thin strands like the white and black. Sorry for being a newbie about this.
I assume this is the wire then? It wasn't connected to my old light fixture. It was just sitting up in there...
*edit: Also, the ground wire is currently wrapped around a screw in the fixture hole in the ceiling. Is this for a reason, or just to keep it out of contact of the other wires?
Yes...I see a copper wire...but it's quite thick. It's not made up of thin strands like the white and black. Sorry for being a newbie about this.
I assume this is the wire then? It wasn't connected to my old light fixture. It was just sitting up in there...
*edit: Also, the ground wire is currently wrapped around a screw in the fixture hole in the ceiling. Is this for a reason, or just to keep it out of contact of the other wires?
Last edited by derdeb; 04-15-06 at 01:20 PM.
#6
04-15-06, 04:17 PM
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A metal box will have a threaded hole for a ground screw. The purpose of this screw is to attach the ground wire to the metal box. This screw should be obviously different from the other screws, both in placement and in size and shape. It may even be green.
The ground wire should not be wrapped around a screw that is holding the box to a ceiling joist. Connect this ground wire to the ground wire of your fixture.
The ground wire should not be wrapped around a screw that is holding the box to a ceiling joist. Connect this ground wire to the ground wire of your fixture.
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