Installing Recessed Lights - What to do with the ground wire?
#1
05-25-11, 07:26 AM
Installing Recessed Lights - What to do with the ground wire?
I'm replacing an old stairway light with three recessed Halo 9 In. Recessed Step Light - H2920ICT. My plan is to daisy chain each light, but I'm not sure what to do with the ground wire. The Halo lights only have white and black wires.
My thought was to pigtail the ground wire and on the last light attach the daisy chained ground wire to the fixture. Is this correct, or should each fixture be grounded?
Thanks,
Doug
My thought was to pigtail the ground wire and on the last light attach the daisy chained ground wire to the fixture. Is this correct, or should each fixture be grounded?
Thanks,
Doug
#2
05-25-11, 07:48 AM
There should be a threaded 10-32 hole for a ground screw in each Halo junction box. You need to connect the ground at each light to the metal box with a pigtail using an approved grounding screw. If the grounding screws weren't included you can buy them at BigBox or a hardware store. They are colored green.
The cable to the original light did have a ground wire didn't it? You can't extend that circuit if it was ungrounded.
The cable to the original light did have a ground wire didn't it? You can't extend that circuit if it was ungrounded.
#3
05-25-11, 08:31 AM
Thanks ray2047!
The cable to the original light does have a ground wire. The Halo fixture only has one screw which attaches a piece of metal to hide/protect the wires. Should I ground to that screw? Or should I purchase grounding screws and screw them into the metal casing?
Thanks!
The cable to the original light does have a ground wire. The Halo fixture only has one screw which attaches a piece of metal to hide/protect the wires. Should I ground to that screw? Or should I purchase grounding screws and screw them into the metal casing?
Thanks!
#4
05-25-11, 09:46 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
I would be very surprised if the fixture did not have a ground wire. Is there a thin bare conductor attached to the box?
#6
05-25-11, 05:15 PM
OOPs I must have been half asleep. I read "recessed" and thought you meant ceiling lights. Is the box that goes into the wall metal? What does the installation instructions say?
#8
05-25-11, 09:18 PM
@ray2047, the fixtures came without installation instructions. The boxes are metal. I guess I'll get some ground clips, or ground wires.
Thanks all for your help!
Thanks all for your help!
#9
05-25-11, 09:41 PM
If you could post a clear picture of the back of the box inside and out we may be able to better help. I'd be surprised if there isn't a #10 hole. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...your-post.html
