Hi Everyone,

I know this is a simple question but unfortunately I don’t have the electrical knowledge to know if what I’m proposing is safe/within code, so I was hoping I could get the help of someone who knows more about electrical than I do.

Background:

I am in the process of replacing some pendant lights (https://imageshack.com/a/img924/6759/Mu9v2m.jpg) and I would like to keep the silver base and transparent wiring that’s currently installed.


The pendant light I would like to install has a socket (similar to this: https://www.lightbulbs.com/product/s...SABEgKpLfD_BwE)


The issue I’m having is that the cabling I would like to keep has three wires which I presume one is a ground wire (https://imageshack.com/a/img923/4968/Z8yMFk.jpg). But, the new socket only has (+) and (–) connection.

Is it acceptable to just put electrical tape over the ground? Any safety issues with doing this?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

You may be able to reuse the canopy but the problem with the wiring is that you need a socket that will not only connect electrically but it must also attach to the cord jacket to hold the weight. The sockets you linked to don't have any visible means to connecting that cable jacket.

Normally pendant lights come pre-attached with a cable that gets shortened/connected up at the canopy.

 

The ground wire should be connected to any metal that does not carry current for safety.

Note: Modifying a light fixture invalidates the UL listing of the fixture and is a NEC violation. If anything were to happen because of the modification, you will be liable.

 

Check out the Blue big box store I believe they have what you need,clear cable and the socket attached.

 

It turns out the socket i have actually has a screw for the ground. I have a voltmeter - how do I determine what cable is hot, neutral, and ground?

 

That would mean that socket has three screw terminals..... correct ?

You could post the colors of the wires inside the cable.
You can use a meter set to over 120VAC and check from each wire to ground. That sprinkler pipe in the background is ground. That will give you the hot wire which should be black. One wire should be green for ground and the last wire is neutral and may be white.

 

Yes, 3 terminals.

Here is the pic of the 3 wires:
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/4968/Z8yMFk.jpg

Unfortunately they all have that transparent covering with black electrical tape on all three.