New wall light issue - no earth Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[chopper]

2 INTO 3 doesnt go! Stupid question here but my downstairs light fittings have the earth leads in the wall wiring. No problem there. Upstairs - they dont. I have just bought new wall lights which contain earth fittings - the problem is when I took the old lights off in the upstair bathroom and bedroom, theres only red and black wire in each coming out the wall - no earth. Do I need to get the upstairs re-wired?? I pray not - I just finished decorating! Is there a way round it??

[sunny]

Ideally you should rewire, having a circuit with no earth is not good and would be flagged up on a periodic inspection.. The easiest solution is to go buy some ‘class 2 or double insulated’ lights and fit those. Absolutely do not use the lights that require an earth if there isn’t one present.