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[whatthe]

One of my light fittings broke recently - it's the basic plastic bayonet bulb holder type that has 3 terminals behind it. There is one cable running from the previous light fitting and one to the switch. When I unscrewed the holder from the ceiling it was connected as follows 2 red live cores connected to one terminal, one black (neutral) to one terminal, one black neutral to the other terminal. The bare earth wires were just bent back unsheathed.

I intend to replace it with a junction box as I want to fit a 2 terminal light fitting but what's going on with the earth wires? Is this safe? Is my lighting circuit properly earthed? Has my entire house been wired by cowboys? More to the point should I connect up the earth wires in the junction box?

[BLAKEY1963]

whatthe
your bare copper wires r earth or cpc s as we call them.
these r normally sleeved in green and yellow insulation and
connected together in their own separate connection .
they r connected to a light fitting when an earth is specified
to be connected to provide shock protection for class 1
metal framed current using equipment .
it would b wise to check the earthing of this circuit as earths
have been found bare and unconnected as u state.
an electrician would perform R1 + R2 TESTS to prove
continuity and integrity of earthing on this lighting circuit and
perform earth loop impeadance tests to validate disconnection times
for correct operation of protectice device ( mcb ) .
get someone in.
BLAKEY1963