3core used as 2core - Electrical help

[Keen Green Ferrit]

Good day ladies and gents.

pretty simple question i'm asking really, hopefully people with more knowledge than me can help.

Im just wondering if i am alright to use a 3 core cable in a 2 core circumstance as the light fitting doesn't need an earth.
Its only going housing a small CFL.
I would imagine its fine if i just cut the earth much sorter, but would like some DIY people to clarify.

Safety first n all that!

thanks alot

 

[mike91sr]

It's considered bad electrical practice, and my old boss would probably want to beat me for doing it, but I've used some 3-2 adapters and wired some up myself. They won't cause a problem but if something else happens, you have that much less of a fail-safe built in. I choose to do it, but I know my electricity and am fully aware of what I'm doing as I do it, because yes, safety first n all that.

 

[Keen Green Ferrit]

so your reckon its alright if the spare earth wire is just neatly cut and tucked away?

i would prefer to have an earth and was surprised when it didn't have one!
BTW i am talking about a fitting that is connected to a standard plug socket.
Would it be worth wiring up the earth wire to the earth connection on the plug?

thanks for the speedy response, appreciated +kudos

 

[Keen Green Ferrit]

also don't quite know what these adapters are, but i wasn't planning on using any!

 

[mike91sr]

i would prefer to have an earth and was surprised when it didn't have one!
BTW i am talking about a fitting that is connected to a standard plug socket.
Would it be worth wiring up the earth wire to the earth connection on the plug?

I don't really know what you're getting at here. What plug? And what fitting? Do you know what a ground wire does? I can tell you that yes, it's ok to just cut the ground wire(despite my being taught not to), but you should really know why you can/should or can't/shouldn't do things. Electrical theory is more important than knowing components and procedures.

 

[Keen Green Ferrit]

I meant that its a light bulb fitting connected to mains via a plug, rather than directly connected to the mains such as a light switch you'd find on your wall.
I would use proper terms but clearly i dont know them.

Ive got an slight idea what it does, not really, nor do i know alot about electrical theory other than basic concepts, which is why i thought id ask for help.

ground/earth is where an excess voltage can go if there is a sudden power surge and if the fuse fails??? Thats my guess anyway.


thats the bulb fitting i'm using, inside theres just 2 connections, no earth.

I apologise for the misunderstandings and that I dont get it properly.
Just doesn't seem right leaving a spare wire, perhaps i should just buy a 2core cable.

thanks man

 

[mrmadcow]

yes you can ignore the ground.
in this case,it doesn't mater but when asking about electric on this forum,it helps to state if you are in N.America or Europe as we use a very different system in America

 

[mike91sr]

No worries, I was just saying for your own safety that it's best if you know why you do things a certain way. I was misunderstanding you. I was thinking you had a grounded plug that you needed for a non-grounded receptacle, and they make adapters that do that. Wrong end of the cable though hahah. Yes, you can just wire up the hot and neutral.

btw, you were somewhat right about what a ground does, just not how it does it. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/question110.htm a good read.

 

[Keen Green Ferrit]

Cool, cheers for the read and decent website. some thing i wanna get a better grasp of is electricity. Always enjoy doing stuff myself, get satisfaction out of it.

Defo want to build stealth grow cabinets. However aload of bad electrics in a timber box spells trouble to me.

Thanks for help guys, will put it together soon.