How to Ground a Light Fixture? Your 101 Guide
With the changing lifestyle, people are more likely to ground their lights. Are you confused about how to ground a light fixture? Don’t lose hope! We are on your side. We will inform you in detail to ground your light fixtures effectively.
Yet,
You would not believe it? This article focuses on everything you were searching for a long time. Whether you are planning to ground your light fixtures or you have grounded light fixtures, you should be aware of the importance of grounding.
Grounding will not only provide you safety, but it will also prevent the chances of electric shock.
Furthermore, there is a huge surprise waiting for you in the middle of the article. We have provided some relevant answers to the questions. You can see them in the FAQ section. So, keep reading!
Now, without any further ado, let us get straight into it!
How to Ground a Light Fixture?
Grounding reduces the sign of a short circuit in the internal wiring. That is only reduced by distributing displaced electric current throughout your homes and into the ground through a grounding rod. Now, you might be wondering: why do you need a grounding system in your home? Don’t be confused! In ancient times, people did not require fixing lights on the ground because they did not have the electrical equipment to use efficiently. There is a risk of electric shock whenever you use electrical appliances with other common electrical appliances, such as fans.
Therefore, you need to ground your electrical wiring to avoid such problems.
That is crazy! Yet, all your home-based electrical wiring leads to a grounding rod for safety. You will be thrilled to know the best part! The grounding rod will distribute all the current to save your life while contacting a live electric wire. Due to this reason, you will not receive a full blast of electric shock. If you have children in your family, you must go for a grounded wiring option. Because it will protect your children from miserable pain. Grounding will ensure your home is effective with the electrical wiring system.
At this moment, we will guide you step by step on grounding a light fixture. Are you ready? Of course, you will be to know more about it in detail.
STEP 1
Grab a green ground screw to bind the ground wire with a light fixture. You may probably have a light fixture connected to the ground. Fortunately, there will be no need to engage another ground wire to it. If you face difficulty placing ground wire directly, locate it on the mountain bracket of the light fixture. Your ground wire will never be in a sloppy position during electricity.
STEP 2
First, you have to identify the positioning of the house electrical box. Second, locate the ground wire to the light fixture for installation. At last, if you are not aware of the color of the wiring. We have got you covered. The wiring color maybe comes in green or in bare copper. These color schemes will help you out to be accurate in installation. Some of the companies provide wires with different layers of color embedded in a wire. If you don’t find the green wire, you can strip ½ inch of the wire to locate it with the desired color.
STEP 3
It might done you in finding and locating the best green wire, but do you know how to fix it? Of course, we are always here to provide you the valid information. You will need to reshape the wire in the form of a loop. Make sure that it looks like an alphabet J. You can effortlessly perform it through twisting wires to get in J-shaped. If you are unsuccessful in giving it a J shape, you can make the wire first as a hook. That will saves your time in reshaping the green wires.
STEP 4
You might have thought that you will be required to hire a professional. There is no need to give it a second thought. Now, here is a surprise for you! Assemble the loop wire and the green ground screw and tighten them to maintain stability. In most cases, your light fixture comes with a green wire. Therefore, it will be recommended to bind them with the help of a wire nut. While using a wire nut, don’t forget to move it in a clockwise direction for an extreme tightening.
STEP 5
Now you are finished fixing the light fixture. For the entire process, you will need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Install Light Fixtures With No Ground Wire
Some of you might be wondering: is that possible to do a light fixture without ground? Well, you’re on the bright side. Fortunately, you can install the light fixtures yourself. So, you can save money refrain from calling an electrician for wiring. In addition, you will have experience with wireless light fixture wiring.
However, grounding wire protects you from electrocution, and you can safely utilize electrical appliances. Now, here is a fun fact! Electricity flows where there is the least resistance. Likewise, a grounding wire acts as a path to control electric shocks. If you have purchased light fixtures with no ground wires in a package, you are not unlucky to have them. Because you can individually begin with the wiring process. Before wiring, make sure to check with all local building codes. That will inform you that your home needs rewiring for up to date or not.
STEP 1
As a safety measure, you must turn off the main power supply to avoid any error. If you are a beginner, turn off the power supply before wiring the light fixture. The reason behind it is that your house will not have any access to electricity which will turn out helpful to install light fixtures.
STEP 2
After successfully reaching the exact location, twist the white wire coming from the wire to the white wire from light. If you don’t have a white wire in light, don’t get panic. Strip 1 inch of wire to get the white one assembled with the other colored wires. Want to know a quick technique? Twist the wires together in a clockwise direction. Your wires will never be movable from their position. Isn’t it wonderful? That technique will surely save you time. Some of the lights do not come with white wire. In that case, attach the electrical wire to the silver screw of the fixture.
STEP 3
Likewise to the above step, twist black wire from the wall to the black wire from the light to cap them together. You might be confused that your fixture does not have any colored wire. Don’t drive it! Models of components vary from each other. To make it advantageous, attach the electrical wire to the golden screw of the fixture in the clockwise direction.
STEP 4
If your home contains copper water piping, it will act as a ground with no allowance of moving ground rod outside the house. Yet, a house installed with PVC piping allows ground rods outside the home. Here is the bottom line! Dig 8 feet down to place the ground rod into the hole and backfill the dirt again. Hence, you can easily ground the rod outside the house.
STEP 5
Now, place the ground clamp on the copper water pipe. While placement, don’t forget to tighten up the screws with a screwdriver.
STEP 6
Screw ground wire to the clamp tightly with no hesitation. Now attach the ground wire to the green wire of light. Fortunately, your light is grounded well without updating the circuit box.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: What if my light fixture has no ground wire?
If you are planning to install an electrical light fixture with no ground wire and an electrical box with no ground wire, directly connect the hot wire of the fixture to the hot wire of the electrical box.
Q: Do LED light fixtures need to be grounded?
It is not necessary to ground the LED light fixture. But, grounding will save it to enhance its durability.
Q: Can I add a ground wire to a light fixture?
Yes, you can surely add the ground wire to a fixture. Just connect the bare copper wire of light to the electrical box.
Q: Can I attach a ground wire to the mounting screw?
To do this, you will need to put a loop around the green ground screw on the mounting bracket. Try to screw them tightly for the best results.
CONCLUSION
Congratulations! You have made it so far. We have recommended ways to have wiring without grounding and with grounding. Furthermore, we have answered the top most asked questions. If you are still up with one, drop it in the comment section. We will reach you as soon as possible.
Ending it by wishing you a perfect electrifying day!