dangerous lights?

[Ekul]

I don't like to post much on here without doing research 1st. Ive been reading a lot. but ive come across a little problem(maybe).

I bought a ceramic bulb holder(e27) some heat resistant wire and a plug. Now the bulb holders have nowhere to connect an earth wire so at the moment ive got the blue and brown wires connected and it runs straight to the plug into the mains. i've been using a 65w cfl in it without any problems (so far, touch wood) i've just orderd a new 105w bulb. Im wondering if this is at all dangerous, i've noticed e40 reflectors online with plugs already attached, no diy job, but have no money left to go out and buy everything e40.

Thanks a lot

p.s ive used the ceramic bulb holders before with no earth for a reptile tank and everything was fine, just paranoid im going to burn the house down.

 

[SmilinBob]

It won't burn your house down if you don't connect that earth wire. Just hope your house doesn't get struck by lightening because it's gonna blow your lights up.

 

[Pompey_Monkey]

As far as I know, the earthing part of the circuit is supposed to connect to any exposed (or potentially exposed) parts of the equipment powered by the mains that could conceivably become live if a fault occurs.

The light socket has no such parts and therefore doesn't need an earth.

However, once it's wired up, any part of the local environment could be considered to be part of the "appliance".

Apart from the basics of making sure that you're powering the light from a suitably fused and RCD protected circuit*, I can't think of any problems short of you sticking your tongue across the terminals while it's switched on...

*Certified compliant with your local laws and regulations, of course, by a registered electrician.