Cord hung lights and EGC

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hillbilly said:
Since when are you not allowed to ground any exposed metallic parts that are likely to become energized?

My opinion...
If the customer wants that particular light fixture, put it up.
If it needs grounding, ground it.
I may get flamed for saying that, but that's what I would do.
Common sense has got to play a part in the equation.
It's only a light fixture, you're not re-wiring the microwave.

410.17 General..."Luminaries and lighting equipment shall be grounded as required in article 250 and Part V of this article".
250.112...Exposed non-current carrying metal parts of the kind of equipment described in 250.112(A) thru (K), and non-current carrying metal parts of equipment and enclosures described in 250.112(L) and (M), shall be grounded regardless of voltage.
250.112(L)...Luminaries (Lighting Fixtures) as provided in part V of Article 410.

I can just see one of my customers when I tell them that I can't install their antique light fixture because it doesn't have a grounding wire and I can't install one because it would void the UL sticker (if it even has one).
They would tell me thank you (maybe) and show me the door.

How would that violate a listing anyway, you're just following a requirement of the electrical code.
Not grounding the fixture has the potential for causing you more trouble than adding a ground if someone gets shocked because you didn't ground it.
I personally would replace any defective conductors and lamp sockets, add a grounding conductor and install the fixture.
Just my opinion, others may vary.
steve
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You have to be kidding me, how is it that no one cares about a listed piece of equipment. Ok to start off if is tested and listed with NO EQUIPMENT GROUND! Now you think you need to add one......wrong......That is not how it was tested and then later approved by the lister. Maybe you should quit giving people so much bad advice. When you chose to ignore a listing you will be responsible
 
pipemaster said:
You have to be kidding me, how is it that no one cares about a listed piece of equipment. Ok to start off if is tested and listed with NO EQUIPMENT GROUND! Now you think you need to add one......wrong......That is not how it was tested and then later approved by the lister. Maybe you should quit giving people so much bad advice. When you chose to ignore a listing you will be responsible
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I must have been sleeping because I missed that.......
What happened to the Great "pipemaster"??? Somebody hurt his feelings?
pipe...if you're listening....what's up? Come on back and "wow" us some more with your firm grasp of everything code related. Maybe you can point out some more "bad advice".
Too busy hanging pipe with the rest of the day labor?
steve
 
We custom fabricate "wiring systems" all the time --- anytime you cut a piece of pipe or wire you are in effect making your own system in the field. I see nothing wrong with using listed pieces of conduit to build a conduit system. Does that mean I have to have the folks from UL come out and evaluate my completed system, and provide me with a listing for it? Utter nonsense. That is what the inspectors are for --- look at what we built and approve it or not based on the codes in effect.

I see nothing different from repairing a lighting fixture, since the Code recognizes their need for proper grounding and such. If I have a service call with a short circuit complaint, and I trace it to a bad section of lamp cord in a listed fixture, I'll replace that section of wire, and repair the fixture to a workable condition. If that means I have to replace the ground wire, or install a new one to make it safer, then so be it.

We are licensed and insured in this trade to build complete wiring systems, and repair defective circuits and/or equipment as needed. Its no different than changing out a bad breaker with a new one, to repair a fixture, IMO.
 
There are companies out there that rewire old lights, replace the lamp holder, etc, so you have an antique fixture with up-to-date wireing, and I can't see them sending them out one-by-one to be relisted. I MIGHT add a ground for a light fixture, but that is a case by case call, and if nessarry I tell whomever is in charge the fixture is not suitable for use.
 
I opened the local yellow pages to lamps and found several listed.Shades, parts,refinishing, restoration, rebuilding.
 
Brett,

I agree with George and Hillbilly,
Hillbilly said:
250.112...Exposed non-current carrying metal parts of the kind of equipment described in 250.112(A) thru (K), and non-current carrying metal parts of equipment and enclosures described in 250.112(L) and (M), shall be grounded regardless of voltage.
250.112(L)...Luminaries (Lighting Fixtures) as provided in part V of Article 410.
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And. . .
George Stolz said:
410.18 Exposed Luminaire (Fixture) Parts
(A) Exposed Conductive Parts Exposed metal parts shall be grounded or insulated from ground and other conducting surfaces or be inaccessible to unqualified personnel. Lamp tie wires, mounting screws, clips, and decorative bands on glass spaced at least 38 mm (1 1/ 2 in.) from lamp terminals shall not be required to be grounded.
Click to expand...
The rhetoric that pipemaster is espousing is smoke. I think that "clips" has enough of its own "smoke factor" as to apply nicely here.
 
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