Light fitting help

[cal graham]

Hi

So moved into a 1930s house, in the process of doing it up and trying to do as much as possible myself
I've got little knowledge in general around DIY hence hitting a snag and wanting some guidance
please see photos

So from research
I can see is that old electrics seem to only have the neutral and live wire which this does, new electrics have a earth wire which I believe is now standards regs from 60s on wards I think
The light fitting has an earth wire but has clearly been hooked into the metal plate with out anything keeping it sturdy, which I believe you can do to an earth wire but the not unsturdy part doesn't seem right to me
The reason I got to the point of checking this is that when the light is switched on, sometimes it wont turn on and when it does it goes of again, however when I unplugged it the light stayed on for ages but the earth wire is the only thing that's likely to be the cause as its the only thing not fixed and moveable?

I've seen people suggest fixing it to the metal plate for security
Tape it up with electric tape
Fixing it into a terminal block but there's no wire for it to meet and earth after that?

I've also seen that any light fitting we get in the future has to be plastic or "insert special/appropriate DIY name here as I can't find the right name again " must be specially coated to deal with the lack of earth wire.

I've fixed a light fitting to a ceiling before however it had the right wires as it was a new build

Please can I get an idea of what I should be doing

Please make it as simple as possible I'm a novice

Thanks in advance

Cal

 

[EFLImpudence]

If there is not an earth wire in the supply cable - to which the light's earth wire should be connected - then you should not use that light.

 

[cal graham]

Righteo that's upsetting lol is that cos its not industry regs standard or is there another reason? cos I presume that this must have been allowed at some point to have been used in first place?
Thanks for answering
Cal

 

[EFLImpudence]

It is perfectly fine with plastic light fittings.

It is your metal light that introduces a hazard.

 

[cal graham]

Cool, thanks for your reply and expertise
What should I do to the loose earth wire?
Cos its not fixed and I feel like that's not right and its not taped up with electrical wire whats the best method(s) to making sure that cable is safe?
cos the light fitting turns on and of and I feel its to do with that?
Thanks
Cal

 

[EFLImpudence]

What should I do to the loose earth wire?

You must connect it to a supply earth wire.

cos the light fitting turns on and of and I feel its to do with that?

It is nothing to do with the working of the light.

It is a safety feature to disconnect the electricity should the light fitting itself become live, because of a fault, and prevent you getting a shock.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

When you remove the light fitting the earth wire will also be removed so no problem.

 

[Taylortwocities]

You may have an earth conductor in the grey wire coming out of the ceiling. I think I can see the end in your blurry photo.

 

[AndyPRK]

Agreed with Taylor. I think I can see it bent over and cut off

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

However you need to check it's really connected to earth. Do you know how to do this?

 

[cal graham]

Hey

thanks to all for writing back, I can only see two wires coming from my ceiling via the grey cable in the photo ( yeah sorry i didn't realize how blurry it was) however Ill take another look cos you could be right if that's the case let me check
I don't know how to check its earthed either "Novice" sorry to say how do I do this?

Thanks to all again

Cal

 

[cal graham]

yeah taken the cover of and yeah there is somet there bent back, how I missed that I don't know, and why the last owners didn't plug it in i also don't know, might be speaking too soon but ill get the elec of and try and cut it back to see what the wire colour is, still let me know how to check its earthed though that would be helpful. I probs need a terminal block with more holes as there's only two and not three might have some spare somewhere

thanks

Cal

 

[AndyPRK]

Earth wires are bare.

 

[cal graham]

Andy thank you, answered my question before I was just about to ask. Yup bare. I found a spare terminal block, basically fit as was before plus the two earth wires?
Guessing that should go fine?
Thanks
Cal

 

[cal graham]

Guessing this is right (before I put the light fitting on, does the earth wire require any more work? As it's bare?