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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Adding a Second Porch Light https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1497817871 Message started by macarra61 on Jun 18^th, 2017, 9:31pm

Title: Adding a Second Porch Light
Post by macarra61 on Jun 18^th, 2017, 9:31pm

Hi, i was looking to add a small floodlight onto the side of my porch so it would light up the garden so i can go to the shed at night. i opened the porch light yesterday and the fitting is wired with 2 core flat cable with no earth wire. could i run this wire into a round 3 Terminal junction box and then run a new wire to the porch light and a second wire to the floodlight, would i need to use 3 core cable for the floodlight and the porch light or 2 core cable, i hope this makes sense.

Title: Re: Adding a Second Porch Light
Post by Lectrician on Jun 19^th, 2017, 8:28pm

If the porch light has no earth, you cannot use it at all. Are you sure it has no earth? Has it been snipped off tight to the sheath?

Title: Re: Adding a Second Porch Light
Post by CWatters on Jun 21^st, 2017, 6:45pm

+1

The earth wire is usually just a bare copper wire so the porch light might use 2+E (two core and Earth) with the earth cut off short so not immediately visible.