ES 14 fittings ?

If the lamps are ES or SES types then the live connection should go to the centre contact, if BC types then it doesn't matter which is which. Reading your post again (properly!) it sounds like you have ES lamps so yes, the live should go to the centre contact of the lamp.

 

Concur with Sen - all ES lamp holders must have the live connected to the centre otherwise things could be nasty. This is also part of an electrical inspection test on dwellings - it goes in the box marked polarity check (or something like that, I don't know the exact words)

 

Stick a pic on lets have a look

 

If the the lampholder complies to BSEN60238, then polarity is not important. These lamp holders shroud accessible parts when a lamp is in place. Most lampholders on fancy light fittings will be BSEN60238 these days, particularly E14 ones in my experience.

 

I don't agree. Although there are ''get out clauses'' under BSEN60238 which effectively allow any polarity within a ES lamp holder complying with this, (I have seen these lamp holders) then who is going to wire the centre with a neutral despite BSEN60238 allowing it?

No way under my regs would this practise be allowed - electrics in some instances are getting lapse tbqh.

In a nutshell, in my books any ES lamp holder should always be wired with the centre contact live. There are no circumventions with respect to said and a polarity check should always be undertaken to verify centre live.

Thank you.

 

electrics in some instances are getting lapse tbqh.
----------
Agreed JP, when you think of some of the really daft things that are enforced and yet other potentially dodgy stuff is ignored by regs!

 

Concur Sen - we have the best wiring systems in the world and the best regs - however little things like the ES lamp holder polarity undermine them to a small extent.

 

The OP asked a question. I correctly answered it. While you may not agree, it is the answer. Sure, beep the leads out if you wish, but do you not think they are un-identified through error, or because they are permitted to be.....

I too would prefer to see the center as the live, but lets face it.....it complies.

 

Who is right? It clearly depends on thevBritish Standard of those lamp holders. Not many electricians are aware of this black and white regulation. You may not like the regulation, but you can't argue with it.

 

Where did the guy in the vid get those pliers, Poundland.

 

That table in the vid looks like a pukka piece - should not the chap have put some cardboard or summit on it first to protect it while doing stuff?

 

The holders must be fully insulated, if wiring it randomly could make the case live, then it would almost certainly create a L/N short circuit as there is a good chance you would not get them all the same way round. Since that does not happen, I'm going for not the best solution, but certainly not possible to make the case live

 

The more I look at that video the more I'm happy that I run a tight ship - that is genuine random ES lamp holder polarity. Flipping European wiring. I mean the chandelier is great and is built well and looks good, its just the lamp holder wiring which lets it down - still once its belled out and a piece of brown sleeve is put on every centre contact wire all will be well.

Perhaps a revamped video could be made - it could be titled ''How to wire a multi ES lamp holder fitted chandelier - with centre polarity observed''

 

Also those scruits would be chucked straight in the bin

 

I have come across some of those new type Screwits with the threaded metal inserts JP and they don't look bad, not sure if they're compliant yet though?

 

I must admit Sen I don't know about the new Screwits - even if they were compliant not so sure I would be happy using them - it would remind me of post WW2 vir and Bakelite, and irons plugged into lighting bc aux lamp holders..you know the ones which angled off the main body. The vir flex with iron on end use to hang from this, and the apron cladded nan using it use to sing ''There Always Be An England'' whilst ironing.