when installing track lights do I have to connect the ground wire if there is no electic box in the ceiling?
what I’m trying to do is run a track lighting fixture from the ceiling. There is no electric box where I am trying to install the lights. I thought maybe I could run a wire from the lights down the wall and connect a plug at the end of the wire to make the fixture run off of a wall outlet instead of a electric box in the ceiling. Do I still have to use the ground wire? if so, how do I do it? Is it safe to not use it? Thanks for your help & patience.
Tagged with: amp • patience • thanks for your help • track lighting fixture
Filed under: track lights pendant
to meet the code you will have to install an electric box and ground it to it. if you don’t want to meet the code just drill a small hole nowhere visible but part of the trac light make sure its metal , use a ground screw and atach the ground wire to it. that way the whole light will be grounded and in the case of a wire (black or white) that loosens and touches the trac light the ground wire will trip the breaker.
On American plugs the ground is the round contact on the plug. Just wire it to the ground wire on the light (usually green or bare). Also make sure the wide contact is wired to neutral (usually white) and the narrow to hot (usually black).
Always use ground as it protects you if there is a short.
to meet code you will need to install a box in the ceiling and yes connect the ground wire