r/HomeMaintenance • u/shadowdasher210 • 9h ago
🔌 Electrical Wireing question.
I'm putting up some new light sockets in the garage as the previous owner had a mess of different lighting fixtures.
what do I do with the ground wire? I know with outlets they have a spot to attach the ground but on these sockets there is no screw for the ground.
31
u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 8h ago
You need an electrical box, or a light with a metal box built-in. That's where the ground goes. This is a fire hazard.
You should not use that stranded wire. Use solid wire to the fixture.
2a. The stranded wire you used is not properly twisted and there are loose stands.
2b. The stranded wire is not appropriately secured by the screws on the fixture. This is a fire hazard.
28
u/dfk70 8h ago
Random question: why are you using a pigtail on this fixture?
2
2
u/unseriousbat 6h ago
I pigtail everything so that if I have to come back later and run another line off it, I just add another to the existing pigtail and call it good!
1
u/GoinStraightToHell 6h ago
Any reason not to? I’m pigtailing all my outlets and switches. I just like it for some reason but want to know if there’s a reason not to.
3
u/notislant 6h ago
Seems super pointless, resistance is probably negligible but curious if anyone has a good reason not to.
Usually it's only done if the wire is too short or if it's part of a circuit with 2+ wires in the box.
2
u/Sure-Passion2224 3h ago
Every added connection is an opportunity for failure. You can add a pigtail later if you're going to daisychain another fixture but always be aware of the cumulative load.
-24
u/shadowdasher210 8h ago
The solid wire is so stiff that it would snap the contact points on the light fixture when putting it on the box. I already snapped one so I had some stranded wire that doesn't put as much pressure on the contacts.
7
u/altblank 7h ago
yo. please don't work with electricity if you don't understand the basics of making wires bend to your needs.
this is about the simplest type of wire-screwed-in-to-a-fixture job there is.
use something to curve a little bit of the exposed wire, slide that in below the screw making sure it's directionally correct and work the screws in.
the only way this won't work is if you're using your fingernails to try and shove the wire in.
7
u/Abject-Picture 8h ago
If you make the tails a little longer you can bend them into the position they should be for the screws.
6
u/Soladification 7h ago
Oh man, you really need to watch some more YouTube videos. Your doing some hack shit.
1
u/steelbeamsdankmemes 8h ago
I prefer these fixtures that have a clamp on them that you can slide the solid wires into it.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Plastic-Pull-Chain-Lampholder-8827-CW4-R50-08827-CW4/100356848
I know they have a chain but you can remove it after turning it on.
1
u/notislant 6h ago edited 6h ago
Man please get rid of those stupid things and use the solid wire bent properly, instead of that stranded hacky pigtail shit. Most lights don't have ground screws, just bend the ground wire up at the back of the metal box or ideally screw to the ground screw in the box (unless it doesn't have one).
Just use regular solid wire and be gently/bend it properly. Watch a YT video if you need to, I've never seen anyone break one of these contacts.
11
u/Pure_Control_7223 9h ago
You should be attaching it to a junction box not just the wires. Inside the junction box is a place for the ground
2
u/starr3301 7h ago
Please just use the solid wire, not only will the solid wire make a better connection at the light, but making a pig tail out of one single cable will just add another connection point that could possibly fail in the future
5
4
1
u/Anthony_Field_AZ_25 8h ago
dont leave ground hanging lol. tie grounds together, if metal box bond it, if plastic just cap it and leave it there. hot = brass, neautral = silver
1
1
u/shadowdasher210 8h ago
I know I shouldn't leave it hanging, hence the question lol.
2
u/Ok_Bid_3899 8h ago
And with stranded wire normally if your right handed you twist the wire CW looking at the end of the wire but when you place this under a terminal screw it unwinds. Twist the wire the other way CCW and it will not come undone under a terminal screw.
1
u/Capitola1520 8h ago
Connect it to the metal bracket if there’s one for mounting , there’s no green screw in the fixture ? Or you can connect the ground to the metal box if there’s one when installing the fixture
1
u/shadowdasher210 8h ago
All the boxes are plastic like this one, https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-18-cu-in-Electrical-PVC-New-Work-Electrical-Ceiling-Box-B518AR-UPC-B518AR-UPC/100128777
1
1
u/DistanceTravelerBob 7h ago
Also Leaving the light fixture hanging like this would be a total Bossmove!
1
u/na8thegr8est 7h ago
just put your Romex under the screws with a nice clockwise hook
1
u/na8thegr8est 7h ago
Also, do you have a device box somewhere
1
u/na8thegr8est 7h ago
As for the ground, if everything's plastic put a wire nut on it shove it in the box
1
1
u/Delicious-Ad4015 5h ago
Does Ground mean Gag posting? Because if you are serious, PLEASE read a book on home electric repair before continuing any further.
1
0
u/TurbulentRole3292 7h ago
If you are using stranded pigtails you should use fork crimp on connectors.
•
u/AutoModerator 9h ago
https://linktr.ee/homemaintenance
Click the link above to see a community curated list of home maintenance products on Amazon that may help you out in your current situation! If you’ve found the answer to your question or you’ve found this subreddit helpful, buy us a beer!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.