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11-20-13, 01:40 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Where does the ground wire go?
I'm building a new basking light setup for my enclosure and am in the process of wiring in the new lights. I know how to do the ones with just a hot and neutral wire, but the wire the guys at the store gave me has a ground wire as well and I have no idea where it goes...?
Could someone help me out and let me know where the ground wire goes in the lamp socket?
Thank you in advance.
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11-20-13, 01:54 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: ontario
Posts: 651
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
Look for a green screw. If there is none you may not need it.
__________________
1.Corn snake. 1.Mexican milk snake. 2.California king snakes. 2. Western hognose snakes. 1. Pastel checker garter. 1. Checker garter. 1.Columbian red tail boa. 1. Ball python. 1. Smooth green snake. 1. Five lined skink. 1. Grey tree frog. 1. Chinese water dragon. 3 Bearded Dragons. 2 Leapard Geckos. 1. Black cat. and Lucy my border collie/lab. 
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11-20-13, 01:56 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrecker45
Look for a green screw. If there is none you may not need it.
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There is no green screw. Just two silver and two copper ones. What do I do with the ground wire then if I don't need it? 
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11-20-13, 02:21 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Location: southern Illinois
Age: 33
Posts: 270
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
pics would be helpful, and check the light fixture package it may say wheather it needs to be grounded. depends on ac or dc light
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11-20-13, 03:14 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Apr-2013
Posts: 649
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
First off, you really do not need a ground for a lamp. If you have a three prong plug you can do one of two things.
1) Simply do not use the third wire (green one).
2) Find a secure place on the fixture to mount the ground wire. You do not have to ground this to the socket, you can simply ground it to the fixture with a screw.
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11-20-13, 03:25 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
I'll take some photos in a few hours once the kiddos are asleep and give some more info . Thank you all so far.
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11-20-13, 05:41 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
Here's a photo of the fixture.
The box says to use only copper wire, min 90C supply conductors, and to connect the hot and neutral wires to the proper screws (no mention of ground wires). So if it's not needed, do I just clip it off, or cap it?
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11-20-13, 05:46 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: ontario
Posts: 651
Country:
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
It looks like the pos. goes on a right screw neg on left no ground.
__________________
1.Corn snake. 1.Mexican milk snake. 2.California king snakes. 2. Western hognose snakes. 1. Pastel checker garter. 1. Checker garter. 1.Columbian red tail boa. 1. Ball python. 1. Smooth green snake. 1. Five lined skink. 1. Grey tree frog. 1. Chinese water dragon. 3 Bearded Dragons. 2 Leapard Geckos. 1. Black cat. and Lucy my border collie/lab.
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11-20-13, 06:07 PM
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: May-2008
Location: Central New York State
Age: 60
Posts: 16,536
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
__________________
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world attaching the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?"
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11-20-13, 07:03 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
Quote:
Originally Posted by infernalis
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Thanks for the link Wayne ! Guess I'll get started on the wiring tomorrow.
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11-20-13, 09:11 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Aug-2011
Age: 62
Posts: 1,802
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
The ground wire goes on the electrical box that you are attaching the light fixture to. I have an electrical license.
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11-21-13, 12:43 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SSSSnakes
The ground wire goes on the electrical box that you are attaching the light fixture to. I have an electrical license.
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But where would I put it on the fixture itself? I was planning to use plugs on the ends and just plug them into a power bar.
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11-21-13, 05:08 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2013
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 239
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
I am not an electrician, but what SSSSnakes is saying is that the light fixture should be mounted to a junction box. You should never make up an electrical connection without a proper junction box.
If the box is Metal, the ground wire connects to the box.
If I am wrong please correct me SSSSnakes.
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11-21-13, 05:14 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jan-2013
Posts: 319
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
What is the reason for putting it into a junction box? I see many people that wire lamps with just the two wires. Not questioning your advice, just asking for some clarification . Want to make sure what I do will be safe.
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11-21-13, 05:52 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2013
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 239
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Re: Where does the ground wire go?
If a connection were to fail it would generate heat. If the keyless light base is screwed directly to a wood cage ceiling for instance, it could catch fire.
The junction box protects and isolates the electrical connection.
I know a lot of people do screw these light fixtures to the cage ceiling but it is a very unsafe practice.
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