[ndgregor]

I am replacing a light fixture and when I removed the existing one there were three wires in the box, white/black/bare copper wire. The white and black were connected to the fixture, the bare copper wire was not.

My new fixture has a white, black, and green wire. My question is two fold: why would the original bare copper wire have been left unconnected, and should I connect the green wire of my new light fixture to the bare copper wire in the box?

There is also a Ground screw on the metal bracket that attaches the new fixture to the box in the wall. Should the copper wire be attached to this? I would think that whether I attached it to the green wire or the screw on the metal bracket it would be the same effect?

For what it is worth the current box is plastic and the old receptacle had a ceramic base and only two screws to connect wires to.

Thanks for the help.

 

[rjniles]

When you have a non-metallic fixture the ground is left unattached in the plastic box.
For your new fixture connect the bare wire to the fixture strap screw and the green wire.

 

[ndgregor]

Okay just to clarify both the bare copper wire existing in the box and the green wire from the new fixture will be tied to the ground screw in the metal strap?

 

[rjniles]

Okay just to clarify both the bare copper wire existing in the box and the green wire from the new fixture will be tied to the ground screw in the metal strap?

Yes, what I usually do if the bare ground is long enough is wrap the bare copper around the screw (and tighten screw) and leave a short tail. Then I wire nut the tail to the green fixture wire.

 

[jmal1031]

Connect the green wire from fan to the copper bare wire. Then connect them to the green screw in the box


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rjniles]

Connect the green wire from fan to the copper bare wire. Then connect them to the green screw in the box


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is no green screw in the box, the screw is on the fixture strap.

 

[seharper]

Yes, in the various countries of the world, wire colors vary. But safety ground is always and only green, yellow-green, or bare. Any such wires should go together, and should be connected first.