Connect the ground wire to the metal box.
If you're asking whether you have to connect the fixture ground to the house ground, you do. The idea is to connect any exposed portion of a metal fixture to ground, keeping anything you would be able to touch from having a hazardous potential on it. The way to do this is to connect the fixture ground (which is connected to the metal chassis) to the building ground (which comes from your electrical panel).
Sure, sounds like a creative way to use an old favorite table-top fixture and save a few bucks too. There would be a few things I would consider. First and foremost, be sure the "2 prong plug-in light" is made for outdoor use if you plan to mount this outdoors! Secondly, how are you going to securely mount this fixture to a ceiling or wall? Designing a custom base, may end up being more trouble than it's worth. After installation the fixture should be flush against the surface, and everything tucked inside. Next, I wouldn't forget, or leave out the ground. Even it is a 2 prong light. If your going to mount this on a wall, ceiling, or anywhere, chances are you already have a hole cut out and "2-conductor with ground" Romex type wiring ready at the instillation area. Where to attach the bare ground wire, maybe too risky if the fixture is not an metal chassis. Note: Assuming that there will only be one fixture on this branch circuit, then go with a gauge of Romex similar to that of the fixture cord. If using many in series or parallel , reference a NEC handbook for detailed guidance.
Your main concern in installing anything near a water line is to avoid accidentally driving a nail or screw into the pipe, causing a leak. Therefore it is prudent to allow a separation of at least a few inches. Other than that, there is no reason why a light fixture cannot be close to a water line. The wires are insulated, so they are not going to short circuit as a result of the metal pipe.
Make sure you are using a metal halide bulb and the ballast is matched to the wattage on the bulb. These both must be correct.
277v light fixtures are more efficient to operate and less expensive to install than a 110v fixture of identical wattage. 277v light fixtures are typically installed when 480V 3 Phase primary electric service supplies a commercial or industrial facility. 277v lighting circuits are single phase circuits using one of the 480v primary phases (A,B & C) to Neutral. The higher voltage allows more fixtures per circuit using smaller conductors and longer runs typically required in warehouse lighting applications. ( Amps = Watts/Volts: 400W/277V Fixture = 1.4 Amps, 400W/110V fixture = 3.6 Amps) With 480V 3 Phase primary service, 110V Single Phase power is created using a Step-down transformer. The voltage transformation process consumes power (kWh) and the 277V fixture will consume less kWh than a 110V fixture if identical wattage, especially in fixtures with ballasts such as fluorescent or High Intensity Discharge (HID), like Sodium, Metal Halide or Mercury Vapor.
If you are talking about the lamp then the answer is no. If you are talking about the fluorescent fixture, it should be. It is the fixture grounding that helps the tube to ignite. because of the close proximity to the metal of the fixture. There are many occasions when the fixture will not operate, but as soon as the ground is connected the fixture operates fine.
The green wire from the light fixture should be attached to the ground wire in the electrical box to provide grounding for safety purposes. This helps prevent electrical shocks and protects against electrical malfunctions.
If you're asking whether you have to connect the fixture ground to the house ground, you do. The idea is to connect any exposed portion of a metal fixture to ground, keeping anything you would be able to touch from having a hazardous potential on it. The way to do this is to connect the fixture ground (which is connected to the metal chassis) to the building ground (which comes from your electrical panel).
You can ground the green ground wire from the new fixture to the metal junction box using a grounding screw or grounding clip. Make sure the junction box is grounded properly to ensure safety.
If your metal light fixture doesn't have a ground wire and the plastic outlet box has a ground wire, you should connect the ground wire from the box to the ground screw on the metal fixture. This helps provide grounding protection. If there is no provision for a ground wire on the fixture, consult a professional electrician for further guidance to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.
Normally the fixtures come with a grounding screw that you attach the grounding wire to. If the box you attaching the fixture to is metal and there is no grounding wire present then the grounded conduit should ground you fixture.
The copper wire is the ground wire and should be connected to the ground screw on the light fixture mounting bracket or to the ground wire in the ceiling box if present. Make sure to turn off the power at the breaker before working on the wiring.
I always connect the ground wire to the box. However, if there is no real ground wire running back to the panel it really does you no good. The NEC requires that you rewire the circuit with the proper conductors. Remember that the ground is for your protection. Without a proper ground, you run the risk of injury or death if the fixture wiring fails.
The ground wire from the new fixture should be connected to the metal clamp screwed into the wooden joists. This will ground the fixture and provide a safe pathway for any electrical faults. Make sure to turn off the power before making any connections.
Any fixture containing metal other than the conductors should be grounded. It ensures the proper operation of the over current device, which is the breaker or fuse.
If the light fixture is not mounted in a metal box and does not have a ground screw, you can simply cap off the ground wire with a wire nut and leave it unused. However, it is always recommended to consult a licensed electrician to ensure proper installation and safety compliance.
Connect the black wire from the light fixture to the black house wire, the white wire from the light fixture to the white house wire, and the green wire from the light fixture to the junction box ground wire or directly to the house's grounding system. Make sure to turn off the power before starting any work and follow all safety guidelines.