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I am installing a wall mounted light fixture. The fixture can either be plugged into a wall outlet or hardwired into an outlet. I am choosing to plug the fixture into a wall outlet. In addition to the cord/plug, there is a ground wire on the fixture.

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I get what to do with the ground wire if the fixture was going to be hardwired, but this is not what I'm planning to do. So what do I do with the ground wire. The installation instructions only address the ground wire in the context of hardwiring. Can I leave the ground wire as it is, can I cut it off?

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  • Can we see a picture of the wiring?
    – bib
    Jan 20, 2018 at 19:10
  • I added a picture to my original post.
    – Bcapit
    Jan 20, 2018 at 21:08
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    In theory, if the device is UL approved, and the plug does not have a ground, you don't need one for a plug-in mounting. But is there a way to route that cord so the edge of the fixture does not cut it?
    – bib
    Jan 20, 2018 at 22:07

2 Answers 2

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I would simply coil it up neatly and not cut it off. Who knows, you might decide to install it "wired" sometime down the road.

Your plug being 2-prong (no ground), I would still be tempted to ground it.

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  • I will coil it up as you suggest. Thank you.
    – Bcapit
    Jan 21, 2018 at 3:10
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I don't think you need to anything with the ground since you are plugging it in. If it was required for the plug then they should have given you a plug with a ground prong. You could cut off the ground wire, or tape it inside the fixture in case you ever decide to hardware it.

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  • I like the option of just coiling it up and taping it inside the fixture. thank you.
    – Bcapit
    Jan 21, 2018 at 3:09

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