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    Chrisa741's Avatar
    Chrisa741 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Dec 12, 2011, 12:29 AM
    New ceiling light has black, white, red and ground wire. Ceiling wires are...
    Black, white and ground. What do I do with the extra red wire in the new light kit? I didn't have a ceiling fan nor do I want one. Thanks.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
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    #2

    Dec 12, 2011, 11:33 AM
    The only time I have seen a red in a ceiling fixture was so you could use it as a night light or full light. You would use 2 switches. Is the red lead connected to one of the bulbs? If the red is connected to a bulb, tie the red and black together with the black hot. Another test would be to put only the black to black, white to white and turn the light on. If all bulbs light, you can omit the red but then I don't know it's purpose.
    Chrisa741's Avatar
    Chrisa741 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Dec 12, 2011, 06:51 PM
    What I'm saying is my ceiling wiring has a black, white, ground and a red coming out. My house was built in 2008. I had to take down the old fixture months ago in a hurry and didn't note what was connected to what. The old fixture only had black and white wires and the red wire isn't capped so it had to be connected to something? Did the builder maybe put in a red IN CASE I later wanted to put in a ceiling fan?
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
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    #4

    Dec 12, 2011, 09:32 PM
    Well that sounds better. Are there 2 switches on the wall or 1? If 2, yes, this was for a fan, cap it and put it back in the box. If only 1 switch, make sure the black is the hot lead and then put a wire nut on the red and put it back ion the ceiling box.
    dmichels's Avatar
    dmichels Posts: 6, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Nov 8, 2012, 09:31 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrisa741 View Post
    What I'm saying is my ceiling wiring has a black, white, ground and a red coming out. My house was built in 2008. I had to take down the old fixture months ago in a hurry and didn't note what was connected to what. The old fixture only had black and white wires and the red wire isn't capped so it had to be connected to something? Did the builder maybe put in a red IN CASE I later wanted to put in a ceiling fan?
    Yes you house was wired for a future fan the best way to know is take out the switch and see what wire is connected. If one is capped off in the switch than cap the same in the light if both are connected to the switch from the three wire that means you can cap either off or connect both at the light. But be sure first you don't want a live wire not terminated in either box.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #6

    Nov 9, 2012, 03:16 AM
    dmichels, you do realize you are replying to very old threads like they were made yesterday?

    Also, are you typing on a phone? Your posts are extremely hard to read.
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