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View Full Version : Need assistance changing a light fixture


Handy.Girl
Sep 24, 2011, 01:17 PM
I want to change the ceiling light in my hall way. The wiring is not black/black white/white its black/white black.white. I can turn this light on and off at two different switches. So is the set up correct before I continue.

hkstroud
Sep 24, 2011, 01:28 PM
If you have noted how the old fixture was wired and wire the new fixture the same way you should be OK.


black/white black.white

Sorry but I can't quite decode that. If you are not certain about how to connect the new fixture, describe wiring in the ceiling box using a few more words. I don't want to guess about what you are saying.

ma0641
Sep 24, 2011, 06:39 PM
Different wiring schemes are used in 2 way switches depending on where the power originates. From your somewhat hard to understand description of the wiring, it sounds like the switches are being used in a switch loop circuit. In this case you could have a white wire run as hot but it was not marked as such. In the light there should be 2 wires connected from the ceiling box. What you need to do it to use a Volt Ohm Meter to determine what wire is carrying the current when the light is on. That should be the wire that goes to the black of the new light. Note that many newer black fixture leads have a small white stripe.