I was taking down an old ceiling fan and installing a chandelier. The ceiling fan has a light. There are two switches on the wall that operate the fan. One for the light and one for the fan. When I tested the red and black wires before working on the wiring, I discovered that both the black and the red wires become hot no matter which switch is thrown open. Why would it be wired this way and is this safe. If so, can I just cap off one of the hot wires (red) and wire the new light fixture to the black hot?

You can cap the extra wire off, and hook chandelier to a wire that is switched.

Both wires are switched. When I turn on on switch, both wires become hot. I then turn off this switch and turn on the other switch and again, both wires become hot. Is this the correct operation of the red and black wires when there are two switches? Is this safe?

No. Can you send us a picture of the wiring at the switches please.

You can still cap one and use the other.
Continuous power should go to each switch, then from each switch to your loads(lights fans etc).
Red or black can be continuous hot or switched, a test light will help.

You can still cap one and use the other.

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

You can still cap one and use the other.
Continous power should go to each switch, then from each switch to your loads(lights fans etc).
Red or black can be continous hot or switched, a test light will help.

You can still cap one and use the other.

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I am assuming that you mean to cap off either the red or black wire at the ceiling to create a dead switch at the wall. Correct?

If the fan/light you took down operated properly, that is one switch controlled the fan and one controlled the light, there is something not right here. What other wires do you have in the ceiling box?

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

If the fan/light you took down operated properly, that is one switch controlled the fan and one controlled the the light, there is some thing not right here. What other wires do you have in the ceiling box?

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There is a ground, black, red and white wire at the ceiling.

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Originally Posted by umtzo

I am assuming that you mean to cap off either the red or black wire at the ceiling to create a dead switch at the wall. Correct?

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Yes, since you are only have a light, you will end up with a useless switch. You could either blank it off with a wall plate(half recepticle/half blank), a receptacle, or a switch, an indicating light or timer. If you can get from switch down under house, or up into attic or outside, the switch could control outside lights, fountain, etc.

Then there is something wrong with the wiring at the switch. Possible short between the red and black. Possible incorrect wiring. I would pull the switches and find out what.