Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    tommyhu's Avatar
    tommyhu Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Feb 8, 2015, 06:37 PM
    Light Fixture : Tried both Black and Red wire but doesn't work
    The box in the ceiling has white, black, red, and ground.

    Light Fixture has White, Black, and Green wire.

    I have connected white to white, and green to ground.

    If I connect black to black, the light turns on and won't shut off

    If I connect black to red, then the light fixture doesn't work.

    Please advice what I should do.

    Can I connect black to both black & red together ?
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Feb 8, 2015, 07:01 PM
    If you have a red wire in the ceiling box there is a strong suggestion there is a second switch somewhere, a 3 way. Does you sitch say ON and OFF on the lever or is it blank? Do you have a test meter or a test light?
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #3

    Feb 8, 2015, 07:22 PM
    If you have a red wire in the ceiling box there is a strong suggestion there is a second switch somewhere, a 3 way.
    I don't think this is true at all. It simply suggests there is a constant feed and the red is a switch leg.
    Now two reds in a box is a different story.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #4

    Feb 9, 2015, 12:23 PM
    The simplest thing to do is pull the switch and tell us what wires are connected there.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #5

    Feb 9, 2015, 05:48 PM
    Sounds like someone may have an unorthodox switch loop circuit. Normally, a black and a red would indicate a 3 way or 2 switched wires i.e. light and fan. Yes, pull the switch and load a picture or tell us what is there.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #6

    Feb 9, 2015, 08:48 PM
    How To Install a 3-way Switch Option #8 :: Home Improvement Web There are many ways to wire a 3 way and most home owners do not know how to do it so I never assume that home wiring is correct. I just worked on a dishwasher where the owner did not seem to know the difference between ground and neutral, it was a shocking experience
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #7

    Feb 10, 2015, 05:42 AM
    How To Install a 3-way Switch Option #8 :: Home Improvement Web There are many ways to wire a 3 way and most home owners do not know how to do it so I never assume that home wiring is correct. I just worked on a dishwasher where the owner did not seem to know the difference between ground and neutral, it was a shocking experience
    Just so you know, the diagram in this link is not only highly unorthodox and not at all used by anyone who knows what they are doing, it also is non-complaint to one of the most basic codes. Keeping all conductors of a circuit in the same raceway or cable.

    Like I said, two reds in the ceiling certainly can be an indication of a 3-way, but it would be pretty rare. And the illegal example shown would be even rarer.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

How to wire a light fixture with a switch with one red one black and one white wire [ 2 Answers ]

I have a red and black wire from the switch and a red black and white wire in the outlet box and a black and white on light fixture how to wire

How to wire a light fixture with red black and white wires [ 2 Answers ]

Installing outdoor light fixture. Fixture has a white, a black and a green ground wire. There are two switches and a sensor in the garage. The wiring on the wall outside the house to the fixture has a red, a black and a white wire. How should the wires be connected for proper operation of the...

Where does the red wire go when changing out a light fixture? [ 5 Answers ]

I've just changed the fixture, black to black, white to white and ground to ground, but there is a red wire coming from the junctionbox. When I turned the breaker back on, the light works, but not the switch. Obviously, the red one controls the switch, but which wires do I attach it to?

Red wire from ceiling fixture. Does it get connected to black? [ 1 Answers ]

Good evening, I do realize it is late on a weekend. I just removed an old florcesent light from my kitchen. I was expecting the usual, one black bire, one white, and one ground. A simple connection. Black to black, white to white, and ground to ground screw on new fixture. However, I have two...

Red wire from ceiling box. Does it get connected to black on the new fixture? [ 1 Answers ]

Good evening, I do realize it is late on a weekend. I just removed an old florcesent light from my kitchen. I was expecting the usual, one black bire, one white, and one ground. A simple connection. Black to black, white to white, and ground to ground screw on new fixture. However, I have two...

View more questions Search