Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
Hi,
I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? |
#2
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#3
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
The red wire is coming from a three switch box(wall installed) by the
front door - one for the entry, one for the porch light, one for a light by the garage. The switch for the entry has the black power wire and then a red wire into the ceiling box. The previous light was connected to the Black wire and the red wire (granted it was an old light) for the new fixture I connected the black to the black, the white to the white - the light turned on but the switch would not turn it on and off. when I connect the red to the white on the fixture the light does not work at all. propman wrote: wrote in news:1164948413.649072.89190 @h54g2000cwb.googlegroups.com: Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? Are the wires you mentioned coming into the ceiling electrical box or are you talking about wires that came attached to the fixture? Also, what kind of switch are you refering to......wall installed or integral to the lighting unit you are installing? |
#4
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#6
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#7
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#8
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
It is how the light is currently connected, black to black, white to
red. the light does not turn on and there is no other switch to power the light Sev wrote: wrote: I did connect as the old one was, the light did not turn on, when I connect it to as most are the light will not turn off. . The previous light was connected to the Black wire and the red wire But this isn't what you said you did with new fixture. Is there another switch which controlled the old light? |
#9
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
How was it wired when you started dicking with it?
-- Steve Barker wrote in message ups.com... Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? |
#10
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
It was wired to a light fixture (circa 1973) that had nither black nor
white nor red wires, the black wires went to ine and the red to the other. So from the new fixture (circa 2006) I hooked the black to the black and the white to the red - no light - So i switched the white to the white wire that was previously hanging from the electrical box and had light but no switch control. Steve Barker LT wrote: How was it wired when you started dicking with it? -- Steve Barker wrote in message ups.com... Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? |
#11
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
I am very confuse now.
Please, how many wires are available at the ceiling box where the fixture is? What colors are they? It would also help if you would pull the switch out enough to identify the colors on the 2 terminals on the switch. ___________________________ Keep the whole world singing. . . . DanG wrote in message ups.com... Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? |
#12
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
OK
Light Switch - Black on one terminal red on the other Electrical Box - Black, White, Red, Ground Old fixture was connected to black and red with two copper wires from the fixture. New fixture connected black to black ad white to red - no light New fixture connected black to black and white to white - light but no switch control DanG wrote: I am very confuse now. Please, how many wires are available at the ceiling box where the fixture is? What colors are they? It would also help if you would pull the switch out enough to identify the colors on the 2 terminals on the switch. ___________________________ Keep the whole world singing. . . . DanG wrote in message ups.com... Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? |
#13
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
see if black(fixture) to red (house) and white to white works. that is
what I would expect in your situation. white is always neutral, green is always ground, most other colors are hot. when you have a black and a red in the same box black is usually always hot and red is switched hot. nate wrote: OK Light Switch - Black on one terminal red on the other Electrical Box - Black, White, Red, Ground Old fixture was connected to black and red with two copper wires from the fixture. New fixture connected black to black ad white to red - no light New fixture connected black to black and white to white - light but no switch control DanG wrote: I am very confuse now. Please, how many wires are available at the ceiling box where the fixture is? What colors are they? It would also help if you would pull the switch out enough to identify the colors on the 2 terminals on the switch. ___________________________ Keep the whole world singing. . . . DanG wrote in message roups.com... Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel |
#14
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#16
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#17
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#18
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
Sounds like you need someone in there that knows what they are doing.
-- Steve Barker wrote in message oups.com... It was wired to a light fixture (circa 1973) that had nither black nor white nor red wires, the black wires went to ine and the red to the other. So from the new fixture (circa 2006) I hooked the black to the black and the white to the red - no light - So i switched the white to the white wire that was previously hanging from the electrical box and had light but no switch control. Steve Barker LT wrote: How was it wired when you started dicking with it? -- Steve Barker |
#19
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
Steve Barker LT wrote:
Sounds like you need someone in there that knows what they are doing. Ceiling light. [Ceiling] at least get the spelling close. Take Steve's advice above. Quote: "No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. Doug" That is true of 115-volt coming off the same power leg; not true of 230-volt without a proper load between those two conductors = BANG, a direct short! Of course, Doug knows that. - udarrell -- PROPER A/C UNIT & DUCTWORK Sizing is over 70% of Operating Efficiency http://www.udarrell.com/proper_cfm_b...syste ms.html Air Conditioning Installations Now Produce 95% Failure Rate http://www.eeba.org/conference/2004/...s/Proctor1.pdf Solving - External Static Pressure (ESP) http://www.udarrell.com/udarrell-air-conditioning.html |
#21
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:02:25 GMT, udarrell
wrote: Steve Barker LT wrote: Sounds like you need someone in there that knows what they are doing. Ceiling light. [Ceiling] at least get the spelling close. Take Steve's advice above. Quote: "No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. Doug" That is true of 115-volt coming off the same power leg; not true of 230-volt without a proper load between those two conductors = BANG, a direct short! Of course, Doug knows that. - udarrell For purposes of that rule (No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage) the 2 legs of 230V are NOT the same voltage. They are opposite (180 degrees out of phase). That's like +10 and -10 aren't the same number. -- 24 days until the winter solstice celebration Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has no place in the curriculum of our nation's public school classes." -- Ted Kennedy |
#22
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
wrote: wrote: Hi, I am in the process of replacing all of my ceiling fixtures in my house. I am currently replacing one in the hall, there is a white, black, red and ground. The only way the light will work is on the black and white but it can not be controlled by the switch. Any suggestions? if the light was working when you disconnected it there are only two combinations , unless it was miswired in the first place. Black and white Red and white If you have a voltage tester of some sort that would help. .. Forty plus postings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Suggest this is waste of time; and possibly dangerous or non code? Trying to advise someone who hasn't clue about how to wire what 'sounds like' a simple single wall switch to one light, that was working before the existing light was disconnected. All this about the red wire being connected to .................... etc. is not the way to UNDERSTAND and do a safe job. He/she may get it working but will it be safe. Very worrying! An electrician or even someone competent could probably sort that out in less than half an hour even though there now seems to be no record of what the connections previuosly were. Not making a note of them is negligent IMHO. |
#23
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
terry wrote:
snipped |
#24
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
Mark Lloyd wrote:
On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:02:25 GMT, udarrell wrote: Steve Barker LT wrote: Sounds like you need someone in there that knows what they are doing. Ceiling light. [Ceiling] at least get the spelling close. Take Steve's advice above. Quote: "No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. Doug" That is true of 115-volt coming off the same power leg; not true of 230-volt without a proper load between those two conductors = BANG, a direct short! Of course, Doug knows that. - udarrell For purposes of that rule (No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage [& phase]) the 2 legs of 230V are NOT the same [phase] voltage. They are opposite [phase] (180 degrees out of phase). That's like +10 and -10 aren't the same number. Excellent description, the opposite legs [phase] of power are 180-degrees out of phase - Therefore, due to being 180-degrees out of phase, the same 115-volts potential each possesses is doubled to 230-volts. However, either leg will deliver 115-volts across a load to neutral or ground. I am sure Doug knew that. -- PROPER A/C UNIT & DUCTWORK Sizing is over 70% of Operating Efficiency http://www.udarrell.com/proper_cfm_b...syste ms.html Air Conditioning Installations Now Produce 95% Failure Rate http://www.eeba.org/conference/2004/...s/Proctor1.pdf Solving - External Static Pressure (ESP) http://www.udarrell.com/udarrell-air-conditioning.html |
#25
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 00:09:57 GMT, udarrell
wrote: Mark Lloyd wrote: On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:02:25 GMT, udarrell wrote: Steve Barker LT wrote: Sounds like you need someone in there that knows what they are doing. Ceiling light. [Ceiling] at least get the spelling close. Take Steve's advice above. Quote: "No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. Doug" That is true of 115-volt coming off the same power leg; not true of 230-volt without a proper load between those two conductors = BANG, a direct short! Of course, Doug knows that. - udarrell For purposes of that rule (No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage [& phase]) Please don't edit my quotes. If you have anything to say, please be honest and say it yourself. the 2 legs of 230V are NOT the same [phase] voltage. They are opposite [phase] (180 degrees out of phase). Notice that here I already said "phase". That's like +10 and -10 aren't the same number. Excellent description, the opposite legs [phase] of power are 180-degrees out of phase - Therefore, due to being 180-degrees out of phase, the same 115-volts potential each possesses is doubled to 230-volts. However, either leg will deliver 115-volts across a load to neutral or ground. I am sure Doug knew that. -- 24 days until the winter solstice celebration Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has no place in the curriculum of our nation's public school classes." -- Ted Kennedy |
#26
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
Jeff Wisnia wrote: terry wrote: snipped . Forty plus postings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Suggest this is waste of time; and possibly dangerous or non code? Trying to advise someone who hasn't clue about how to wire what 'sounds like' a simple single wall switch to one light, that was working before the existing light was disconnected. All this about the red wire being connected to .................... etc. is not the way to UNDERSTAND and do a safe job. He/she may get it working but will it be safe. Very worrying!\ I was reaching your view myself.... An electrician or even someone competent could probably sort that out in less than half an hour even though there now seems to be no record of what the connections previuosly were. Not making a note of them is negligent IMHO. Particularly since practically EVERBODY has a digital camera now, and a couple of quick shots will save the "before" conditions in "living color". So, the red wire gets connected to the camera !? |
#27
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:02:25 GMT, udarrell
wrote: Damn, if you have a RED wire, your house is bugged. Red wires are only allowed if they are connected to the Federal Government. Anyone who has red wires is on the FBIs 10 most wanted lists or are under survilance. I'd pack up and leave quickly, use the rear door and leave during the night. Do not say a word to anyone about this. That red wire sees and hears everything you do. |
#28
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
Mark Lloyd wrote:
On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 00:09:57 GMT, udarrell wrote: Mark Lloyd wrote: On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:02:25 GMT, udarrell wrote: Steve Barker LT wrote: Ceiling light. [Ceiling] at least get the spelling close. Take Steve's advice above. Quote: "No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. Doug" That is true of 115-volt coming off the same [phase] power leg; not true of 230-volt without a proper load between those two conductors = BANG, a direct short! Of course, Doug knows that. - udarrell For purposes of that rule (No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage [& phase]) Please don't edit my quotes. If you have anything to say, please be honest and say it yourself. the 2 legs of 230V are NOT the same [phase] voltage. They are opposite [phase] (180 degrees out of phase). Notice that here I already said "phase". That's like +10 and -10 aren't the same number. Excellent description, the opposite legs [phase] of power are 180-degrees out of phase - Therefore, due to being 180-degrees out of phase, the same 115-volts potential each possesses is doubled to 230-volts. However, either leg will deliver 115-volts across a load to neutral or ground. I am sure Doug knew that. I apologize Mark for the [edits], I was merely clarifying that you were correct in your statements. -- PROPER A/C UNIT & DUCTWORK Sizing is over 70% of Operating Efficiency http://www.udarrell.com/proper_cfm_b...syste ms.html Air Conditioning Installations Now Produce 95% Failure Rate http://www.eeba.org/conference/2004/...s/Proctor1.pdf Solving - External Static Pressure (ESP) http://www.udarrell.com/udarrell-air-conditioning.html |
#29
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Ceiling light
On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:13:26 GMT, udarrell
wrote: Mark Lloyd wrote: On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 00:09:57 GMT, udarrell wrote: Mark Lloyd wrote: On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:02:25 GMT, udarrell wrote: Steve Barker LT wrote: Ceiling light. [Ceiling] at least get the spelling close. Take Steve's advice above. Quote: "No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. Doug" That is true of 115-volt coming off the same [phase] power leg; not true of 230-volt without a proper load between those two conductors = BANG, a direct short! Of course, Doug knows that. - udarrell For purposes of that rule (No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage [& phase]) Please don't edit my quotes. If you have anything to say, please be honest and say it yourself. the 2 legs of 230V are NOT the same [phase] voltage. They are opposite [phase] (180 degrees out of phase). Notice that here I already said "phase". That's like +10 and -10 aren't the same number. Excellent description, the opposite legs [phase] of power are 180-degrees out of phase - Therefore, due to being 180-degrees out of phase, the same 115-volts potential each possesses is doubled to 230-volts. However, either leg will deliver 115-volts across a load to neutral or ground. I am sure Doug knew that. I apologize Mark for the [edits], I was merely clarifying that you were correct in your statements. And I still recognize that the legs of a 230V circuit are not the same. I once had trouble because I knew more that I was supposed to. In my NEC class, one question on a test was "True or false: the currents in each leg of a 3-phase wye motor are equal". The "correct" answer in that class was "true". I knew it was false. The sum of all currents in a node is zero (and can't be anything else, considering what current is). The only time you can have 3 equal numbers that add up to zero is when they're all zero. In this case, you have something like: 40A @ 0 deg + 40A @ 120 deg + 40A @ 240 deg = 0 Those numbers are definitely NOT equal to each other. -- 23 days until the winter solstice celebration Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has no place in the curriculum of our nation's public school classes." -- Ted Kennedy |
#31
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
He sounds 100% right. It is hard us tell from here, but if you take a
voltage tester and check, the black should be hot all the time and the red should be controlled by the switched. I think you were mistaken about the original connection. The fan should have the same 3 colors. Do red/red black/black white/white. On 2 Dec 2006 16:18:45 -0800, wrote: I came for help, not some super electrical geek boy smart ass answer. but thanks Doug Miller wrote: In article .com, wrote: OK Light Switch - Black on one terminal red on the other Electrical Box - Black, White, Red, Ground Old fixture was connected to black and red with two copper wires from the fixture. I doubt that very much. Probably it was connected to white and red, and you forgot -- it seems that you didn't take note of what was connected to what, before you took the old one out. New fixture connected black to black ad white to red - no light No surprise the you've connected both sides of the light fixture to hot wires. No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. New fixture connected black to black and white to white - light but no switch control No surprise there either: you have the neutral side of the fixture connected properly, and the hot side connected to a wire that's hot all the time, and not controlled by the switch. Try connecting white to white, and black to red -- and next time, pay attention to what's connected where, and label them, before you disconnect anything. -- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com) It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again. |
#32
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
|
#33
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
wrote:
I came for help, not some super electrical geek boy smart ass answer. but thanks If you think that that was a smart ass answer, DO NOT post in alt.hvac should you be unfortunate enough to have a heating or air conditioning problem in the future. Here's a preview: Call a qualified, licensed electrician. NOW you can call me a smart ass, thanks. Doug Miller wrote: In article .com, wrote: OK Light Switch - Black on one terminal red on the other Electrical Box - Black, White, Red, Ground Old fixture was connected to black and red with two copper wires from the fixture. I doubt that very much. Probably it was connected to white and red, and you forgot -- it seems that you didn't take note of what was connected to what, before you took the old one out. New fixture connected black to black ad white to red - no light No surprise the you've connected both sides of the light fixture to hot wires. No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. New fixture connected black to black and white to white - light but no switch control No surprise there either: you have the neutral side of the fixture connected properly, and the hot side connected to a wire that's hot all the time, and not controlled by the switch. Try connecting white to white, and black to red -- and next time, pay attention to what's connected where, and label them, before you disconnect anything. -- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com) It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again. |
#34
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Red Wire in Cileing light
In article .com,
says... I came for help, not some super electrical geek boy smart ass answer. but thanks You ever figure this out yet? Doug Miller wrote: In article .com, wrote: OK Light Switch - Black on one terminal red on the other Electrical Box - Black, White, Red, Ground Old fixture was connected to black and red with two copper wires from the fixture. I doubt that very much. Probably it was connected to white and red, and you forgot -- it seems that you didn't take note of what was connected to what, before you took the old one out. New fixture connected black to black ad white to red - no light No surprise the you've connected both sides of the light fixture to hot wires. No current can flow between two points that are at the same voltage. New fixture connected black to black and white to white - light but no switch control No surprise there either: you have the neutral side of the fixture connected properly, and the hot side connected to a wire that's hot all the time, and not controlled by the switch. Try connecting white to white, and black to red -- and next time, pay attention to what's connected where, and label them, before you disconnect anything. -- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com) It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
CRT TV HV RED WIRE | Electronics Repair | |||
Red Wire in Ceiling Light Outlet | Home Repair | |||
Installing Ceiling Fan with Red wire on electrical box. | Home Repair | |||
Installing Ceiling Fan with Red wire on electrical box. | Home Ownership |