Well cover the easier scenario first. Open the package of wire nuts and installation screws that came with the new light fixture.
Changing Old Light Switch 2 Black Wires And 1 Red Home
Red wire light fixture. How to connect the red wire for a ceiling light fixture. The red wire the red wire is most likely a spare wire that was intended to be used when wiring for a ceiling fan. Except in rare cases it is a hot wire or a switched hot wire. If you change a light fixture and find a red wire in the electrical box chances are the black wire from the fixture needs to go to the red wire in the box. Wrap the copper or silver ground wires from the light fixture around the ground screw. The exact purpose of a red wire for a light fixture can vary.
At the fixture the white connects to the neutral terminal on the light. Then connect it to the supply ground wire of the junction box with a wire connector. The red wire from the switch loop is connected to the hot terminal on the light and at the other end to the new switch. Check the wire with a non contact voltage tester with the power and. Or it could be the red wire is the wire going to the fixture and the black wires are the live wires. It could be there is or once was a three way switch in play.
While the light only has a black and white electrical wire some manufacturers include an addition wire. Connect the black or red current wires and the white neutral wires. Wiring a new light from a switched outlet. The white wire is capped with a wire nut in the new switch box. The red wire as a spare wire. Normally youll see a red wire in places you would expect a ceiling fan.
When you see a red wire in a light switch box it can mean two things. Red wire on the light fixture step 1 turn off the power to the light circuit then check the wires with a voltage tester to verify there is no voltage reading. The wall switch typically when a ceiling fan is installed the red wire is most commonly used for the light and the black is commonly for the fan motor. If necessary use wire strippers to remove the insulation from the light fixtures electric wires.