ceiling light replacement
#1
04-07-03, 09:53 PM
ceiling light replacement
Hello and thanks for ypur help.
I am replacing a dining room ceiling fixture in 45 year old house, operated by one on/off sitch.
Old fixture had only two wires connected - one to red and one to white. However, in the box it is not one white wire but a group of three white wires (and only one red). Also, there is a group of three black wires (previously not connected to light fixture). Also I find no ground wires.
Instructions of new fixture say connect ribbed wire to white and smooth to black. And conect both ground wires to green screw in mounting bracket.
SOOO, being untrained, my "Plan A" is to connect ribbed to group of three white, and smooth to red. I expect outlet box is grounded so I will attach fixture ground to outlet box.
Is PLAN A ok? is it safe? How best to connect fixture ground to outlet box. I do not own a circuit tester or phase tester, but I coould figure out how to use one if if neededd.
Thank you for your good help.
I am replacing a dining room ceiling fixture in 45 year old house, operated by one on/off sitch.
Old fixture had only two wires connected - one to red and one to white. However, in the box it is not one white wire but a group of three white wires (and only one red). Also, there is a group of three black wires (previously not connected to light fixture). Also I find no ground wires.
Instructions of new fixture say connect ribbed wire to white and smooth to black. And conect both ground wires to green screw in mounting bracket.
SOOO, being untrained, my "Plan A" is to connect ribbed to group of three white, and smooth to red. I expect outlet box is grounded so I will attach fixture ground to outlet box.
Is PLAN A ok? is it safe? How best to connect fixture ground to outlet box. I do not own a circuit tester or phase tester, but I coould figure out how to use one if if neededd.
Thank you for your good help.
#2
04-08-03, 12:59 AM
Your plan sounds fine -- hook it up to the same wires as the old one and connect the ground to the mounting strip.
But I wouldn't assume that the box is grounded. 45 years ago they may or may not have run grounds.
Does the rest of your house have grounded receps? Are there bare copper wires in the box behind the other wires? Is the wiring run in metal conduit (pipe)? If no to all three, chances are your house doesn't have wiring with grounds.
But I wouldn't assume that the box is grounded. 45 years ago they may or may not have run grounds.
Does the rest of your house have grounded receps? Are there bare copper wires in the box behind the other wires? Is the wiring run in metal conduit (pipe)? If no to all three, chances are your house doesn't have wiring with grounds.
