wire question: replace an old ceiling light


  #1  
Old 05-04-19, 02:17 PM
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wire question: replace an old ceiling light

so I opened up an old ceiling light, and

There are 4 sets of wires in the wire box, three of them have 3 wires(white, black, ground), and one has 4(white, black, ground, and red)

*All 4 ground wires are capped together.
*All 4 black wires are capped together.
*All 4 white wires are capped together, with a new one coming out of the cap to the old light.
*The red wire goes to the old light.

So basically the old light has only a red and a white wire, no ground, it that right?

I am going to install a new light, should I still use the red, white, and connect the ground this time?
 
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Old 05-04-19, 02:53 PM
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the old light has only a red and a white wire
The fact it worked is proof that is the correct way.
 
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Old 05-04-19, 03:02 PM
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So should I connect the ground wire for the new one? thanks
 
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Old 05-04-19, 03:32 PM
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ground wire should be connected with ground wire of new light as well.
if you have a metal junction box, ground wire should be bonded (screwed) to the junction box as well.
 
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Old 05-04-19, 03:37 PM
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got it, that is what I figured, but wanted to double check, thanks again!
 
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Old 05-04-19, 09:12 PM
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If the new light fixture comes with a ground wire (probably a green wire), that should be connected to the grounds.

Fixtures and appliances only have grounds if they are metal.

Your old light fixture probably did not have a ground. Was it a porcelain or plastic light bulb base?

 
 

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