Hot and Neutral wire in light fixture
#1
01-22-07, 08:39 AM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 9
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Hot and Neutral wire in light fixture
I want to hang and wire a dining room chandalier. It is not new...I got it from a friend. The problem is that it is impossible to distinguish the hot and neutral wires on the chandalier. They are NOT black and white. They are both copper wire with a clear coating. How do I tell the difference?
#2
01-22-07, 08:46 AM
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Central New York State
Posts: 13,970
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
One of the wires is marked. It will either have ridges on the wire, or a stripe, or some other indicator. If all else fails and you absolutely cannot tell the difference, then use a multi-meter and figure out which wire connected to the base of the sockets (this will be the hot wire) and which connects to the side of the sockets (this will be the neutral).
#6
01-22-07, 09:10 AM
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Central New York State
Posts: 13,970
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
You need to measure resistance. With none of the chandelier wires connected and no bulbs installed, measure the resistance between each wire and the base of the socket and the side of the socket. You will measure 0 ohms resistance (or close to is) when you have continuity.
