So, we need a little guidance. We are replacing the two light fixtures in our hallway. Both of the lights are operated by two switches at either end of the hallway. So, we took off the first light fixture and wired up the new fixture exactly as the old fixture was wired; white to (2)whites, black to black and green to green.

Now, here's where the guidance is required. When we took off fixture number 2, there are no white, black and green wires, only 2 black. The fixtures appear identical other than the wiring.

Both of the new LED fixtures have the standard white, black and green wiring. So, how do we wire the second new fixture correctly?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

So that means in the box is two white wires, one black wire and one green wire.
Is that correct ?

If that is correct..... do you have conduit in your home ?

 

In the first ceiling box there are many wires. But, the ones that were being used by the old fixture were black, white and green. I think it was 2 white twisted together from the box. But it might have been 2 black. I took a picture but deleted it by accident.

Attached is the pic from the 2nd fixture where the were only 2 black wires. Black to (2)black wires from box and black to white wire from box. It's not the greatest pic

 

I confess...... I'm confused.

You said two black wires and no white wire and yet I see a white wire in the picture and your second description includes it. You appear to have NM-b (romex) wiring. There won't be a green wire. It will be a bare wire. I see a bare copper wire in box 2.

 

When I say there are no white, black or green wires, I am speaking of the old lighting fixture that was removed. It had only 2 black wires.

 

Ok... gotcha. Many older fixtures only had two black wires and no ground.

If you look at the black wires closely you may see ribs or ridges on one. That's neutral or white.

 

So the fixture with the two black wires is discarded and gone?


Connect the white wire pictured to the white wire of the new fixture.


Connect the two black wires pictured to the black wire of the new fixture.


Connect the bare or green wire of the fixture t the mounting strip pictured; use one of the screws that holds the strip to the box. Better, connect the bare or green wire from the new fixture to the tiny hole near the big round hole in the mounting strip. You will have to find a screw that fits; a green screw probably came with that strip that in turn came with the old fixture.


Using a piece of string, attach the fixture to the mounting strip so it can hang loose a few inches and not stretch the wires too much.


Turn on the power to see if the fixture works.


If the fixture or some nearby lights do not work properly then leave it hanging and come back to this forum thread for more help.

 

Here are some better pics, maybe they will explain more clearly than I have.

 

We understand completely what you have. It's basically a non issue.
You're removing a fixture that used two black wires with one that has three wires.... black, white and ground.

 

Thanks. Just didn't understand why they would put up 1 grounded ficture and 1 not grounded fixture.

 

As the fixtures get newer they go thru more improvements to keep up with newer codes.
Years ago two of the same color wire was fine. A ground wire wasn't needed as the boxes were metal.
Connecting the metal light to the the metal box with metal screws was ground enough.

Then they came out with plastic boxes so a separate ground wire was required for a positive ground.
Now every new fixture has a ground wire.