Usually there are 3 wires (Gr, Act & Neu) but there is a 4th white wire in the circuit and my light fitting only has 3 wires
2006-08-25 12:57:21 · 7 answers · asked by John C 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Other than the switched circuit, you may actually have an always on power circuit.
You need to check with a volt meter, which wires have power, with the light switch off and on. That'll tell the story.
The other thing to consider, is this part of a multiple switch circuit?
2006-08-25 13:05:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 options:
1) Being a ceiling box, I would guess the box is wired for a comination fan/light. Then, each hot will go to a separate switch in a common switch box, 1 switches the light and the other switches the fan. These hots would then be wired to the fixture.....again---1 to the fan, and 1 to the light. The neutral would be shared between the 2 as a common neutral(or grounded conductor if you prefer). If this is the case, you should have at least a double gang box (or a dual switch) at the switch to this fixture. and should also see a 14-3 romex going out of the switch box.
But, if this were the case, 1 of the wires should be red...unless its really old wiring.
2) Some yahoo wired up the house in the first place and I have no advice as to what it could be. Ive seen people do anything and everything
A couple of questions for you:
a) What were the wires going to when you pulled out the fixture to replace it?
b) Is there a double switch box at the switch that controls that ceiling fixture?
c) You really have 2 white wires, a black wire and a copper wire?
d) Is it a 14-3 romex or THHN wires(individual thermoplastic covered conductors) or something else?
e) Are the 4 wires you mentioned the only wires in the box?
f) How old is the house? Is this the original wiring?
Let me know and I can tell you more about it.
2006-08-25 20:26:10 · answer #2 · answered by rheins2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Need more details in this question. Was there a light there before? Are the wires coming through the same cable? Are some of the wires spliced through? What are the exact colors of the wires? Is there more than one switch for the light?Did you take the light down?
2006-08-25 20:12:49 · answer #3 · answered by steven a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have marked them when the fixture was removed. It probably goes to the light switch. There may also be a three way switch. You may need a meter to follow the circuits. Wiring it wrong could make the screw part of the socket hot causing a shock when replacing bulbs.
2006-08-25 20:07:50 · answer #4 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wire the white one to the neutral.
2006-08-28 16:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by Loyless H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont worry about the extra white just use the black green and one white does not matter which one
2006-08-25 20:02:16 · answer #6 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't know get an electrician.. You may burn your house up.
2006-08-25 20:02:23 · answer #7 · answered by Jacks036 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋