2007-01-08 07:17:40 · 14 answers · asked by sitting_bull 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Without testing the circuits with a meter, anyone who takes a shot at answering this can ONLY guess. Do not believe anything you are told to do as far as wiring is concened. You may create a fire hazard or get hurt. You can contact me by mail and eventually by phone to get 1 on 1 help here. You will be required to have a volt meter.
2007-01-08 07:25:22 · answer #1 · answered by Jekyl and Hyde 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is no standard in the situation you are encountering, especially with lack of white wires. What was there before?
Black is usually the "live" wire.
Green is almost always the ground wire.
Red can be another live wire (often switched)
White is the neutral wire.
Yellow is not a standard color in home wiring.
I am gussing, two of your black wires are tied. I am also guessing two of your red wires are tied.
If that is the case, more than likely, black wires are your live wire. (connected it to black on your new fixture)
Red wires are your neutral. Connected it to your white wire of the new fixture.
Green goes to green (ground)
The only sure way to know is to take out the volt meter and measure it yourself. (that is, if you know how to do it) You really should have white wire somewhere, but since you don't I am guessing somone has done a retrofit job before you and spliced it either behind the wall (not legal) or in the junction box.
If this is entirely new to you, please call an electrician. You can mess it up badly.
2007-01-08 07:31:44 · answer #2 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What you have there is the hot wires and a switch circuit. one set of black and red goes to the switch, the other are the incoming power, the green\yellow should be the ground. if you are in europe, where the power is different than in the US, i could be wrong about that. essentially what you will have to do is tie probably the two reds together, then tie the black wires to either wire of the light. the green\yellow goes on the ground screw, it is usually green too. you may need to do it the other way, tie the two blacks togther and use the reds on the light, i cannot be sure in this situation. usually they work with black, for the hot, white for the neutral and green for the ground.
it would be helpful to you to know which wires are the power and which are the switch, but not entirely required.
2007-01-08 07:27:10 · answer #3 · answered by tootall1121 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where are you at because that is definitely not American color coding for wires. In the NEC black wires and red wires are hot wires. White wire is neutral and the green wire is earth ground. Sounds like I.E.C. wiring color coding because of the green and yellow which is the I.E.C. color coding for earth ground.
What you need to do is identify whether you are on a European 220VAC 50 Hz power system or 120/220 VAC 60 Hz. American power system. They are wired and color coded completely different.
That needs to be clarified before anyone can help you. However Spring Rooster gave you the best answer about getting in touch with him by phone.
What worries me is that who ever contracted and did the job, if you are in America, bought the wire from some discount house and got I.E.C. wire instead of American coded wire. Run into that before and had to trace (ring) wires out one wire at a time from one end of house to the other to find problem.
2007-01-08 07:38:47 · answer #4 · answered by JUAN FRAN$$$ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have put up many ceiling fans, light fixtures, and an exhaust fan. DON'T START WRAPING WIRES TOGETHER UNLESS YOU'RE SURE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING. The only reason I can think of for having five wires is so the light can be turned on or off from two locations. Here's what to do...got to your local building supply and ASK. That's what their there for. ASK.
2007-01-08 07:40:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
These days, anyone working on wiring in a kitchen or bathroom has to be qualified or the work has to be tested by someone qualified.
This is the law.
When your house burns down from an electrical fault, your insurance may not be valid,
Get an electrician in.
2007-01-08 07:28:12 · answer #6 · answered by efes_haze 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As "spring rooster" wrote, take no chances with this, you need to know which is "live" you do not know who's been there before you, so, don't take risks. Usually, and I mean usually, red is live, black is negative, green/yellow is earth, or "ground" (US). one of the wires will be part of a continouos live loop one will be to the room switch, but ask an electrician.
2007-01-08 07:44:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is this an international site? because our american friends seem to be getting all mixed up with our colur codes in the uk
As has already been stated it depends on how your house was wired one of the blacks could be a live switch return!.
please take my advise if you are really not that sure get an electrician in, you are going to cause a heap of trouble if you dont.
2007-01-08 08:29:44 · answer #8 · answered by hartmarina 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
on your new light fitting, one of the wires will be attached to the frame of the light fitting this is earth, connect the green/yellow to this.
your two reds ,connect to one of the other wires and your two blacks connect to the other wire.
job done mate.
2007-01-08 10:18:11 · answer #9 · answered by Sparky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a qualified electrican to do it as it is not as easy as it looks, You will either have rcd on fuse box tripping every five minutes or the light on permanent. But good luck anyway
2007-01-08 07:26:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋