Where do I connect the wires for a light fixture?

Question

I have a basic light fixture (one black, one white wire) and a box with 4 wires (red, white, black and ground). I have tried several combinations and cannot get the fixture to work. What am I doing wrong? What wire goes with what wire? Thank you!

I have already tried white to white, black to black,/ white to white, black to red/ white to white, black to red and black, with no luck whatsoever.

Answer 1

I would go to Lowes and get a circuit tester (about $1.20), then with the power on at the breaker, and the switch to the fixture on, touch one side to the ground in the box, the other to white. That should not have power to it. Touching ground and red should turn on your tester, ground and black should do the same. Try the same test with the switch off. You'll likely see red + ground is still hot. Put a wire nut over that, connect black to black, white to white and you should be good to go. Is it possible you have a 3 way switch (ie, 2 switches connected to one fixture)? It's possible those are wired incorrectly and your fixture is always off unless on of the switches is on, and the other is on ... not that I did that by mistake once ...

Good luck

Answer 2

red and black should be the power(hot)wires. white goes to white and green is your ground wire and there should be a ground screw (into a metal plate of some sort)on your fixture. try black to black first, if it works, turn the power off and use a wire nut on the red so you don't burn the place down.

Answer 3

without seeing the ceiling fixture container and wiring myself, i'd be hesitant to propose you as to what the more desirable wires are for. I anticipate that you advise the container on the ceiling has those wires in them, no longer the ceiling fixture that you in elementary words offered, because that could want to have had a wiring diagram that explains what the wires might want to be for. If I had to wager, i might want to assert that the container includes 3 wires because of the particular incontrovertible reality that it is going to have had a ceiling fan that operated on a distinct change than the gentle, or possibly the gentle might want to also be managed from 2 particular switches on easily one of a kind sides of the room, or might want to be both easily one of those. Do you'll have an AC voltage tester to work out which wires are sizzling (stay) and which at the on the spot are not? I hate to propose this, although by technique of and tremendous your large wager is to regulate to the wires decrease back to their source to look what they're for. Do you'll have a faux ceiling that you'll open up? Do the wires pass into the attic or crawlspace the position you may want to check out them while not having to rip open the gypsum board or plaster ceiling? you may want to easily placed each and every of the whites at the same time and each and every of the blacks at the same time, and be particular the grounds are in position, hoping they have a reason. although now no longer information what they're there for is a sturdy thanks to purpose an electric powered hearth. and that i'm particular doing that could want to now no longer be approved with the help of your close by electric powered construction codes.

Answer 4

Black to black

white to white

THEN, connect a ground wire from the fixture to the ground lead you have in the box. Or connect the ground wire from that box (if long enough) directly to a screw somewhere on the light fixture.

Answer 5

Have you tried putting light bulbs in the fixture.It puts off a lot more light with them in it.

White goes with white.The black wire from the light can go with the red or black.The reason for the 4 wires is for a fan light combo.You should have 2 or more switchs next to you door for the red and black wires.

Answer 6

How old is the house?
Are you sure you have power at the box?
What wires were hooked up to the light/ceiling fan you took down?
Since you tried all of the combinations there must be another problem.


Email me if you want.