Why is a white electrical wire connected to 2 black wires?
I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?
The middle switch controls this ceiling light.
electrical ceiling light
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
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I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?
The middle switch controls this ceiling light.
electrical ceiling light
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?
The middle switch controls this ceiling light.
electrical ceiling light
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?
The middle switch controls this ceiling light.
electrical ceiling light
electrical ceiling light
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
asked 4 hours ago
konyakkonyak
1084
1084
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:
Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
add a comment |
That is positional coding. It is very important data.
Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.
Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.
Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
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The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:
Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
add a comment |
The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:
Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
add a comment |
The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:
Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:
Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
answered 3 hours ago
batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson
13.4k11640
13.4k11640
add a comment |
add a comment |
That is positional coding. It is very important data.
Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.
Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.
Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
add a comment |
That is positional coding. It is very important data.
Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.
Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.
Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
add a comment |
That is positional coding. It is very important data.
Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.
Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.
Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
That is positional coding. It is very important data.
Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.
Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.
Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
73.6k448148
73.6k448148
add a comment |
add a comment |
konyak is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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