How can both wires be hot?

tfb4me · 10-14-2008, 05:28 PM

are the wires switched? If they are turn the switch off.Hook up the light and see what happens..Im almost 100% you have a non issue..Just old unmarked wire..It there a 3 way switch? Is there a junction box in the ceiling or just 2 wires sticking out of the plaster? Let us know

InPhase277 · 10-14-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfb4me

are the wires switched? If they are turn the switch off.Hook up the light and see what happens..Im almost 100% you have a non issue..Just old unmarked wire..It there a 3 way switch? Is there a junction box in the ceiling or just 2 wires sticking out of the plaster? Let us know

Well, there's 100% chance that either way it's wired it will work. But there's a 50/50% chance that it will be wrong. The screw shell of the light cannot be hot... Even in Ontario

.

tfb4me · 10-14-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InPhase277

Well, there's 100% chance that either way it's wired it will work. But there's a 50/50% chance that it will be wrong. The screw shell of the light cannot be hot... Even in Ontario

.

Correct me if im wrong..IF the light isint installed correctly it wont work and will trip the breaker? If it is will the light should now work?

InPhase277 · 10-14-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfb4me

Correct me if im wrong..IF the light isint installed correctly it wont work and will trip the breaker? If it is will the light should now work?

That's the thing about AC wiring. If something is hooked up in reverse, it still works. In other words, the light bulb doesn't care which wire is hot and which is neutral. But if it is wired wrong the screw shell of the light socket will be hot and this is dangerous and against code.

tfb4me · 10-14-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InPhase277

That's the thing about AC wiring. If something is hooked up in reverse, it still works. In other words, the light bulb doesn't care which wire is hot and which is neutral. But if it is wired wrong the screw shell of the light socket will be hot and this is dangerous and against code.

AHH HA! Id be wrong then..Sorry to mislead.I have ran into this before.Perhaps I should check to see if all is still good..I to have an old home built in 1897.Im going to get out the extention chord tonight and test to see if im good to go or not...

Bubbagump · 10-15-2008, 10:40 AM

YOu may want someone to do this for you. If you are this sketchy on DC versus AC, you are liable to get yourself in some trouble. Touch a terminal of a car battery versus touch the hot of an AC circuit are very different animals. Whatever you do, don't work that circuit hot. Kill the breaker.

BeastinBlack · 10-19-2008, 11:44 AM

Ok guys, who's going to be the one that instructs on how to backfeed this light, if he wants it on a switch?
Otherwise the new fixture is going to have to have a chain/switch on it as well.

jamiedolan · 10-19-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeastinBlack

Ok guys, who's going to be the one that instructs on how to backfeed this light, if he wants it on a switch?
Otherwise the new fixture is going to have to have a chain/switch on it as well.

He really needs someone local that can help him learn a few more things about electrical work. When someone doesn't even have a grasp of the basics and they have never done any ac work, it just doesn't feel safe to explain much anything beyond how to wire in a fixture. Even then, I have seen so many people that make very poor connections that are unsafe, just because they don't know any better.

When I get a chance, I am going to take some photos of good connections with wires twisted for nuts and wires looped on screws so people can see what good connections look like.

Jamie

rgsgww · 10-19-2008, 02:04 PM

Well, if you feel like pulling new wire then you can add a switch.
You cannot modify ungrounded circuits.

Have to pull new wire, if it is bx, you have to have a bonding strip to use it as a ground.

10-14-2008, 05:28 PM	#16
tfb4me Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brantford Ontario Posts: 13	How can both wires be hot? are the wires switched? If they are turn the switch off.Hook up the light and see what happens..Im almost 100% you have a non issue..Just old unmarked wire..It there a 3 way switch? Is there a junction box in the ceiling or just 2 wires sticking out of the plaster? Let us know

10-15-2008, 10:40 AM	#21
Bubbagump Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 104	How can both wires be hot? YOu may want someone to do this for you. If you are this sketchy on DC versus AC, you are liable to get yourself in some trouble. Touch a terminal of a car battery versus touch the hot of an AC circuit are very different animals. Whatever you do, don't work that circuit hot. Kill the breaker.

10-19-2008, 11:44 AM	#22
BeastinBlack Creative Electrician Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 14	How can both wires be hot? Ok guys, who's going to be the one that instructs on how to backfeed this light, if he wants it on a switch? Otherwise the new fixture is going to have to have a chain/switch on it as well.

10-19-2008, 02:04 PM	#24
rgsgww Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,543	How can both wires be hot? Well, if you feel like pulling new wire then you can add a switch. You cannot modify ungrounded circuits. Have to pull new wire, if it is bx, you have to have a bonding strip to use it as a ground.

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How can both wires be hot?