Positive/negative?

Richard9999

It's been almost 50 years since I was in jr. high electrical class... I'm repairing a lamp. I've got a brass colored terminal and a silver color terminal. I assume the brass colored one is positive and the silver is negative. But I don't want to burn the house down. Can anyone confirm this or set me straight?

Thanks!

rgsgww

Yes, you are correct. In a lamp cord the wire that is rigid is the "negative" (actually is known as the neutral) and the smooth wire is the "positive" (also, is referred to as the "hot")

Billy_Bob

The neutral wire should be wired to the light socket "ring", the hot wire should be wired to the light socket base as shown in the following diagram. And if it is a lamp with a cord and plug, the large prong on the cord should be connected to neutral which then connects to the light fixture socket "ring". This type of plug is called a "polarized" plug.

Billy_Bob

P.S. House wiring uses "Alternating Current" (the + and - switches back and forth).

Batteries like in a car or for your flashlight use "Direct Current".

More on this...
Alternating Current...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current

Direct Current...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current

SD515

The purpose of attaching the neutral to the screw shell is to prevent electrical shock if the shell is touched, as in when changing the bulb.

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Kyle

Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should

Richard9999

The light is working. The house ain't on fire. The wife is happy.

SD515

...and Richard gains some brownie points...Good job

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Kyle

Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should

HandyPete

RGSGWW.... you should NOT be posting your knowledge about electricity. Your post clearly indicates that you do not understand the basics of DC and AC circuits.
--pete

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---pete

Pudge565

Funny I was going to tell him he was totaly wrong since home wiring is ac so has neutral and "hot" not positive and negative.

SD515

Grounded and ungrounded if you want to get technical. Personally I don't see why you are jumping on rgsgww, the OP was the one that first mentioned positive and negative. Granted rgsgww maybe could have been a little more descriptive in showing that houses use AC, not DC, and the differences, but I don't see where he is wrong. Re-read his post and the OP's post.

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Kyle

Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should

Pudge565

If you are directing this to me I wasn't directing it towards him I was directing it towards the OP. Sorry for any confusion should of put a quote in my post.

HandyPete

almost as bad..lolol

In my book, anyone who mentions "positive" and "negative" deserves to be corrected immediately with a direct, simple and polite answer, not some kind of round-about explanation that doesn't set the record straight.

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---pete