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In some cases in residential wiring you do. From a light fixture junction box to a switch box, the cable is a two wire, black and white. To connect the switch into the circuit at the fixture box, the "hot" conductor is connected to the white wire that goes down to the switch. The switched "hot" comes back on the black wire and this is then connected to the fixtures black wire. The white (neutral) is picked up in the fixtures junction box and connected to the fixtures white wire.
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BlakeNo, connecting a black wire to a red wire is not recommended unless you are following a specific wiring diagram that calls for it. In standard household electrical systems, black wires are typically hot (live) wires, while red wires are often used for special circuits like interconnecting smoke detectors or three-way switches. It's crucial to follow proper electrical codes and guidelines to ensure safety.
In the US, for AC electrical wiring:
any color not white, gray or green (usually black or red) = HOT
White = Neutral (current carrying)
Green = Ground
Different color conventions are used in other countries, and also in wiring for autos and electronics. For example, in most DC circuits in electronics, the black wire is ground or battery negative and the red wire is positive.
The assumption is that you are asking about house wiring. Typically the black is the "Hot" lead, the "White" is neutral and the bare wire is ground. If there is a red wire it might be part of a 240 VAC circuit or it could be part of a 3-way switching or dimmer lighting circuit. You would have to better describe what you are connecting and where to tell you much more.
ponypomp;
You don't, but that is because you don't know enough to be working with it.
Sorry, but getting killed to save a few dollars is not worth it, if your working with 240v
as the post above said. If you have a connector,red that is being used as a three way
and don't hook it up correctly, you could fry the switch or what ever you are doing.
There are several scenarios for say 12/3 w gr. You need to be able to read a wiring diagram.
Safe is better then sorry.
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How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?
The black wire is typically the hot wire that carries the electrical current, while the red wire is often used as a traveler wire. Connect the black wire to one terminal of the light switch and the red wire to the other terminal. Make sure to turn off the power before wiring the switch to avoid electrical shock.
How do you connect timer white and black house wire with red black and white wires?
To connect a timer to a white and black house wire with red, black, and white wires, typically the black wire from the timer connects to the black house wire, the white wire from the timer connects to the white house wire, and the red wire from the timer connects to the red wire from the house. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and turn off the power before installation.
How do you install a doorbell with four wires both having black and red wires?
Connect the black wire from the transformer to the red wire going to the front door button, and the black wire from the chime to the red wire going to the back door button. Connect the red wire from the transformer to the front door button's black wire, and the red wire from the chime to the back door button's black wire. This setup should allow the doorbell to function properly.
How do you connect red white black and green form USB to a two wire cable having red lack?
You can connect the red wire from the USB cable to the red wire of the two-wire cable. The black wire from the USB cable can be connected to the black wire of the two-wire cable. As for the white and green wires from the USB cable, since the two-wire cable only has a red and black wire, you can leave the white and green wires unconnected as they are not needed in this case. Just make sure to insulate the unused wires properly to avoid any short circuits.
I see only a red and a green wire coming out from ceiling box. What are they and how do you connect them to a ceiling light?
The red and green wires are likely the live and ground wires, respectively. To connect them to a ceiling light, connect the green wire to the ground screw on the light fixture and connect the red wire to the live wire on the fixture. Make sure to turn off the power before working on the wiring to avoid any accidents.
