In the US (and others?) black is hot and white is neutral. The two are never connected together. However, the code allows a white conductor to be switched hot if the ends are properly identified, such as by wrapping with color identifier (usually black) tape. Before you make any changes, however, look at the entire circuit. If an error has been made in one part, it is often that a "correcting" error was made in another.
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Red and white wires in a light fixture indicate that the fixture is designed for use with a three-way switch, which allows the light to be controlled from more than one location. The red wire typically carries the switched power, while the white wire serves as the neutral wire. This wiring setup is common in homes where three-way switches are used for lighting control.
It sounds like the light fixture's junction box is used as a through box for additional devices further along in the circuit. This would account for the two white wires being connected together to continue the neutral to another load device. As for the black wires, one could be the "hot" into the junction box from the distribution panel supply or a return "hot" from a switch that controls the light fixture. The other could be a feeder that connects the first fixture to a second fixture. Without seeing a photo of the wiring and what other wires are in the same cable set, it is hard to state completely what the wires do.
If the new light fixture has 2 black wires and no white wire, it likely means that the fixture is designed to be connected to a circuit where the white wire has been designated as the hot wire instead of the black wire. Make sure to double check the wiring and consult a professional if you are unsure.
If there is no grounding wire present, you can still install the new light fixture using just the black and white wires. Make sure to connect the black wire to the live wire on the fixture and the white wire to the neutral wire. Since there is a GFCI outlet on the circuit, this will provide some level of shock protection in case of any electrical faults.
It sounds like the black wires may be hot wires coming from the power source and the white wires could be neutral wires. The black wires are typically connected to the fixture's black wires. If the black wires aren't connected and capped off, the fixture won't receive power. It's important to properly connect all wires to ensure the fixture functions safely.
Connect the black wire from the light fixture to the black house wire, the white wire from the light fixture to the white house wire, and the green wire from the light fixture to the junction box ground wire or directly to the house's grounding system. Make sure to turn off the power before starting any work and follow all safety guidelines.
Yes, typically the black wire is connected to the gold screw (hot) and the white wire is connected to the silver screw (neutral) on a light fixture. It is important to ensure that the power is turned off before making any connections for safety.