If the red and black wires are connected together already and energized, yes you can do that but you will need a pull chain light or a remote control, if they are not switch controlled.
Likewise, Which wire is live red or black?
Answered by Dave, Electrical Safety Expert
The live Red becomes Brown. The Neutral Black becomes Blue. The Earth wires continue to be Green and yellow.
Also, What happens if you switch black and red wires?
If you switched the wires, what would happen? Red is positive charge, black is negative charge. If you aren’t running if you aren’t connected correctly.
Moreover, What do you do with the red wire?
Red wires are usually used as secondary hot wires. Red wires are also hot and should be clearly marked to avoid the dangers of electrocution. Red wires are commonly used when installing ceiling fans, where the light switch maybe.
When wiring a light what is the red wire?
The exact purpose of a red wire for a light fixture can vary. Except in rare cases, it is a hot wire or a switched hot wire. Check the wire with a non-contact voltage tester with the power and switch turned on. If the tester indicates the wire is hot, turn the switch off and retest.
Is the red wire the live wire?
The live wire is brown in new systems and red in old systems. The neutral wire is blue in new systems and black in old systems.
Is black wire positive and red negative?
One is marked positive (+), the other negative (-). There are also positive and negative cables in the jumper cable set. The red one is positive (+), the black one is negative (-). Never connect the red cable to the negative battery terminal or a vehicle with a dead battery.
Are red and black wires the same?
The standard way to power a split-tab outlet is to run a three-conductor cable to a wall switch. The cable has a black wire, which connects directly to the circuit, and a red wire, which connects to the switch.
Where do the red and black wires go on a light switch?
The black (hot) wire goes to the brass screw or into the hole in the back of the device on the same side as the brass screw. This wire is sometimes red. The green or bare copper (ground) wire, if the device has one, attaches to the green screw terminal on the switch or to the electrical box.
Which wire is positive when both are black?
If the multi-colored wire is black and red, the black wire is the negative wire, while the red one is positive. If both wires are black but one has a white stripe, the striped wire is negative, while the plain black wire is positive. Look in the owner manual to determine which wires are negative in a car.
Why is there a red wire in my light switch?
Red wire: The second hot/traveler wire is the red wire that serves the same purpose as the black wire between the two switch boxes. Depending on toggle switch configuration, either the red wire or the black wire will be hot if the light is on, but not both.
Where do I connect the red wire on a light fixture?
Attach the red wire from the light fixture to the nut at the top left of the switch. Connect the bare copper wire to the green nut at the bottom left of the switch. Push both switches into their boxes and secure them with screws at top and bottom. Turn on your power and test the switches.
Is red wire negative or positive?
The coloring is as follows: Positive – The wire for the positive current is red. Negative – The wire for the negative current is black. Ground – The ground wire (if present) will be white or grey.
What wire does the red wire connect to?
Red wires are usually used as secondary hot wires. Red wires are also hot and should be clearly marked to avoid the dangers of electrocution. Red wires are commonly used when installing ceiling fans, where the light switch maybe.
Does the red wire go to the positive?
Wire Colors for DC Power
The coloring is as follows: Positive – The wire for the positive current is red. Negative – The wire for the negative current is black. Ground – The ground wire (if present) will be white or grey.
Why are there 2 black wires on light switch?
The bare or green-wrapped ground wires serve as a backup to divert the power safely away in case of an electrical fault. In most cases, two black wires will be attached to the switch’s two terminal screws. … The ground wires will be connected to each other and attached to the grounding screw on the switch.
What do I connect the red wire to?
Normally you’ll see a red wire in places you would expect a ceiling fan. But in places like a bathroom or a wall light, if you see a red wire, it’s a good bet that the red wire is the wire that’s connected to the light switch.
Are black and red wires both hot?
Black, red, white with black or red tape will always indicate a hot wire. The term “hot” means these wires carry a live current from your electric panel to the destination. … Black or red wires always carry power from the service panel (breaker box) to your home’s devices. What are Red Wires?
Why do I have 3 red wires in my light switch?
Re: 3 red wires…eek!
The third red is the feed to the next lights in the circuit, in your case the bathroom. It will have been in one of the terminals on the old switch along with the live feed (one of the reds) from the last light in the circuit.
Why does my light switch have 2 red wires?
2 Answers. It sounds as if most of the switches you have been replacing are single pole switches. That is, they make (on) or break off) a single connection from one location. Simple switches use a black (hot) and another wire, usually black, red or blue (switched hot) to make and break the circuit.
Why does my light switch have 3 black wires?
If the light turns on, the second black wire you connected to the switch is the switch feed and the unconnected black wire is the feed to the other loads. If the light doesn’t turn on, then it’s the other way around: the connected wire feeds the other loads and the disconnected wire is the light feed.
Which wire is live when both are same color?
Identify the neutral wire in the fixture by looking at the wires. In most modern fixtures the neutral wire will be white and the hot wire is red or black. In some types of fixtures, both wires will be the same color. In this case, the neutral wire is always identified by some means.
Why does my light switch have 2 black wires?
The bare or green-wrapped ground wires serve as a backup to divert the power safely away in case of an electrical fault. In most cases, two black wires will be attached to the switch’s two terminal screws. … The ground wires will be connected to each other and attached to the grounding screw on the switch.