Electrical – How to connect a fixture to this outlet

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I'm replacing a light fixture in my house and am a bit confused about how the old fixture was wired.

There are two pairs of wires, 2 black, 2 white and 2 ground. The two black wires were capped off together and not hooked up to the old fixture at all.

The white and beige wire were connected two the old light I removed. I guessing one set of wires is power coming from the box and the other set is from the switch. The switch is a dimmer.

The light I bought has black and white wires. Any ideas on how to tell which ones to hook them up too?

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Best Answer

Warning: You'll be working with live electrical wires during this procedure. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, please contact a local licensed Electrician.

  • Set up your multimeter (or voltmeter) to measure volts AC.
  • Very carefully remove the caps from the white wires, making sure the wires do not come into contact with anything.
  • Turn the switch to the ON position.
  • Touch one probe from the meter to the bare grounding conductors.
  • Touch the other probe to the exposed end of one of the "white" wires.
  • Touch the probe to the other "white" wire.

You should have measured 0 volts to one "white" wire, and line voltage (~120 volts) to the other. Using a bit of black tape, or a black marker. Mark the "white" wire that measured line voltage to ground.

  • Turn the breaker off, and verify power to the circuit is off.
  • Connect the white fixture wire to the unmarked "white" wire from the ceiling.
  • Connect the black fixture wire to the marked "white" wire from the ceiling.

Warning: You'll be working with live electrical wires during this procedure. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, please contact a local licensed Electrician.

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