changing a light fixture (color, ceiling, lights, electricity)

[JJS81]

I am changing a light fixture and the old light fixture has 3 lights and the new one has 2 lights so what should I do with the extra black and white wire from the old 3rd light that I won't be using any more cause I only have 2 lights in the new fixture

[Kibbiekat]

A single light fixture should only have 2 wires (plus a ground) no matter how many bulbs the fixture has. Maybe I'm not understanding the question.

[johngolf]

You are assuming each light had its own power. Generally incorrect unless each light is controlled by its own switch. Typically one power source and the light fixture internally wired for the amount of lights in it.

[Pruzhany]

You unscrewed the wrong cap from the old fixture or you have a black, white and red wire coming from the box. Connect the new fixture ( which has a bundle of whites, bundle of blacks and a ground wire) to the same wires in the box the old fixture was connected to.

The Way to Hang a Ceiling Light-Made-in-China.com

[Billy_J]

Cut off the bare parts of the wires, then tightly screw on yellow or smaller blue or grey wire nuts to the ends of the wires.

Wire nuts (called Marrette in some countries - if you are not from the U.S.)...

Twist-on wire connector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[rrtechno]

Originally Posted by Billy_J

Cut off the bare parts of the wires, then tightly screw on yellow or smaller blue or grey wire nuts to the ends of the wires.

Wire nuts (called Marrette in some countries - if you are not from the U.S.)...

Twist-on wire connector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you cut off the bare parts of the wires, how is there going to be a connection for electricity to flow?

The bare parts of the wires need to touch each other inside the wire nuts for the fixture to work.

Just be sure to match colors (providing the original is correct).

[Pruzhany]

Originally Posted by Billy_J

..., then tightly screw on yellow or smaller blue or grey wire nuts to the ends of the wires.

Color of the cap makes a difference? Who knew?

I don't know. I prefer Orange.

[woxyroxme]

Originally Posted by Kibbiekat

A single light fixture should only have 2 wires (plus a ground) no matter how many bulbs the fixture has. Maybe I'm not understanding the question.

Yep, there should be one run of 14/2 WG romex going into the box, wiring to individual sockets will be within the fixture.

[mapmd]

Originally Posted by JJS81

I am changing a light fixture and the old light fixture has 3 lights and the new one has 2 lights so what should I do with the extra black and white wire from the old 3rd light that I won't be using any more cause I only have 2 lights in the new fixture

Call a qualified electrician.

You only need to hook up the light fixture to what is called the "switch-leg".

If you have more than a simple Black, White and Ground (14-2 wire) in the box and don't know what you're doing, get help.



This is kinda what you want, although we attach the ground to the switch. You may have a ground wire on your fixture to attach.


If you are intent on doing this yourself, get some $7 "non contact" testers at a hardware store. If the wire is hot (meaning that your testers buzz) when the switch is on AND not hot while the switch is off, that is your switch-leg....(usually).

[Billy_J]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

If you cut off the bare parts of the wires, how is there going to be a connection for electricity to flow?

Read post #1 above.