Which wire is hot when both are same color | Light Fixture wiring

Ceiling Light Fixture wiring - Which wire is hot when both are same Color. How to use a multimeter to check which wire is black or white.
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[@canmorito]

Great video! Here is another solution when installing light fixtures with the same color hot and neutral wires: After connecting the light fixture wires to the circuit wires in the ceiling/wall box using twist-on wire nuts, you can do the following simple test using a non-contact voltage tester to find out whether your light fixture is installed correctly: With the circuit breaker still turned off and no light bulbs installed yet, turn on the circuit breaker and then the light switch. If the wires are connected correctly, then the voltage tester will only beep when you place it closer to the center pin or tab inside the light bulb socket, meaning that the center pin is hot but the threaded shell of the socket is neutral. If the wires are reversed, then the voltage tester will beep when you touch the threaded shell of the light bulb socket, indicating that the entire socket is energized (potential shock hazard when installing or replacing light bulbs).

[@sierra5681]

This was very straightforward and helpful! Thank you!

[@basicworks1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dassub]

This helped a ton on a new light fixture I just bought!

[@basicworks1]

Glad it Helped!

[@ix_d3monzz_xi135]

Love the helpful videos for the diy people like me !

[@basicworks1]

Glad you like them!

[@Elpipiton]

Do not get confused guys. OL does not mean "Overload." It really means Open Loop (No Continuity) Electricity Can't Pass.

[@climberstephen6755]

Great video. It was clear and easy to follow. One thing it is missing is how to determine the ground. I have a fixture where all 3 wires (hot, neutral, ground) are exactly the same and impossible to distinguish between. A comment about how to detect the ground would be helpful. Thanks.

[@basicworks1]

Do you have a meter...They can't all go to the same connection points .. Or all the wires would be shorted together...If that's true don't hook it up..

[@climberstephen2]

Thanks for the response. I do have a meter and using the info in your video was able to find the hot and neutral using the brass post in the middle and the screw threads. The 3rd wire never showed a circuit, so I assumed that was the ground. What in the socket does the ground wire connect to?

[@basicworks1]

Nothing.....Hot & Neutral...Power the socket....Hook the ground to a Ground screw in the case of the 4" box you wire it to...To ground it....

[@jasonmarquette]

Excellent, Thanks!

[@basicworks1]

You're welcome!

[@njslim]

OL is open load - not overload. It means the circuit is open - not complete.

[@NastyNay000]

Are you holding the black meter stick to the wire while you check where the bulb goes?

[@bennguyen1313]

I have thick black and white copper wires, I get the black should go to the center brass tab, and the white to the silver threads.. But I'm finding it impossible to get the these thick copper wires to reach and bend around the screws that are on the light fixture... I'm guessing I need to buy stranded/flexible wires to go from the screws, then with the other side connected to the copper wires via wire twist? What wire should I ask for?

[@basicworks1]

If the thick copper won't fit under screw, yes. Get stranded 14 gauge, for under screws, attach those with wire nuts to original thick copper wires. Should be fine.

[@mel1daa]

I have a hanging 4 ft LED light that the previous owner left that was cut off at the plug that I want to hard-wire. The cord has 3 wires - all white - the middle is marked as the ground, but I don't know which of the other two are hot/neutral. Is it possible to determine hot/neutral in this scenario?

[@mel1daa]

I was able to get this thanks to your video. The shop light is one of those that can be chained in sets, so it has an outlet for a plug. I connected the ohm meter to the smaller plug slot (hot) and got continuity with one of the unknown wires (open with the other wire in question). I then did this with the larger plug slot (neutral) and got continuity with the other wire (open with the other). Thank you for posting this video!

[@basicworks1]

Nice Good Job !!!

[@deserttoads]

I have a dimmer switch with 2 black wires, and 1 green/ground wire. Both black wires are smooth/neither one has a grooved cover. Is this a USA thing?

[@Allison-Brooke]

❤😂❤❤❤

[@colleeriggs5921]

I feel the same as the other lady.. you show the light bulb holder and dont shoe what wire you grabbed.. hot , nuetral ??? You just called it a SMOOTH WIRE. WTH IS THAT

[@timsimmons9995]

Can you possibly be LESS clear? What are you doing with the wires, are you touching them with the multimeter or what? Which one are you touching. Why bother posting a video that is this UNCLEAR?

[@michigantroll2942]

If you look very closely at the plastic conduit your light wires are in, you will see one of them should have a groove in the outer shell. The other wire conduit is smooth.

[@almeu433]

OL = open lines...Einstein

[@basicworks1]

Lines And Wires !!