Yummy-Beetle-Juice t1_j27hqwd wrote
It is really difficult to determine what is going on without using a voltage meter or photos. You really need to do further investigation before connecting any wires.
You need a multimeter before proceeding! You can get an inexpensive meter for less then $20.00.
Check for power between the black and white (should be 110 volts).
Check for power between red and white (no power or 110 volts??) If there is no power, there is a good chance that the wire is charged by the activation of the sensor. If the red is 110 volts then further investigation will need to be done. You will need to find out where the wire originated.
Check for power between the black and red. If it is 220 volts, then there is a separate breaker for the red wire. Just CAP the red wire until you are able to determine what it is for. I highly doubt it will be on a separate circuit (220 volts) for exterior lighting. The wattage is low for lighting. There could also be 110 volts or no voltage between red and black. 110 volts would indicate that a light is already connected to the red wire. No voltage would indicate that both red and black have power and are on the same busbar on the electrical panel OR the red wire is disconnected. If there is no voltage between red and black, check again between red and white. If there is 110 volts, then red is on the same busbar as black. They most likely would be on the same circuit.
Open up the other lights to determine if the red wire connects to that box. Check for power in the other boxes.
You should educate yourself on basic wiring by watching some YouTube videos. Find some videos on troubleshooting wiring.
This is what I suspect: Black wire (line)- hot 110 volts. White wire - common. If there is no power between the red and the white, then there is a good chance that when motion activates the sensor that charges the red wire (load). That powers the other lights.
Provided the red is the load: To install another sensor further on the branch circuit, connect the red to the black together. In this situation, if you connect red and black together, you should have constant power for the other lights. Then you can install motion sensors in the other locations.
Piretrobot t1_j27pi9w wrote
As an electrician I can say u/Yummy-Beetle-Juice did you a solid and wrote out everything you need to do to solve your problem. If you can’t or don’t want to figure this out call an electrician they should have it sorted in about an hour.
Yummy-Beetle-Juice t1_j27k6es wrote
As mentioned before, you need to do more investigation with a multimeter. The red wire (14/3) might go to a junction box and then power the other lights. Test for voltage and test for continuity. Watch YouTube videos on both topics.
Test continuity with a long wire. There are other ways, but for the purpose of brevity, here is one way to do it. https://youtu.be/YLA5u8BJrwg
ahj3939 t1_j27q5sp wrote
I would recommend a non-contact voltage tester as well as a good understanding of the limitations of these devices.
Telling someone who can't figure out the disconnected wire feeds the lights that are no longer power on to get a multi meter and start proving on live circuits doesn't seem like a great idea.
Gtp4life t1_j2915pb wrote
While yes electrical safety is important, they already figured out how to swap the light without causing any problems, sticking a voltage probe to the same wires shouldn’t be difficult for them.
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