My wife just purchased an antique ceiling light and the two sets of wires coming out have no indication of live versus neutral. Any quick way to identify this somehow?
Comments
ElGuapo315 t1_j6c5lht wrote
Get a multi-meter to know which is which...
[deleted] t1_j6ced7z wrote
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BlackBurnedTbone t1_j6ajxmn wrote
Doesn't matter for functionality. Has more to do with safety, as in make the rim the return so when you touch the thread you don't get shocked.
NewRelm t1_j6acidj wrote
If they're white and black, white is the neutral. If they're not color coded, you can use a DMM or continuity tester. The wire connecting to the center button is hot and the ring is neutral.
[deleted] t1_j6dlsax wrote
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Alt_dimension_visitr t1_j6aru7z wrote
Buy a $5 meter from harbour freight and do a continuity test like they've already told you
BoredCop t1_j6b2705 wrote
And also use that to test for shorts to any exposed metal on the lamp...
Robot_Lags t1_j6b2wqw wrote
Are they sort of a clear yellowish colour? If so they have a slightly different texture. One will be smooth and the other ridged.
sprinkle_It t1_j6bwfle wrote
Which is which?
dominus_aranearum t1_j6byyea wrote
Smooth is hot.
Hot_Egg5840 t1_j6drgvj wrote
On real old antique lights, the wires will be cloth wrapped. Here is the way to tell "hot" vs. "return". Rewire the lamp and keep note of what wire you connect. The honest answer is to rewire the lamp for safety reasons.
[deleted] t1_j6c0iuu wrote
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sunfries t1_j6c2yhg wrote
Neutral will have a divot/extra bump or something. Hot should be entirely uniform
DrachenDad t1_j6cptna wrote
>Antique light
Safe bet is to just rewire with new cables, you can get fake antique cable.
bluenautilus2 t1_j6bemsg wrote
Sometimes there’s a non-colored indentation on the hot line, like a scratch on the coating.
Ninjan8 t1_j6bpv9i wrote
Smooth is hot, ridges is neutral
bluenautilus2 t1_j6d3kd6 wrote
Oh i guess i wired that lamp wrong then
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Diligent_Nature t1_j6aca1q wrote
Live goes to the bulb's center contact. Neutral goes to the bulb's threads.