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Why is a white electrical wire connected to 2 black wires?


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I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?



The middle switch controls this ceiling light.










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    enter image description hereenter image description here



    I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?



    The middle switch controls this ceiling light.










    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      1












      1








      1








      enter image description hereenter image description here



      I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?



      The middle switch controls this ceiling light.










      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      enter image description hereenter image description here



      I just opened my ceiling light to replace it with another mount. I see a white wire connected to 2 black wires, is that right?



      The middle switch controls this ceiling light.







      electrical ceiling light






      share|improve this question







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      konyak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      share|improve this question







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      asked 4 hours ago









      konyakkonyak

      1084




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          2 Answers
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          The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:



          switch loop



          Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.






          share|improve this answer































            1














            That is positional coding. It is very important data.



            Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.



            Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.



            Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.






            share|improve this answer























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              2 Answers
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              2 Answers
              2






              active

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              active

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              active

              oldest

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              3














              The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:



              switch loop



              Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.






              share|improve this answer




























                3














                The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:



                switch loop



                Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.






                share|improve this answer


























                  3












                  3








                  3







                  The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:



                  switch loop



                  Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.






                  share|improve this answer













                  The cable with the white wire that's connected to the two black wires is a switch loop:



                  switch loop



                  Normally wires with white insulation are used only for neutrals, but code makes an exception to allow for use of the white wire in a cable used as a switch loop as a hot rather than a neutral.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  batsplatstersonbatsplatsterson

                  13.4k11640




                  13.4k11640

























                      1














                      That is positional coding. It is very important data.



                      Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.



                      Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.



                      Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.






                      share|improve this answer




























                        1














                        That is positional coding. It is very important data.



                        Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.



                        Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.



                        Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.






                        share|improve this answer


























                          1












                          1








                          1







                          That is positional coding. It is very important data.



                          Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.



                          Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.



                          Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.






                          share|improve this answer













                          That is positional coding. It is very important data.



                          Wire colors in cable are standardized and do not vary. In any cable, if neutral is present, it must be the white. The most likely application for this is in a switch loop. If neutral is not present but an always-hot is, contemporary Code says white must be used for an always-hot. That's to make it easier to identify with a voltage tester. Newer code says white so used, must be marked with tape.



                          Once you have identified the neutral bundle (all white), a white in a non-neutral bundle is one of these. The fact this is in a lamp makes this most likely a switch loop.



                          Most likely its partner black is the switched-hot. The lamp will want this switched-hot, and actual neutral.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 2 hours ago









                          HarperHarper

                          73.6k448148




                          73.6k448148






















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