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Electrical Wiring Lighting

can’t figure out ground wire

2 years ago

I doubt anyone will be able to see what’s going on, but I am trying to replace the light fixture in my basement. House built in 1945. I understand that my new fixture will have to go white with white and black and with black but for the life of me I cannot figure out where the new fixtures ground wire is to go. All the wires in the junction box are black so I’m at a loss of what to do.

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Comments (5)

HU-867564120
2 years ago
I see hints of connectors in the box that may be BX cable terminations. Are the white and black wires that are entering the junction box old-style Romex (tarry paper outer wrapping) or BX cable (outer metal sheath). If Romex, there is likely no ground wire available in that vintage of wire. If BX cable, connect the ground to the metal box; the outer metal sheath was used as the ground and should be mechanically attached to the box.
worthy
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
If the box is metal, attach the ground to the box. If it's not metal, tape the end and leave it in the box.

You can use a multi-meter to distinguish the live from neutral wires.

Since diyers have been at work, I would use great caution. There may even be two separate circuits in the same box.
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Laura C
Original Author
2 years ago
It has a kind of soft material feeling on the outer covering of the wire. I just ordered a multi meter just to be safe. But with the house being so old the wiring is definitely antique.

I maybe should have mentioned as well that this is one of two lights in the basement controlled by the same switch. Idk if that makes a huge difference or not. The one you see has two black wires connection to one main black in the box and same with the whites. Idk again if that makes a difference.
worthy
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
So it's not all black wires. And there are three two-wire cables in the box.

The schematic below shows a typical setup with multiple lights on one switch. Note that the switch is correctly on the live wire. Why you have another cable in the box is unclear. Possibly it's for another light or even a receptacle.

If the previous light worked, connect the live and neutral wires the previous fixture was connected to and treat the ground as suggested. While this should "work," be aware that it may not be to Code. That is often the case when non-electricians were previously at work.
Laura C
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you everyone! Your information helped! I solved it and both lights are lit. Looking great!

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