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kaisy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

Hi there,

I bought an overhead light from IKEA that plugs into the wall (and you are supposed to string the cord up the wall and across the ceiling to hang it).

Instead I want to hardwire it to an already existing overhead light receptical that is hooked up to a light switch.

When I strip down the existing plug in wire, there is a white wire and a black wire, but no grounding wire. Which wire goes on which in the receptical (there is a red, a black and a white).

Thanks in advance! (i'm from Canada if that makes any difference in how the electricity is wired).

vince knight · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 8:33 pm Post subject:

It is dependent on where you are in the world to what colour cores do what.
A member called 'b' will be best placed to answer you question as he is state side.
Please be patient as we all do this in our own time.

Thanks

Vince Very Happy

kaisy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

OK, I will be patient. Very Happy

But I am mainly concerned about the apparent lack of a grounding wire in the plug wire.

b · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:40 pm Post subject:

hi kaisy,
it is not unusual for there not to be a ground in that kind of plug in type lighting fixture. Sounds like it is the kind with the see through plug wire with the 2 knife stabs at the plug end... no ground. If the base of the light is metal it should be ground via a ground screw and the green or bare wire. is there a ground wire in the box you are connecting at? if i understand you correctly... it sounds like you have a hot wire (black?) a switch leg (red?) and a nuetral (white). do not assume anything though as you do not know for sure what the guy before you did. get a meter and test the wires out. you do not want to accidently hook your 110V light to 220V power. hook the light up like the receptacle was wired if it was connected through the switch. make sure to turn off the supply breaker for the circuit before doing any wiring. if you are not sure please contact a professional in your area.
b