All the wires are the same color

[RStewart]

Hi all
Putting up a new dining room light for SHMBO.
Three wires, all the same color. One has a tab with the letter L
One has the letter N. One has what I think is the symbol for ground. It is a circle with three consecutively smaller horizontal lines and the longest has a vertical line sticking up or down depending on how you look at the tab.
I'm familiar with black, white and green wires. HELP.

Thanks and have a happy holiday.

 

[pattenp]

L is hot, N is neutral, Circle with hatch marks is ground.

 

[PhysicsDude]

L = Line = Hot = Black
N = Nuetral = White
G = circle with 3 lines = Ground = Green

 

[RStewart]

Thank you.
I didn't want to guess and don't want to fry myself the light or the house.
Thanks again.

 

[rburke65]

A little late but I concure.

 

[RStewart]

Not late. The light is still sitting on the table. Not over it yet.

 

[Arne73]

Make sure the power is off too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[PT Doc]

How old is dining room light?

 

[RStewart]

New one is new. Old one is 10 years old. And power is OFF!
Thanks.

 

[tarmy]

New one is new. Old one is 10 years old. And power is OFF!
Thanks.

Famous last...ZAP...words...

Get a cheap, or not so cheap, voltage present tester. You will not regret it...and it will help with situation like this...in case there are two hots because your previous owner decided to run a second hot leg through the box.

 

[RStewart]

Thanks for all the help and great advice. It is up, I'm alive, house didn't burn down and she is happy.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

She being happy is worth a lot.

 

[Bert_]

Famous last...ZAP...words...

Get a cheap, or not so cheap, voltage present tester. You will not regret it...and it will help with situation like this...in case there are two hots because your previous owner decided to run a second hot leg through the box.

The cheap non contact voltage testers are not good. They go off it you are within like 10 feet of a live wire, less than useful. I've got a fluke and an very happy with it. Not saying everybody needs the fluke but do get a name brand. I'm sure it's generally understood but these non contact testers, while handy for a quick check, are not something you should trust blindly. Even the good ones can lie to you.


In response to the chandelier, it looks like may of us are missing out on a major market here. All you need is a pile of metal shavings and a couple lightbulbs, and voila! you could be selling high end chandeliers

 

[tonyciambrone]

The cheap non contact voltage testers are not good. They go off it you are within like 10 feet of a live wire, less than useful. I've got a fluke and an very happy with it. Not saying everybody needs the fluke but do get a name brand. I'm sure it's generally understood but these non contact testers, while handy for a quick check, are not something you should trust blindly. Even the good ones can lie to you.

I have an Ideal and a Klein Tools, sub $20 units. They work fine. Sensitive but not to the point where one live wire in a gang box will make them all read hot. The ideal will even indicate a neutral carrying voltage on the 12V setting. Never had them lie so far...checked with my fluke 27f/m many times

 

[Showkey]

i have an ideal and a klein tools, sub $20 units. They work fine. Sensitive but not to the point where one live wire in a gang box will make them all read hot. The ideal will even indicate a neutral carrying voltage on the 12v setting. Never had them lie so far...checked with my fluke 27f/m many times

x10 ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[RStewart]

Voltage tester is on my Xmas list. Don't do much electrical work but better safe than sorry. Thanks for all the advice and guidance.

The new light is only 10 lbs. It is hollow tubing with 8 LED g9 or 9g base bulbs. And happy wife.......you all know the rest.