How Do You Install An Old House Light With Cloth-Covered Electrical Wire?
The problem with old light fixtures is that they all were wired with cloth-insulated wiring; the wiring is serviceable, but you can’t tell which wire is the neutral wire and which is the hot wire. The light will work no matter which wire is used as the hot wire and which wire is used as the neutral, but it won’t be safe nor will it meet the requirements of the National Electrical Code, or NEC. The circuit neutral wire, the white wire, must connect to the lamp holder’s screw shell. The circuit’s hot wire, the black wire, must connect to lamp holder’s center button terminal. Not to worry, you can identify the wires and then distinguish between them using electrical tape. Once you identify and mark the wires with colored electric tape the fixture will meet NEC requirements and will be safe to install. Cut the ends of the fixture wire flush with the insulation and remove 3/4 inch of insulation from the ends. Starting with freshly stripped wires is always a good idea because the old strippe
