It could be there is or once was a three way switch in play. Or it could be the red wire is the wire going to the fixture and the black wires are the live wires.
Light Fixture With 3 White 3 Black 1 Red Wire Home
Red wire light fixture. Red wire on the light fixture step 1 turn off the power to the light circuit then check the wires with a voltage tester to verify there is no voltage reading. Connect the black or red current wires and the white neutral wires. Except in rare cases it is a hot wire or a switched hot wire. Wiring a new light from a switched outlet. If you change a light fixture and find a red wire in the electrical box chances are the black wire from the fixture needs to go to the red wire in the box. Open the package of wire nuts and installation screws that came with the new light fixture.
The red wire from the switch loop is connected to the hot terminal on the light and at the other end to the new switch. The wall switch typically when a ceiling fan is installed the red wire is most commonly used for the light and the black is commonly for the fan motor. How to connect the red wire for a ceiling light fixture. The white wire is capped with a wire nut in the new switch box. The red wire as a spare wire. At the fixture the white connects to the neutral terminal on the light.
Normally youll see a red wire in places you would expect a ceiling fan. Well cover the easier scenario first. While the light only has a black and white electrical wire some manufacturers include an addition wire. The exact purpose of a red wire for a light fixture can vary. Wrap the copper or silver ground wires from the light fixture around the ground screw. The red wire the red wire is most likely a spare wire that was intended to be used when wiring for a ceiling fan.
Then connect it to the supply ground wire of the junction box with a wire connector. If necessary use wire strippers to remove the insulation from the light fixtures electric wires. Check the wire with a non contact voltage tester with the power and. When you see a red wire in a light switch box it can mean two things.