Where does white wire go?

White wire in a light fitting would be neutral to fixture.

In your new light fitting, the black wire is typically the live (hot) wire, and the white wire is the neutral wire. In your ceiling, the black wire is also the live wire, and the red wire is the neutral wire.

Here’s how to connect them:

1. Connect the black wire from the light fitting to the black wire in the ceiling.
2. Connect the white wire from the light fitting to the red wire in the ceiling.

Always ensure the power is turned off at the circuit breaker before attempting any electrical work. If you’re unsure or uncomfortable with this task, it’s best to consult a licensed electrician for safety.

Black -blues
Red - white

It's not always that way but that's just for this instance

The placement of the white wire (typically the neutral wire in most electrical systems) depends on what you're wiring. Here's where it generally goes in various scenarios:

1. In a Light Switch:
The white (neutral) wire often bypasses the switch itself. It connects directly to the neutral terminal in the electrical box or is capped off if not needed in that switch configuration.
2. In a Receptacle (Outlet):
The white wire connects to the silver or "neutral" terminal of the outlet.
3. In an Electrical Panel:
The white wire goes to the neutral bus bar, which is typically located on the side of the panel. This bus bar is where all the neutral wires connect.
4. In a Heater:
If you're hardwiring a heater, the white wire connects to the neutral terminal of the heater or its control unit.
5. In a 240V Circuit (without a neutral wire):
In this case, there often is no white wire, as 240V appliances typically use two hot wires (black/red). If a white wire is present in a 240V circuit, it may be used as part of a multi-wire circuit and should be marked with black or red tape to indicate that it's being used as a hot wire.

When dealing with electrical wiring, it’s critical to prioritise safety and ensure connections are correctly made. In the UK, standard domestic wiring does not typically use a white wire, so it appears your new light fitting may have wiring more common in countries like the US, where black is live (hot) and white is neutral. However, your ceiling wires, red (live) and black (neutral), follow the older UK wiring colors.

Before proceeding:
• Safety First: Turn off the power at the fuse box/consumer unit to avoid any risk of electric shock.
• Incompatibility Risks: Mismatched wiring standards can pose a safety hazard if not correctly managed.

Given the confusion and potential for incorrect connections—which could lead to electric shock, fire risk, or damaging the fitting—it’s strongly recommended that you contact a qualified electrician. An electrician will safely assess and correctly connect the wires to ensure your light fitting works as intended and adheres to UK wiring regulations. Working with electrics without a proper understanding can be extremely dangerous, so seeking professional help is the safest route.

Check in the lamp instructions which colour what represents ( Live Neutral) normally black is Neutral and Red Live but sometimes they are mixed up so a confirmation with a tester is the best.
But in a scenario where everything is correct you should wire the black to black and White to Red.

When wiring a new light fitting with a black and white wire, and your ceiling wires are black and red, the connection depends on the function of each wire. Here’s how to handle it:


---

Step-by-Step Guide:

General Wire Functions:

New Light Fitting Wires:

Black wire: This is the live (hot) wire.

White wire: This is the neutral wire.


Ceiling Wires:

Black wire: This is likely the live (switched live) wire.

Red wire: This is often the neutral wire.



Wiring Steps:

1. Turn Off Power:

Switch off power at the breaker box to avoid any risk of electric shock.



2. Double-Check Wire Functions:

Use a voltage tester to confirm the role of each ceiling wire (if you're uncertain about their functions). Typically:

Black (ceiling): Switched live (carries power from the switch to the light).

Red (ceiling): Neutral.




3. Connect the Wires:

Match wires as follows:

Ceiling Black to Fitting Black: This connects the switched live from the ceiling to the live wire of the light fitting.

Ceiling Red to Fitting White: This connects the neutral wire from the ceiling to the neutral wire of the light fitting.




4. Secure Connections:

Use wire nuts or terminal blocks to securely join the wires.

Ensure no copper wire is exposed after connecting.



5. Turn Power Back On and Test:

Restore power at the breaker and test the light switch to confirm the light fitting works.



6. Mount the Light Fitting:

Once the wiring is confirmed correct, attach the light fitting to the ceiling.





---

Important Notes:

If you’re in the UK or another country with specific color-coding standards, your wire colors might indicate different roles. Double-check local wiring standards or consult an electrician.

If you have more wires in the ceiling (e.g., an earth wire):

Connect the earth wire from the ceiling (if present) to the earth terminal on the fitting (if it has one).

If the fitting doesn’t require an earth, safely cap off the ceiling earth wire.



If you are unsure or not confident, it’s always best to consult a qualified electrician.

I'd say the white is the Line/live wire and the black is the Neutral. The new light fitting should have come with a wiring diagram to confirm this.

An electrician will need to test for the switched live. please contact a local electrician to do this safely.

Black wire from the fitting is the live (hot) wire. Connect this to the red wire from ceiling.

White wire from the fitting is the neutral wire. connect this to the black wire from ceiling.

Ensure power is off and isolated with lock put tag out to ensure safe isolation.