How do you install a light fixture?

Question

I've read and watched videos on installing a new light fixture. It says to match the wire colors. Both of the old wires coming out are beige/tan/whitish. New wires, one black, one white, one ground. There is a green s***w for the ground but how do you attach the new wires to the old wire if they don't match color?

Answer 1

Call a qualified professional  electrician. They can identify the line and the neutral in your conn box.  Since you describe them as being the same color, I suspect they are the old style k**b and Tube wiring, that should be replaced before a fire occurs.

Answer 2

out of the beige/tan/whitish find the black wire.  It won't be easy.  I carry a little noise maker that looks like a pencil and I put it right next to the black wire and it sounds off.  When you find the black wire label the wire.  What happens when you wire them backwards, not so much.  It still works.

Answer 3

is it a switch loop?  meaning it is controlled from a switch that only sends the black -hot- wire up to the fixture then back to the box, that the switch is located,  and connects to the white-. neutral- wire there?

Answer 4

I am under the impression there is not a ground wire to connect to the grounding s***w since you said both wires. One of the wires should be black but over time it lost it's color.  The reason black should go to black is because the center terminal of the light socket is attached to black.  The reason for this is if you are changing a bulb and touch the metal base you will not get shocked because the side of the base is attached to the neutral or white wire.  You would need a volt meter to test which is the hot or black wire or you have a 50/50 chance of getting it correct.  If one of the wires look darker then the other that is probably the black.  I'm not telling you to hook it up incorrectly but the light will work either way.