Wiring a Light Fixture: Expert Edition

Post date: 2020-08-13 01:48:56

How do you hook up a basic light fixture when you have two light switches AND the original, non-grounded two-wire is being used from the breaker box? (Photo and disclaimers inside.)

Disclaimer: While my DIY skills are well-advanced, I know my limits in some areas, and I will be hiring a professional electrician for this job, but I won't be there when they do it, so I still really want to know the answer to this.

I took down an old light fixture but didn't take photos of the connections because I have installed dozens if not a hundred light fixtures and ceiling fans for myself and others over they years. But this is new to me:

In this photo, you see the expected four-wire Romex with red wires for light switches, like usual (all the yellow nuts). But you ALSO see the original two-wire power from the house (orange nuts). The two-wire is on when the breaker is turned back on (122.318 VAC, to be exact) regardless of light switch position, but I never get anything from the Romex even when the light switches are on/off, therefore obviously the three sets of wires all work together in some way.

But how? How do you know which is hot and which is neutral from the two-wire? Which wires connect with which wires? I think I know, but I am not going to guess, nor am I going to trust any YouTube videos on the subject.

Like I said, I am going to hire this one out, but I still really want to know because it's the first time I have had to hire-out a home-rehab project in over 20 years.

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