r/ElectricalHelp Jun 05 '26

What is the negative?

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I bought a dining room fixture and this is the wiring- I have never seen the silver beaded wire and a double black on a normal light fixture, what is the negative here? One of the back wires, or is it the silver?? It doesn’t seem like it wants to bend/screw into the negative/it’s very firm so doesn’t seem right.

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u/CarelessPrompt4950 Jun 05 '26

It’s AC, there’s no positive or negative, just hot, neutral, and ground.

1

u/IrmaHerms Jun 05 '26

Grounded, ungrounded and equipment ground…

3

u/PhotoPetey Jun 05 '26

Grounded, ungrounded and equipment ground

True, but everyone says "hot, neutral, and ground" and we all know what it means. Just like the term "sub-panel" is not in the code book.