Is red always hot and black ground?

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geaux

Member - Posts: 19

Joined: October 31, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 12:55 PM / IP Logged

Are these statements always true?

A 12 guage wire that is RED without any strips is HOT + . It will be hot even without the car turned on.

A 12 guage wire that is BLACK without any strips is GROUND -.

He is mad, mad I tell you!

sk8ingsmurf

Copper - Posts: 198

Joined: March 18, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 1:48 PM / IP Logged

Unless somebody messed with the wiring factory wiring is always black=ground, and you could sorta say red is hot. From the battery yes red is hot, but on a deck red is switched 12v (yellow is hot in this case).

fingaz22

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Joined: March 11, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 1:49 PM / IP Logged

no not always true. exspeacily in a vechile wiring harness. always double check your wires before you commit to anything!!!

in most instances they will be in that gauge wire. but always beware.

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alotofhighs

the12volt

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Joined: March 07, 2002

Location: Louisiana, United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 1:55 PM / IP Logged

No, black is not always ground and red is not always "hot", with or without stripes.

Is red always hot and black ground? -- posted image.

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godblessdremil

Silver - Posts: 273

Joined: August 03, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:21 PM / IP Logged

For a component bieng added like a remote start that is usually true. But in factory wiring in the car no, infact its usually wrong.

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kgerry

Platinum - Posts: 3,455

This member consistently provides reliable information

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:31 PM / IP Logged

THE THICK RED WIRE GOING TO FORD RADIOS IS THE GROUND....

Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

geaux

Member - Posts: 19

Joined: October 31, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:32 PM / IP Logged

Okay I can understand that sometimes wires of different colors can be positive (12V+) or ground but has anyone ever seen an instance of a solid red wire not being hot and a solid black wire not being ground?

My car is an 1997 ford. Assume that nobody has messed with the factory wiring.

He is mad, mad I tell you!

gus1

Gold - Posts: 1,013

Joined: October 15, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:33 PM / IP Logged

Dammit Kevin... you beat me to it.

Then, there are things that use white for ground.... orange for 12V.....

A DMM is your best friend.

Gus

Wherever I go, that is where I end up......

geaux

Member - Posts: 19

Joined: October 31, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:35 PM / IP Logged

I guess kgerry answers that question. Moral of the story is to check first.

While I am being on an idiot roll let me continue. I can use a test light probe to see if a wire is positive. Stick the probe to the wire and it will light up if it is hot? How can tell if a wire is a ground?

He is mad, mad I tell you!

kgerry

Platinum - Posts: 3,455

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Posted: January 23, 2006 at 3:31 PM / IP Logged

first by throwing your test light in the garbage and getting a meter....

then doing the exact opposite with the meter when testing for a negative.... apply 12 volts to the positive lead and probe with the negative lead....

Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

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