Is red always hot and black ground?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=71345
Printed Date: May 15, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Topic: Is red always hot and black ground?
Posted By: geaux
Subject: Is red always hot and black ground?
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 12:55 PM
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 -.
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He is mad, mad I tell you!
Replies:
Posted By: sk8ingsmurf
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 1:48 PM
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).
Posted By: fingaz22
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 1:49 PM
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. ------------- JUST ONE MORE AMP!!!
hu,alpine cva 1005/dva 5205
sound processor,symmetry(first one).
sub amp,power 1000 the terminator.(1992).
subs,spl comp dual 1 ohms.
punch 150hd on a 10" ev.
alotofhighs
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 1:55 PM
No, black is not always ground and red is not always "hot", with or without stripes. -------------  the12volt • Support the12volt.com
Posted By: godblessdremil
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:21 PM
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.
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:31 PM
THE THICK RED WIRE GOING TO FORD RADIOS IS THE GROUND....
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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Posted By: geaux
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:32 PM
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.
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He is mad, mad I tell you!
Posted By: gus1
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:33 PM
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
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Wherever I go, that is where I end up......
Posted By: geaux
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 2:35 PM
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?
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He is mad, mad I tell you!
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 3:31 PM
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
Posted By: dualsport
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 4:33 PM
Yeah, test lights have their uses, but not for random probing of unknown wires- if you tap into the wrong thing, you could blow things up.
Definitely stick with a DMM for doing your exploratory, which is much safer, doing as Kevin instructed.
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 5:08 PM
geaux] wrote:
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?
Generalizations are bad and can cost thousands for making an assumption. Black is not always ground and isn't ground in european cars. Then again you should never tie into a factory ground unless you are replacing something(radio for instance). As far as red being power, how often do you see a wire without a stripe anymore? ------------- Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
Posted By: sk8ingsmurf
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 5:30 PM
Man Im really sorry I was just completely not thinking when I answered your question, listen to these guys they are definitely right. Assuming this can easily mess up your electrical system. Sorry for the confusion and please disregard my entire post.
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