Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Wiring a chandelier to a room

We have wired a chandelier into our dining area from a light switch using and existing connection. The chandelier has 2 black wires instead of color coded ones. Does it matter which wire we connect the red and white to? Also, after turning it on, we smelled an overheating smell. Could there be too much voltage going to the chandelier? If so, how do you fix that? The chandelier does have mica shades, could the mica be producing the smell and not the wiring?

thanks!

Yes, it matters. Spend $15 at your home center on a voltage "tick" tester. It will tell you which ceiling wire is hot and which is neutral.

Almost anything could be producing the smell. Is this a new chandelier? Are the wattage of the bulbs as recommended by the manufacturer? Is the fixture designed for use in the country in which you are using it?

Thanks, John, yes, it's a brand new chandelier. The wattage recommended is 60, and that's what I put in. It's an american lamp, as well.

The smell might just be burning off some of the residue chemicals used in manufacturing. If it's not too bad, see if it goes away in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye on it in the meantime to be sure.

Oh, I just reread your original post and I think I misinterpreted. You're talking about two black wires from the chandelier and a red and white from the ceiling? I thought it was vice versa.

In that case, you don't need the tick tester. Look very carefully at those two black wires. One of them will have a very tiny stripe or ridge on it. That is the one that connects to the white wire from your ceiling, and the smooth wire from the chandelier connects to the red from your ceiling.