Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Wire Dilema...please help!

I have a pendant light that I am connecting in my bedroom. I have done this before in other rooms but had no problems.

This time the j-box has three wires & the fixture has two wires. Coming from the j-box there is a white, black, red & bare wires. From the light there is a white & black wire.

I understand that the bare wire is the ground. And I've connected the white to white. But I read that the red wire needs to be connected to the black for the fixture to work with the light switch. I've tired connecting the back to the red with no success & the black to the black with no sucess. Any suggestions? Please help! :confused:

This is how it stands now
(white to white & black to red w/ ground on bracket)

Define "no success". Does that mean the the fixture does not come on regardless of the position of the wall switch? Does the breaker trip?

What was mounted here previously and how was it connected?

Is there exactly one wire of each color in the ceiling box? No more tucked in the back of the box?

Define "no success". Does that mean the the fixture does not come on regardless of the position of the wall switch? Does the breaker trip?

What was mounted here previously and how was it connected?

Is there exactly one wire of each color in the ceiling box? No more tucked in the back of the box?


Yes the fixture does not come on reguardless of the position of the wall switch. The breaker does not trip

There was nothing mounted there before. It was capped over.

There is exactly one color in the box, no more tucked away. I pulled them down out of the box to make sure.

I ussally run a 3wire with ground from switches to cieling boxes so if someone wants a fan with light in the future. If you have a newer house make sure you check the breaker, if it is a arc-fault breaker they can trip out even if you touch the neautral to ground. also check all your connections.

If there was nothing mounted there before, it's possible that nobody ever connected up the switch. Is there a switch box on the wall? Inspect the wiring there.

I see you made a post while I was typing . Take out your switch and see what colors are on the switch also make sure you have power going to the switch. Believe me when I say I have seen when the light isn't hooked up the switch isnt eigther.