Help wiring new overhead light that uses SPT wire

Question

I am wiring a new overhead light fixture in my study. I have done lots of light fixtures before but the wires of the new fixtures I have done in the past have always matched the black and white wires of the ceiling wires.This new fixture has SPT-1 or SPT-2 wire (It just says in the instructions that it is one of the other but I do not see an identification on the actual wire). I understand that this new fixture is 'lamp wire' but I want to double check that I am hooking the right wire up to the hot and neutral wires in the ceiling. Here are the specifics: The new fixture wire is brown with both sides having copper wire. There are no grooves or stripes on either side but one side has writing on it. Am I correct in thinking the side with the writing is the 'hot' wire and should connect to the black wire in the ceiling and the side without writing is the 'neutral' side and should hook to the white wire?

Answer 1

I think I would say just the opposite. My thinking is that the wire with the writing on it is identified thus the neutral. You can check it out with a continuity tester or an ohmmeter by checking which wire gets a ring from the metal exterior of the fixture, since most fixtures are bonded between the neutral and the grounding wire.

If this is just a replacement cord you can select any conductor and mark it on both ends with white tape and identify it yourself.

Hope this helps