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For context, I recently moved (into a very old home) and I have a series of recessed lights operating on a single switch. All but one light fine... what I assume is the last in the series does not. There is only a black and red wire present -- no ground, and no neutral as far as I can tell. When I test with a non-contact voltage tester, both the black and red wires are hot when the switch is on, and no voltage on either is present when it is off.

I have not tested with a voltage meter yet as there is no ground or neutral wire present so wasn't sure the correct/safe way to do that. How can I determine the voltage of each wire, and if this is appropriate to properly complete a circuit to get a working light in this space?

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  • Open up one of the other light fixtures and see what wires are there. That way we know the "normal" and it may shed some light (pun intended) on this one.
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Commented Dec 28, 2021 at 13:40
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    Ugh. Typo. Yes :)
    – acraigl
    Commented Dec 28, 2021 at 13:47
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    Wires colors show is DC. Red plus, black minus. The last bulb may not have enough power because of drop voltage on wires.
    – user263983
    Commented Dec 28, 2021 at 13:59
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    Yes, you should not be wiring 120V bulbs to these wires. Neutral being white is not optional. Also the lack of a junction box suggests either horrible work, or low voltage DC, where red/black are normal colors.
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Commented Dec 28, 2021 at 22:55
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    @Harper-ReinstateMonica I am not wiring 120V, rather 5W MR16 bulbs. Once user263983 suggested DC, it all made sense. There is a block of DC transformers located under the stairs. As I said, we recently moved here and it has been a journey of discovery :)
    – acraigl
    Commented Dec 29, 2021 at 14:12

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