How to Wire a Hanging Light | Home Guides | SF Gate 6 Attach the hanging light's hot wire to the hot wire in the junction box. If there is no red wire, unscrew the wire nut from the black wires, wrap the lamp's hot wire around them, then screw the wire nut back on. Alternatively, if there is a red wire in the junction box, treat that as the hot wire and attach the hot wire from the light to the red wire, using a wire nut. Reuse the original wire nuts or use new ones if the older ones are not in Public bookmarkswith diyhomemaintenancelampinstallationlightinstallation