How to hook up a light fixture
Last Updated: August 4, To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 66, times. Learn more Dress up a room or give it a whole new appearance by learning how cixture change a ceiling fixture learn more here your own. Ceiling fixtures can vary from chandeliers for a formal dining room, a new light and fan combination for a family room, or a new look in a recently remodeled room.
Often, homeowners purchase a new interior or exterior light fixture, then pay a handyman or electrician to hook it up because the wires are different colors. Most light fixtures have two electrical wires with colored insulation and a copper ground wire. An enthusiastic homeowner can save the cost click to see more a professional by knowing which wires connect to which. With this knowledge, you more info a family member can do the wiring connections for one or more lights. Turn off the electrical yo for flxture circuit to the existing light fixure. If the breakers aren't labeled, ask a family member to turn on the light with the switch as you cycle through the breakers until it goes off. Loosen and remove the screws from the cover for the light switch that operates the light, using a screwdriver.
How to Wire a Ceiling Light: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Popular Categories. Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies. Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues. Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games. All Categories. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article Steps.
Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: August 4, Turn off the power to the existing light. Find the main breaker box, and turn off either the individual breaker for the room or the main power breaker. Remove the old ceiling light.
Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the mounting screws, and bring down the light fixture. It is helpful to have someone to hold the fixture as you uncap the wires and remove any electrical tape. Untwist the fixture wires from the house wiring. Inspect the wiring in the outlet box. Houses built before may have wiring for fixtures rated at 90 degrees and less. Most of the more-recent fixtures require wires that can withstand hotter temperatures. These wires are approved for the higher-temperature fixtures.
Inspect the outlet box to ensure that it is securely fastened. According to the National Electric Code NEC , a fixture that weighs 50 pounds or more will have to have its own independent electrical box. Pre-assemble as much of the ceiling fixture on the ground as possible. This will save time and arm strain later. Lock the length in place with a lock nut. Thread the screws into holes on each side of the crossbar. If you're using a rod, thread it into the center hole of the crossbar.
Connect the wires as they were in the old fixture. The ground wire is the bare copper wire and should be connected to the green grounding screw in the crossbar.
Wire black to black and white to white. Tuck the wires into the electrical box. Align the canopy with the mounting screws and tighten. Most light fixtures will have a keyhole-shaped hole. Align the head of the screw into the wider part of the hole, and twist the fixture to the narrower part. Tighten the mounting screws. If you're using a center-mounted ceiling light, slide the canopy onto the rod so the nipple shows through the center hole.
Screw on, and tighten the mounting nut. Open the package of wire nuts and installation screws that came with the new light fixture. While the light only has a black and white electrical wire, some manufacturer's include an addition wire nut because these are easy to misplace when installing a light. In most cases, the nuts are the same color, such as red, yellow or black. Again, this depends on the manufacturer, and any color wire nut can be used to connect a corresponding color of electrical and light fixture wires.
Light fixtures with more than one lamp may have a pair of black and white wires for each lamp. These connect to the black and white wires in the electrical box with the provided larger wire nuts. Motion lights have black, white and red wires. Black and white always connect to black and white. The installation instructions tell you which of these to connect with the red wire. William Machin began work in construction at the age of 15, while still in high school. In 35 years, he's gained expertise in all phases of residential construction, retrofit and remodeling.
His hobbies include horses, motorcycles, road racing and sport fishing. He studied architecture at Taft Junior College. By William Machin Updated December 17, Related Articles. Tip Light fixtures with more than one lamp may have a pair of black and white wires for each lamp.