You'll need basic electrical skills for this project, to correctly connect the wires on your new fixture.
All You Need
- New lighting fixture
- Wire stripper
- Screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
- Ladder
- Coat hanger or strong cord (optional)
Step by Step
1. Shut off the power to the appropriate circuit at the service panel.
2. Remove the old unit. As you do so, examine how the old fixture is attached. Some secure with bolts to a strap; others mount with a hickey to a stud in the center of the box. Still others use a combination of these systems. Strap mounting works best with lightweight fixtures.
3. Prepare the new wires. Strip 3/4 inch of insulation from new leads. If wires are the stranded type, twist bare ends slightly.
4. Secure the fixture to the ceiling. If your mounting involves a hickey, make sure the wires exit through the hickey's side. Screw a nipple into hickey; thread hickey onto stud.
5. Make the electrical connections once you're sure the fixture is mechanically secure. Then carefully coil up wires inside the box.
6. Check your installation by turning on the power. If the fixture lights up, shut off power again and raise and secure the canopy.
Tips
- As you remove the old fixture, take care not to undo other connections that you may find in the box.
- If your new fixture is heavy, you can temporarily support it with a coat hanger or strong cord, as shown in Diagram 6.
- Handle fixtures gently — most are made of lightweight metal that can be bent easily.
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