Installing a Light Fixture

by DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

Wire cutter
Flat head screwdriver
Strong chair or ladder

If you are intending to install a light fixture by yourself, it might be good to know that the task is relatively easy. Almost anyone can do the job by just learning a few electrical procedures that are simple. You also need to know some essential electrical safety measures, but aside from that, you can get on with the task fast. Installing light fixtures also requires some basic tools and a chair or ladder if you have to install the fixtures on a high surface.

Step 1 - Turn Off the Power Supply

Before beginning the project, it is important that you turn off the current first to avoid an electric shock. You can turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse which gives power to the area you will be working on.

Step 2 - Remove the Fixture Covers

If the fixtures you will be working on has a glass cover on, remove it first, as well as the light bulbs on the existing fixture if there is one.

Step 3 - Disconnect the Light Fixture

If there is an existing light fixture, disconnect it first from the electrical box. There should be one or more screws, which can be found on the fixture, that is used to mount it on the electrical box.

Step 4 - Remove the Mounting Brackets

If there is an old light fixture, remove its mounting brackets first before installing the new one.

Step 5 - Find Out the Existing Connections

To make a successful installation, observe how the existing fixture has been connected by wires. This step is essential since it is also the way in which you are going to install the new one. Usually, there are 2 methods that are used for connection. The wires might be connected directly with the screws that are on the light fixture, or there may be wires that come out of it which are connected to the wires that are coming from the electrical box found within the ceiling or wall.

Step 6 - Disconnect the Wires

You will have to disconnect the wires connecting the old fixture to the circuit, but you will have to memorize how it was connected to the light fixture.

Step 7 - Connect the New Fixture (Direct Connection)

Get the wires that come out from the electrical box which is mounted on the wall or ceiling and connect them with your new light fixture. There should be 3 wires, colored white, black and green. The white wire is the negative wire, and the black wire is the positive wire, while the green wire is the ground wire. A bare copper wire may also be used for the ground. If you are going to connect these wires directly to the light fixture, you should connect the black wire to the brass screw, while the white wire should be connected to the silver screw. The green ground wire should be connected with the green screw.

Step 8 - Connect the New Fixture (Wire Connection)

If the fixture you have already has wire connections, you will have to connect these with the wires coming from the electrical box. You have to use the colored wire nuts for this. These are made of plastic and should be included with the fixture package. When using this type of connection, you have to follow the same color coding for wires, i.e. black to black, white to white, and green to green.

Step 9 - Mount the Fixture

Mount the new fixture to the electrical box with the screws provided. If you are using heavy fixtures, you will have to mount it on the mounting bracket, which needs to be installed first.