How to Replace a Mounted Wall Lamp

If a mounted wall lamp is out of style or is damaged, replacing it with a new one is fairly easy. Below are some simple steps that even beginner do-it-yourselfers can follow.

Step 1 – Removing the Old Fixture

Turn off the electrical supply in the room where the old fixture is mounted. Do this by either switching off the circuit breaker or removing the fuse in the fuse box. Now, unbolt or unscrew the mounting plate on the old fixture until it comes off the wall. This will reveal the wire connections inside the electric box recessed into the wall.

There are only two wires connected inside the electrical: the black "hot" wire and the white "neutral" wire. There should also be a bare or green wire connected to the fixture’s crossbar. This is the "ground" wire. The crossbar is part of the mounting hardware of the fixture. Remove the crossbar by loosening the two screws mounting it to the box. Remove the ground wire connected to it and pull it out of the electrical box. The black and white wires from the fixture are connected to the black and white power supply lines. Untwist the wire nuts connecting them and pull out the entire fixture from the wall.

Step 2 – Preparing the New Mounted Wall Lamp for Installation

Shop around for a good lamp fixture and a new bulb that can fit into its socket. Remove all parts of new fixture from the package and assemble them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Along with the assembly kit, there should be a mounting plate and a protective gasket. Make sure all parts of the fixture are present.

Step 3 – Installing the New Lamp Fixture

Take the crossbar from the fixture and mount it to the electrical box. Insert both screws and tighten them. Locate the ground wire from the power supply cable and connect it to the ground screw on the crossbar.

the wires on the new fixture are usually already stripped.  If they're not, remove an inch of the insulation on both black and white wires using a wire stripper. Connect the ends of the fixture's black wire and power supply black wire, cover the connection with a wire nut and twist them together. Make sure that no bare wires are exposed. Connect the white wires in the same manner as the black wires. If the fixture comes with a ground wire, connect it to the ground screw on the crossbar as well.

Tuck the wires inside the electrical box. Install the mounting plate, with the protective gasket between it and the wall. Make sure that it bolts or snaps perfectly with the crossbar. The fixture can now be mounted easily to the mounting plate either by bolts or by screws. Secure the mounting hardware to complete the installation.

Step 4 – Reconnect the Power Supply

Before turning on the power supply, install the light bulb into the fixture socket. Turn on the circuit breaker or reconnect the fuse in the fuse box. Switch on the wall mounted lamp.