The basics....
#1
11-25-02, 04:50 PM
The basics....
Okay, I am a beginner here, I am going to change an ugly ceiling light fixture to a nice hanging pendant light, I know I have to shut the circuit off before I start unhooking the electricity... and I do have an electrician book for beginners, however after reading this website you guys on here really know what you are talking about. Are their any rules that i really need to know here about rehooking up the new light. I am a single mom and I do all the "do it yourself" things around the house, now I'm going to conquer the electric but this is one of my first tasks. Please advise....
#2
11-25-02, 06:10 PM
Member
(1) Don't disconnect anything until you are absolutely sure you know how the old fixture is connected. Take pictures, take notes, draw diagrams, attach labels to the wires -- whatever it takes.
(2) Don't disconnect anything more than you absolutely have to to get the old light off.
(3) Connect the new light to exactly the same wires as the old one was. This is even more important than following the directions on the new light, since the directions may or may not apply to your situation.
(4) Make your wire nuts tight. It is easier to do this if you use new wire nuts rather than try to reuse the old ones. Make sure no bare wire extends past the wire nut. Tug on each wire to make sure it cannot come out of the nut.
(5) Be very neat about packing the wires back into the box.
(6) Stop immediately if you discover that any of the wires are aluminum.
(7) Never, ever, use a higher wattage bulb than recommended by the lighting manufacturer.
(2) Don't disconnect anything more than you absolutely have to to get the old light off.
(3) Connect the new light to exactly the same wires as the old one was. This is even more important than following the directions on the new light, since the directions may or may not apply to your situation.
(4) Make your wire nuts tight. It is easier to do this if you use new wire nuts rather than try to reuse the old ones. Make sure no bare wire extends past the wire nut. Tug on each wire to make sure it cannot come out of the nut.
(5) Be very neat about packing the wires back into the box.
(6) Stop immediately if you discover that any of the wires are aluminum.
(7) Never, ever, use a higher wattage bulb than recommended by the lighting manufacturer.
#3
11-26-02, 06:53 PM
Suzyqq, You also may come across a label in your new fixture that says "USE 90 deg C" wires only!!!!" If this is the case case, let us know and we'll throw a few questions at you to make sure you have the ability to do it right! And congrats of not being afraid to do your own basic electrical work. Electricity should not be feared, just highly respected!
Jorren
Jorren
#5
11-28-02, 05:33 PM
Basics are not so Basic anymore....
Okay guys I finally unhooked the light, and here it goes...The black wire was attached to a red wire and a copper wire was attached to another copper wire and then there was a white attached to a white. I'm so confused . . . .now what do I do??? The copper wire kinda through me off, and I don't think the new light going up has any coppers......And I didn't think the black and red went together but I could be wrong....Help...
#6
12-01-02, 09:02 AM
Member
(3) Connect the new light to exactly the same wires as the old one was.
Is there some reason why you cannot apply this rule? It's okay to connect a black wire to a red wire.
The bare copper wire is the grounding wire. Most new light fixtures have either a bare wire, a green wire, or a green screw to attach that to. The instructions with your new fixture should make that clear.
Is there some reason why you cannot apply this rule? It's okay to connect a black wire to a red wire.
The bare copper wire is the grounding wire. Most new light fixtures have either a bare wire, a green wire, or a green screw to attach that to. The instructions with your new fixture should make that clear.
