How to Change a Light Fixture
When your light fixtures become old and need
replacing, or if you just need to change your décor, it is possible
to do it yourself if you follow a few rules. First, since laws vary,
make sure it is legal in your state to change the fixture. See to
your own safety by making sure your ladder or chair is solid and
steady. Make sure you have your new fixture ready and tools at hand.
A screwdriver is essential. A circuit tester is handy.
Once you are ready, turn off the power at the service panel, then
lock it so it can’t be accidentally turned back on while you are
still working on the wiring. Use the circuit tester to make sure
you’ve turned the right circuit off. If your light still works, you
can use it for testing, instead. It will go off when the breaker is
off and come back on when it’s turned on – simple, right? But do the
on-off thing a couple times just to be sure. Bulbs can blow at
critical moments.
Once you are sure the power is off, unscrew the light fixture and
pull it down to inspect the kind of wiring that is there. The most
likely one will be two wires, black and white, with a green or bare
one as the earth or ground wire. Mostly you just need to fix
white-to-white and black-to-black. If it is more complicated –
perhaps there is a red wire, make a colored sketch or label each
wire so you know where it came from. It is essential to get it back
together the same way.
Each light fixture will have its own instructions for installation,
so make sure you read them well. Use plastic connectors – called
wire nuts - to tie the wires into your home wiring, by twisting it
onto the wire. Connect the green or bare ground wire of the fixture
– if there is one - to the ground wire of your home wiring. If a
metal box is used to support the fixture, there should be grounding
screws in it to attach the green wire to.
Ready for testing again? Flick the breaker back on and turn on the
light. Don’t panic about wrong wiring –nothing major will go wrong.
All that will happen is nothing. In other words it won’t work. Check
to see if the breaker tripped when you switched on the light. If
that is the case, make sure the breaker is off once again before you
check the position of your wiring. You may have rewired it all in
the wrong position. If you absolutely cannot find anything wrong,
check the bulb by fitting it into another light. If there is nothing
wrong with the bulb, it may be time to call in the experts.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
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