I was bargain shopping for my home at habitat for humanity when I found this huge rack of fun light fixtures! Our new Florida home has the same boring light fixtures throughout and I knew I wanted to start replacing them. I snagged two beautiful fixtures from the store and decided to try my role as an electrician.
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Disclaimer: I am not an electrician!! If you are uncertain about what you’re doing or have a home with old electrical, please seek help from a licensed professional.
Step 1: Cut Power to Light
Go to your electrical box and cut the power to the light that you will be replacing. Test the light by making sure it doesn’t turn on. You can also verify that there is no power going to the fixture by using a voltage tester. Check out these instructions HERE for more helpful info.
Step 2: Remove Old Light Fixture
Remove the glass bowl by screwing off the decorative nut. You should be able to twist this off by hand. If not, use a pliers. Carefully remove the glass bowl and put it in a safe place. Remove the light bulbs, and unscrew the mounting screws (see picture below)
Step 3: Remove Wire Nuts & Untwist Wires
Untwist each of the wire nuts (lefty loosey, righty tighty). You will most likely have a black wire, a white wire and a copper wire. It would be a good idea to have someone hold the old fixture while you unscrew the nuts and untwist the wires.
Step 4: Remove or Keep Existing Mounting Bracket
Our old fixture did not have a mounting bracket, but the new light fixture came with one! Your new fixture should come with bracket installation instructions. If there is a mounting bracket already installed and it won’t fit your new light fixture, unscrew it.
Step 5: Install New Fixture Wires & Wire Nuts
Twist the wires from your fixture to the wires sticking out of the ceiling. Twist like wires together (black to black, white to white and copper to copper). You can either twist the copper wires together or you can ground them by twisting them onto the green screw on your mounting bracket (most brackets will have this). Twist the wires together (righty tighty) and twist on each of the wire nuts in the same direction.
Step 6: Shove Wires up & Screw in New Light Fixture
Shove the wires back up into the box and install your new mounting bracket. Use a screw driver to secure the screws into the ceiling box. Make sure that your bracket is securely anchored to the light box!
Step 7: Turn Power Back on
Head back to your electrical box and turn the power back onto your light.
Step 8: Clean up New Fixture
Give your light fixture a good dust and shine!
Step 9: Install Light Bulbs & Turn on!!
Install a new light bulb and test to make sure your light fixture turns on. If the light doesn’t turn on, you may not have secured the wires tight enough. Go back to double check or seek a professional for help.
