Jessica Smith

Things you will need:

• Wire Cutters
• Wire Nuts
• Fixture and  Mounting Hardware (if not included with the fixture)
• Screw Driver
• Light Bulbs that are appropriate for the fixture
• Electrical Tester

 Step 1:

Make sure that the light switch for the light you are replacing is in the off position; this will cut the power to the light.  If there is any question that there is still electricity traveling to the fixture you may want to turn off the circuit breaker that controls that light. 

Step 2:

If there is an existing light fixture in place it must be removed.  Start by determining how to remove any glass or shade portion (usually held on with thumb screws).  Next, remove the actual fixture from the ceiling or wall where it is located by removing the screws that are holding it in.  At this time it is a good idea to use a tester to make sure that there are no hot wires that you are working with, and if there are then you turned off the wrong switch or circuit breaker.

 Step 3:

While supporting the light fixture, unscrew the wire nuts that are connecting the wires from the fixture to the wires in the house.  If there is a ground wire (green) there may be a screw that has to be removed.  You are now ready to install the new fixture.

 Step 4:

Connect the wires of the new fixture to the wires in the house.  To do this hold the two wires side by side with the copper ends even and then screw a wire nut onto them in a clockwise direction.  Do this with all wires (white wires go with white wires and black go with black). If your light fixture does not have a white wire it will have two black wires.  One of the black wires will have white strings under the insulation (the colored part of the wire) and that one would be the white one.  If there is a green ground wire to be screwed down then gently bend over the copper end to make a partial loop with the wire cutter then wrap it around the screw and tighten it. 

 Step 5:

Reattach the fixture to the ceiling or wall using the provided hardware (usually screws). 

 Step 6:

Screw in the proper light bulbs, maximum watts and base types are written on the light bulb sockets in the fixture. 

 Step 7:

Turn the switch to the on position to make sure that it works. If it doesn’t repeat step 2 and make sure that all wires are properly connected.  If it works then you are ready to finish the installation by attaching any glass or shades that are part of the fixture and you are finished.