How To Install A Lighting Fixture

Required Tools:

light fixture
step ladder
wire connectors or wire nuts
circuit tester
electrical tape
Phillips-head screwdriver

1. If your fixture is wired properly and there's no question about which wire is hot, neutral, and ground, then begin by turning off the power at the breaker.

2. Loosen the screws on the light fixture (figure C) and remove the wires. Put the old fixture aside.

3. Next you'll install the mounting bracket, securing it with the screws that held up the old light fixture (figure D).

4. Connect the white wire in the ceiling to the white wire in the light fixture (neutral to neutral) by twisting the ends clockwise and then screwing the wire nut on clockwise (figure E).

5. Then connect the hot wire in the ceiling to the hot wire in the fixture (black to black) and secure it with a wire nut.

6. Finally connect the ground wire from the ceiling to the fixture's ground wire (ground wires are the bare copper-looking wires) and secure them with a wire nut (The ground wire nut might be slightly bigger than the other two.)

7. Next insert the long screws used to suspend the new fixture. Different lights may go together differently; follow the manufacturer's instructions with your light.

8. Slip the fixture into position over the screws and turn it so that the screw heads slip over the key holes and hold the fixture into place.

10. Screw the light bulb into the fixture and then screw in the rod that holds the globe in place (figure G). Secure it with the finial screw or other end piece that came with it.

11. Turn the power back on at the breaker and test your new light fixture!