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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
How To Install A Ceiling Light Fixture
Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION:
How to install ceiling light fixture?
There are 6 wires coming down from the ceiling: 3 white, 3 black, no ground anywhere in sight. The light fixture has 2 whites and 2 black and a ground. How do I wire this up?
ANSWER:
all black go in black and all white go in white and green or empty wire go in metal ground you do not need ground
QUESTION:
How do I install a ceiling light fixture if there isn't one there already?
In my living room, there are 2 recessed lighting fixtures to iluminate my fireplace area. The room is kinda dark, even with a floor lamp. I want to install a ceiling light fixture in the center of the room. How do I run electrical to it?
ANSWER:
Answer #1 is mostly right, but if there is space above the room you are in business.
find the studs by an hot out let, and at the celling near the wall drill a very small hole in the celling between the studs with a long bit, leave the bit in the hole or a piece of wire, get in the space above the room and move over 2" over and above the wall and drill a hole through the plate and drop a 3-14 wire down in the wall make a switch box hole above the outlet, take the outlet out "have the electric off" hook into the outlet with the wire now going to the new switch, your wire will be running across the celling to where you want the light, and make sure that the light fixture box is put on the Joyce. if you can do this you will then have bragging rights to all your friends.
QUESTION:How to install a ceiling light fixture?
In the ceiling there are five wires:
7 green wires capped together
5 orange wires capped together
3 black wires capped together
5 white wires capped together
Another set of white wires, 3 capped together
The lamp is a basic pendant, with a black, white and green. Which wires do I attach these to?
Thanks,
Brent
ANSWER:
You have to figure which wire is the switch leg from the switch. It's either the black or orange. If it's a 120v circuit, my guess is the orange. Make sure the power is off at the breaker before you open any of those splices especially the whites! That's a lot of wires for one box. Once you find the switch leg, the rest is white to white and green to green.
QUESTION:
How do you install pull chain switch into a ceiling light fixture?
We have 3 ceiling fixtures in our kitchen (2 ceiling fans & 1 light fixture). We are trying to install a pull chain switch in 1 above the sink where you can turn it off & on with chain & the other 2 can stay on to keep the fans running. We have a white & black wire coming out of ceiling & 2 white wires & 2 black wires on the light fixture itself & now that we added the pull chain switch, we have 2 black wires coming from it. How do we connect these all together to make this work right? We tried once & it appears we did something wrong because the lights are very dim & just don't look like they should for their wattage. Please help!
ANSWER:
I always hate diagnosing things long distance because things are not always as they are described. My guess would be tie the two whites together at the fixture and connect them to the white in the ceiling white generally signifies the neutral leg. Then tie the two black legs on the fixture together and to one side of the pull chain switch the other black leg on the pullchain switch hooks to the black wire in the ceiling. This adresses the hot leg. Two things I dont know why the fixture has 2 whites and 2 blacks unless it has 2 sockets, if so this should work. Finally and hopefully there should be a bare copper wire in the ceiling which is a grounding wire and a green or bare wire on the fixture which should be tied together. If this doesnt help call an electrician like I said its hard to diagnose things long distance. Always turn off the power before attempting any electrical repair.
QUESTION:
How do I install a ceiling lighting fixture?
I've never wired before, but I'm good at following instruction/direction. I need a small ceiling fixture in my pantry. The nearest outlet is about 5 feet down on the wall. I'd like to install either a recessed light fixture or even a single spot. If there's a website for this, can you direct me?
ANSWER:
I would implore you to call a electrician. There are numerous nuances in a simple job(for a electrician)that a layman would not be able to identify and take care of. Wire stapling distance,penetration of walls and headers,installation of the new fixture box according to weight, and the proper termination of the switch leg,neutral,ground,and hot. Not to mention the wall damage that you might incure opening it up without the experience of knowing which way to route the wire. Do yourself a favor and call a pro.
QUESTION:
How much would it be to install a brand new light fixture into the ceiling where one does not currently exist?
Just an approximate amount. We moved our dining table into the sunroom and would like to install a new light fixture in the center of the ceiling and would like to know how much and what the project would entail. Thanks!
no access from the attic =(
yeah i am guessing it will be 0+ since they will have to take some of the drywall and ceiling out and replace it.
ANSWER:
Do you have access to the ceiling from above, such as an attic? If so, piece of cake. Figure 1-1/2 hours labor plus materials. I'd guess 0-125, depending on where you live. If there is no access, you are looking at a lot more. Have a local electrician give you an estimate, as there is no way to tell what obstacles there will be from here. Hope this helps.
QUESTION:
How much to have an electrician install a new light fixture?
My condo is open concept, the majority of the space being the "great room" in the center of this room is the sole light fixture, a large ceiling fan located above our living room area. To one side of the room is our dining area and there are no over head light fixtures.. I need a ball park estimate of how much it would cost to install a ceiling fixture so when I get estimates I know a little about what I'm talking about. Thanks
ANSWER:
There is no way for a competent electrician to tell on the internet how much it should cost. However, I would find a licensed, bonded, insured electrical service company that would:
A) Come to your Condo at no charge and.....
B) .give you an upfront quote for the job you want done.
Don't pay for an 'estimate'. Don't ACCEPT an 'estimate'. If they can't QUOTE you a price, upfront, without being paid to do that then move on. A pro can tell you what it will cost total, upfront. That way there are no surprises.
Also, look for a company that background checks their electricians. These guys are going to be in your home with you alone and have access to all your possessions, make sure that's not going to go bad......
There is a company here in town called Mr. Electric of Tucson that does all that. I'm sure there are more too. There are Mr. Electrics all over the US and Canada. They send background checked pros and give free quotes. There might be other too but these guys are the only ones I know in Tucson, AZ that do that. If your in Tucson they can be reached at (520) 795-5940. Google 'Mr. Electric' other places to see if there is one by you.
Hope this helped.......stay safe.
QUESTION:
how to install a ceiling fan with existing 3 bulb light fixture?
I have a ceiling light now with 3 bulbs. How can I take it down and safely put up a ceiling fan with lights?
ANSWER:
Jim S. got it right and Acres 12 is probably kicking himself for not mentioning the need to test the existing box.
If in doubt about the ability of the existing box to permanently support the weight of the fan, call a professional to do the work and put the liability on them. Money well spent.
Good luck.
QUESTION:
How do I install a ceiling fixture where there's no existing fixture?
My home has light switches installed in the bedrooms, but no light fixtures. How would I go about finding the wires in the ceiling? Once I do, is there anything I should know? Everything that I see online pertains to replacing fixtures which I've done before but nothing about starting from scratch.
ANSWER:
The switches probably go to outlets for lamps. You would need to run power into the attic, it could be complicated and you may well need an electrician, unless you want to research it all well enough to know what you are doing so you don't burn down the house.
It seems that you could rewire the switched outlets in circuit with the other outlets and run new wire from the switch up through the wall into the attic and over to the spot you want your fixture, put in cross bracing on the wood running across and install a box through the ceiling that you can run your wires through and then hook up the fixture. Kind of advanced if you don't really know what you are doing.
Good luck
QUESTION:
How do I install a ceiling light fixture using an existing hole when the hole is too big?
I tried to use the existing electrical box, but one of the mounting screw holes is stripped and the box is barely able to stay in place because the original work was done very sloppily and the hole is too big. Even if I can get around the stripped threads on the screw hole, I'm afraid to hang anything from the box for fear there is not enough edge surface attached to the drywall, and therefore will not be able to handle any weight, let alone the weight of a metal-framed, small chandelier. The existing box is white and uses a U-shaped, metal brace on the inside of the wall which the box attaches to using two slotted screws. I tried to use an "old work" box from Home Depot that uses three "ears" or flaps that rotate into place when turning the screws, and act like little vices that squeeze the drywall between the flaps and the outer flange. That didn't work because the hole is the same diameter and the outer edge of the boxes flange, so the whole box went right through the hole!
ANSWER:
First remove the old box! It is not designed to hold up the weight of a ceiling fan. Go to Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace, where ever and get a Raco
1-1/2" Ceiling Fan/Heavy Fixture Installation Brace and Box
Item #: 73178 Model: 935
.98
or something similar. You can print the listing below for reference. This is designed to do what you want. If the ceiling fan does not cover the existing hole you can patch it, or as suggested earlier use a ceiling medallion. Good luck!
QUESTION:
How do I install a ceiling light fixture using an existing hole, but the hole is too big?
I tried to use the existing electrical box, but one of the mounting screw holes is stripped and the box is barely able to stay in place because the original work was done very sloppily and the hole is too big. Even if I can get around the stripped threads on the screw hole, I'm afraid to hang anything from the box for fear there is not enough edge surface attached to the drywall, and therefore will not be able to handle any weight, let alone the weight of a metal-framed, small chandelier. The existing box is white and uses a U-shaped, metal brace on the inside of the wall which the box attaches to using two slotted screws. I tried to use an "old work" box from Home Depot that uses three "ears" or flaps that rotate into place when turning the screws, and act like little vices that squeeze the drywall between the flaps and the outer flange. That didn't work because the hole is the same diameter and the outer edge of the boxes flange, so the whole box went right through the hole!
ANSWER:
put in a bar mount box. the bar go to side by side on the stud trighten up then put your box in it willwork then they uses this for fan in the ceiling.
QUESTION:
How do I install a new light fixture where there was not one before?
The room I want to add the fixture to already has a light in the room, its a light/ceiling fan, I want to keep that, and then about 6 feet away install a new fixture to go over my desk. I Googled 'how to install light fixtures' and all I got were videos assuming you knew where the cable was coming from and the hole was already made. Not really what I'm looking for, any ideas how to get this started? btw, I am definitely an amateur when it comes to this stuff :)
ANSWER:
If you are not sure what to do, for safety sake get an electrician.
QUESTION:
Lighting question, no light fixture, need to install only two wires sticking out of ceiling. How do I install
Have an old craftsman home, garden has no lights, nor any light fixture there are only two wires coming out of the ceiling witch are conrtrolled by an on and off switch. How do I go about installing lights? I do believe none of the two wires are for grounding(neutral, not sure).
ANSWER:
With your new light connect the white wires together, the other 2 wires may be different colors but it should be ok as long as neither of them is green...The green wire from your new light can be connected to the box the wires are coming out of(if there is one).
QUESTION:
How do you locate the wires/cables in the ceiling for installing a light fixture?
How do you locate the wires/cables necessary for installing a light fixture without cutting into the ceiling to begin with?
sorry i didn't give any details
I am talking about an apartment room. No there is no existing light fixture, just plain ceiling, hence crappy lighting. Other rooms have ceiling light fixture.
ANSWER:
It isn't likely that there is a wire there that you could use.
A dedicated wire must be run from a switch (where the power usually originates) to the location for the light in the ceiling.
If there isn't an existing light there, wires would have to be run through the wall. Probably not something you want to pay for in an apartment.
QUESTION:
How do I install and wire a new light fixture if I'm starting with a blank ceiling?
My wife wants a light fixture in where there is not anything old to run off of. How do I run the wire and install the fixture, as well as how do I wire in a new switch?
ANSWER:
Call an electrician. It most places its illegal to do your own electric work without a license and permit.
Or, figure out where you want it. Find the studs, Cut a hole for the switch and one for the fixture. Run a wire from the electric box to the hole you made for the switch, run a wire from that hole to the fixture. You need to make sure you run the wire parallel to the studs if you have drywall up. This will save you from having to drill holes through the studs.
QUESTION:
How can I install wiring that was for a light fixture to a ceiling fan?
I am trying to install a ceiling fan in where a light fixture was. I also want to install a dimmer. The wiring that was for the light was connected to a switch and when I took down the light there are three sets of wires (three black, three white and three ground). The white wires and black wires were connected to each other and then to the light wires. I installed. I have another ceiling fan in my bedroom and that has 4 wires (black, white, ground and red. Can I connect to the old wiring or do I need to try and run a new line and how would I connect it to a switch so it has power? I am trying to install a control switch that controls the lights and fan.
Let me explain. I DID NOT INSTALL THE LIGHT FIXTURE. (I can't edit my detail section) I installed a ceiling fan in another bedroom and ran new wiring and connected to another switch for power. I do not have attic access to run new wiring as I did with the other ceiling fan.
ANSWER:
You can install the fan where the light is and use the current wire, but you will not be able to do anything but turn the entire set-up (fan & light) on or off. In order for it to work the way you want, you will need the additional wires. Without access to the attic, you are not going to be able to run the wire you need to get this to work properly. Your best bet is to buy a fan that has the remote control with it. You may be able to purchase the remote separately and use them on an existing fan.... I've never tried to purchase just the remote, but it may be available.
QUESTION:
How do I install a new light fixture?
I need to installing a new ceiling light in the living room. There is an existing single switch on the wall that operates some track lighting in the kitchen. Can I convert this into a double switch and have the other switch operate the ceiling light? If so, what tools do I need to do the whole operation? What kind of romex wire do I need?
I tried searching online but the tutorials weren't that good and I couldn't find anything about the double switch.
ANSWER:
You should have your living room switch in that room not the kitchen( not sure but code may require it) so if they are shared walls why not cut out for a single switch on the opposite side of the kitchen switch they make different retrofit boxes for your application
QUESTION:
How to rotate a ceiling mounted light fixture?
I have a star light fixture and would like to install it to the ceiling so it rotates continually...I'm sure there is an item somewhere that will allow me to do that...any help would be appreciated.
ANSWER:
yeah go to lowes and tell them you need parts for a ceiling fan like the adjuster timer and basically everything but the blades and you can hook it up like that
QUESTION:
Halogen ceiling light professional install - how much would it cost?
I would like to get rid of my light fixture in one of my rooms, and replace it with 5-10 halogen lights in the ceiling, how much would it cost to get this done professionally?
I wouldn't mind trying to install it but I Wouldnt' have a clue about how to connect the lights up to the electrics in the house!
thanks all
ANSWER:
I offer this caution to halogen lighting:
Halogens typically operate in much the same fashion as regular incandescent bults, using electricity to heat a small filament to white heat. Consequently, there is much ELECTRICAL ENERGY WASTED PRODUCING UNWANTED HEAT -- and some fire risk. Additionally, the special halogen bulbs tend to be rather expensive to replace and don't have that much longer life than regular incandescents.
I've opted to go with fluorescent that tend to be much more energy efficient, and the compact screw-in-ones have come down considerable in price (in the .5 to .5 each, range); and they typically last many times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I concede that halogen fixtures can be much more manageable for aesthetics, but you end up paying for them for a long time because of their inherent inefficiencies. (Steps off soapbox.)
QUESTION:
Help installing a ceiling light fixture?
I have three cables coming from my ceiling. Inside each is what appears to be a Live (red) wire, a neutral (black) wire and an earth (yellow/green) wire. However one of the black wires has red tubing around it.
The light fixture I am trying to attach it to has spaces for one live, one neutral and one earth wire.
There are two wall switches that operate the light.
I have tried to attach just one set of wires to the fixture, taping up the remaining six from the other two cables. Unfortunately this seems to have knocked all the lights in my flat out.
I would appreciate any advice on how the fixture should be wired correctly, or should I just send for an electrician?
Update: Thanks for all the useful advice. I have now managed to properly install the fitting.
For anyone who has a similar setup I needed to join and tape the three red wires together. Locate the live black wire (turned out to be the one with the red tubing) and attach it to the brown. Join the remaining two black wires and attach them to the blue. Join the three earth wires and attach them to the earth.
Dont forget to turn off at the mains before attempting any of this.
Phil
ANSWER:
Bite the bullet and get an electrican. you have shorted all your other lights.You should have all the live wires coming down together,all the earths together and all the neutrals together on one side of your connection block and then the wires from your light on the other. but it'll be hard enough to try get all them into the one block so best get a professional!!
QUESTION:
How do I install a ceiling light in a room where there are no holes in the ceiling for one to go?
I would like to install a fixture box and fish the wire from a wall switch so the light would be controlled by the switch. There are three rooms that I would like to do this to with an unfinished attic above. Does anyone know of the best/safest way to complete this task? Also, would I need to use conduit in order to be up to code?
ANSWER:
Sorry, I'm confused. What does the wall switch currently control?
In the long run, it might be easier to run a whole new line (circuit) and put the lights on switch on the new circuit. That way you won't be in danger of overloading the existing circuit with the new lights. Only so much electricity can go through a circuit before it trips or burns down the house.
QUESTION:
Can a ceiling fan light kit be installed WITHOUT a fan? i.e. directly to the ceiling?
I have found a great light fixture, but it is meant to be installed as a light kit on a ceiling fan, not as a stand-alone ceiling fixture. Can I install it alone, without a fan, directly to the ceiling? How do I know which wires to cap/ignore and which to use?
Wiring is old but okay, circa 1929, plain fixture (no fan) was in place previously.
The wires I'm wondering about capping/ignoring are those on the new light -- it seems there are extra for connecting to the nonexistent fan.
ANSWER:
The biggest difficulty will be determining how to properly mount the fan ceiling light kit to a regular ceiling light fixture box. The hole spacing is usually totally different on these two items.
You may need to buy a threaded tube that will go through the cneter of the fan light and that tube can then be screwed into a metal strap that goes across the existing ceiling box. The strap has holes in it for two screws and a hole inthe middle for the threaded tube.
You will need to be imaginative about getting the parts together.
QUESTION:
How difficult is it to install a switch and ceiling electrical box for a light fixture?
ANSWER:
you will have to cut in a wall switch box in the wall that you want it in
than go up into the attic and drill a hole tho the top plate right above the switch box and run the wire to the ceiling box to where you want to install it
QUESTION:
how to install a light fixture?
I have a 3-wire light fixture to install on a ceiling. The 3 colours are white, black, and copper ground.
On the wall outlet box, there are also 3 wires: black, white and blue. I attach the wires (black-black), white-white, copper, blue.
everything works fine when the circuit breaker is flipped on (the light switch was left on). When I go to turn off the light, the circuit breaker trips and the ground wire becomes scorching hot. What is happening?
ANSWER:
sounds like you may have a three way switch in the wall. when you flip it up it makes the black hot, when you flip it down it makes the blue hot. cap off the blue wire with a wire nut and attach the bare ground from the junction box if the box is metal. if its plastic and you can't find a ground wire coming into the box to connect to then just roll it up in the box because it's not going to do any good connected to a plastic box. if you want to test it you can connect the black wire coming from the light to the blue wire in the box. if the light comes on when the switch is down the you have a three way switch. another way you can do it is take the switch out of the box and take loose the blue wire that is connected to the bare ground up in the light box and connect it to a ground in the switch box.
QUESTION:
how to replace a pull string light fixture with a regular non pull string light fixture?
in my bedroom i only have a pull string ceiling light fixture and no wall switch. is there a way to install a regular ceiling light fixture without having a wall switch? thanks.
ANSWER:
As an electrician I hate to let out this information LOL
There are wireless switches that are easy to install, you can use them to control just about anything.
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/pro17.pl?ref=lightningonlineorder1867&rdf=go
http://www.x10.com/products4/google/auto_5room_ps_nox.html
QUESTION:
How much to install ceiling fixtures?
We live in a 1 and half story home and all of our rooms on the main floor have wall lights. We would like ceiling fans installed and wall lights removed. The area up above these rooms, is unfinished, no finished floor or anything. There is one outlet and light switch upstairs if that helps (as far as determining where wiring would have to be run from). How much on average do you think it would cost to install each fixture?
Sorry I should have asked, how much it will cost to have an electrician or handyman to install one.
ANSWER:
Hi
I did it for one room - it cost me around 0 (Canada). The cost for several rooms will be better I think, but it will depend on the wiring effort.
Max
http://www.felicity-art.com
QUESTION:
How do I replace a Ceiling Fan with a Light Fixture?
We removed the old ceiling fan some time ago and it's long gone. I've tried to install a new light fixture to no avail. I can get the light to just stay on but it won't switch off. Coming out of the ceiling are 3 black wires, 3 white and 1 red. Yep, you read that correctly. I have capped off the red and that doesn't seem to effect so I'm going to keep it that way unless instructed otherwise. Please help! Thanks
ANSWER:
Check the answer from EagleWatcher first. Good chance he is right, given the description (give him 10 if he is).
If he has guessed it wrong, I'll give you a second possibility....
At the light fixture, All blacks connect together, All whites connect together with a pigtail connected to the fixture white wire(s), and the red connects to the fixture's black wire(s).
This can be confirmed by checking out the wiring on the switch. The switch will be a single-pole (only has two terminals, excluding the ground). It will have a red on one terminal and a black on the other (may have a black stabbed in the back and another around the screw terminal.).
If we both got it wrong, please update the question or email directly.
QUESTION:
how to install a flushmount light fixture.?
I allready have lightbulbs in the ceiling with light coming out of them and everything but there is no fixture over it. It is so bright so i found one at lowes that is a flushmount I want to know how to install it.please
ANSWER:
turn off the breaker to it so there is no power running to the cicuit take down old fixture there will be two or three wires 1 black 1 white 1 green connected with wire nuts unscrew these reattach wires from new fixure make sure you have good connections remount fixture turn on power if unsure of yourself call electrition
QUESTION:
Should I pull power from an outlet or switch to install a light in the ceiling?
I live in a house where none of the rooms have light fixtures in the ceilings, all of our rooms have to lamps plugged in to the wall outlet and 1 of those outlets is controlled by the light switch. I would like to change this so that when I turn on the switch I can turn on a light fixture in the ceiling, pretty much to update my house. Should I or can I get power from an outlet or wall switch and how can I do this? Any picture diagrams would help me tremendously!!
ANSWER:
The work can be done from the switch, if the hot and neutral of the circuit is going to the switch first, then the neutrals will be wirenutted together and the hot will go thru the switch to the wall outlet, a romex from the switch to the new ceiling box can be ran for the new light fixture. If the switch is getting the hot from the wall outlet then the wires going to the switch will not be able to complete the circuit, cause only the hot is being switched at the switch; hot in and load out to the wall outlet. Then you would need to run your new romex from the wall outlet and use the neutral there to complete the circuit. You said that one of those is switched on your outlet, so it sounds like half of your wall outlet is switched and half is hot all the time. In this case it sounds like the wall outlet is feeding the switch so you should run your circuit from the wall outlet and use the switched side of the wall outlet for your circuit to the new ceiling fixture. In either case a licensed and certified electrician should be seriously considered for the work.
QUESTION:
How to install ceiling light off-center?
Hi!
I have a pendant light that I want to hang over my kitchen sink - the electrical box that is there is slightly off center - there is a beam in the ceiling in the center, so the box could only be installed there (about two inches off-center).
Is there any way for me to mount this fixture to the ceiling and have it slightly off-centered? With the cover being so close to the center, hanging the cord over a hook wouldn't look all that great - there isn't enough room for a swag.
I had thought of purchasing a ceiling medallion, and installing the fixture directly to the beam in the ceiling, with the medallion only covering a portion of the electrical box - is this something that can be done?
Any help or ideas would be appreciated - I really want to have this light hanging centered over my sink...
Matthew
Hi!
I have a pendant light that I want to hang over my kitchen sink - the electrical box that is there is slightly off center - there is a beam in the ceiling in the center, so the box could only be installed there (about two inches off-center). I'd put a new box in the center, but the beam is in the way
Is there any way for me to mount this fixture to the ceiling and have it slightly off-centered? With the cover being so close to the center, hanging the cord over a hook wouldn't look all that great - there isn't enough room for a swag.
I had thought of purchasing a ceiling medallion, and installing the fixture directly to the beam in the ceiling, with the medallion only covering a portion of the electrical box - is this something that can be done?
Any help or ideas would be appreciated - I really want to have this light hanging centered over my sink...
Matthew
I am prevented from installing a new box in the ceiling directly in the center, as the beam is in the way.
ANSWER:
The box can be moved into the space you want. They make 1/2" deep boxes that can be mounted directly to the beam in the drywall and patched to look right, as if you planed it that way. The 1/2" boxes are most often used for exterior lights in the garage door area where the sheer panels limit size and location of boxes just like your beam is doing
QUESTION:
how hard it is to install a ceiling fan, in place of a regular chandelier type light fixture?
bickle maybe I shouldn't do this after all :(
anyone wanna do mine? LOL
ANSWER:
Its really quite simple Warrior. All you have to do is be able to follow the written instructions and know how to use a screw driver and maybe a pair of pliers. I've installed several. Takes about half an hour. Good luck to you
QUESTION:
How to install a ceiling fan where there is only a light fixture?
I want to install a ceiling fan in my bedroom, and there is only a small light fixture there now. I'm not sure if the junction box that is there currently can support a ceiling fan. This room is on the first floor of a two story house, so "going up in the attic" is not an option here, and frankly I am not about to tear a hole in the ceiling either. What can I do about this? All of the necessary wiring is there, I just need to know if it's possible for a regular junction box to support a ceiling fan without falling down or if there is some alternative. Many thanks for a reply!
ANSWER:
Yes there is a fan braced junction box called Saf-T-Brace just go to a hardware store or home depot tell them you need a Fan mounting Brace Saf-T-Brace. it goes up in the same hole as your junction box, and it attaches to the studs on each side of the box it screws out and has teeth that grab the studs so you do not have to cut a bigger hole, or nail in to the studs and it will hold a heavy ceiling fan costs about 15 bucks.
QUESTION:
How do I install my ceiling light with my uncommon condo wiring?
I am trying to install a ceiling fixture and I see three wires: a yellow, a green, and a tan that is looped! I assume yellow is power, as it was the only one capped. The green is screwed to the junction box so I assume thats ground. But the loop is throwing me off!
Here's a picture...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikegee/2426751578/
Plus, the fixture has two bulbs which means there is two of every wire. Assuming I figure out which wire does what, should I just group the two fixture wires of each type together and attach them to the one in the ceiling?
ANSWER:
Buy a cheep tester and confirm what is power. The looped neutral may be that way because they pulled the wire through the box and never had a fixture hooked up there. If you cut the loop you will loose power to anything else down the line so make sure you have a flashlight handy. attach all black to power, all white to neutral and all green to ground.
QUESTION:
how do I put in a new outdoor light fixture above my front door ?
I have no front light in front of my house. I have a mud room at my front door with no access to the small attic area above it. there is a ceiling light in the mudroom though. i want to tap into that and somehow go through the vinyl siding and install a light fixture. how would I do that with the vinyl siding ?
ANSWER:
First, I would have ask, how you plan to tap the ceiling light? Is there power there or is it just a switch leg?
As for installing a light in vinyl siding, they make a piece called a "J-Block" should be available at any home store the carries siding, you should also install a junction box for the wires, and for the fixture to mount to, this reqired by code.
If there is not permanant power in the ceiling fixture the outside light will have to be operated by the same switch as the ceiling light, if there is power, you can install a switch below in outside light, if there is wall space below. Good luck, hope this helps you.
QUESTION:
How can I install an outlet where my ceiling light used to be?
The wires are all set because the electrician said all I need to do is hang a light fixture.
ANSWER:
An outlet and a light fixture use the exact same wires. To put an outlet in a ceiling box you just need to connect the black wire to the gold colored screw in a standard outlet and the white wire to the silver colored screw and the bare copper wire to the green screw. It may get tricky when you try to screw the outlet into the ceiling box however because some ceiling boxes have a different distance between the two screw holes than the outlet will but it will more than likely fit. Just screw the outlet into the box and find a cover plate to fit. Round for a round box rectangle for a rectangular box. Just remember that the light switch will obviously have to be on for that outlet to work.
QUESTION:
How do you determine the maximum wattage of a light fixture?
I installed a light fixture in a ceiling fan. The light fixture has four arms and the manual says that each arm can handle up to 60 watt bulb. The light fixture is connected to the ceiling fan's wire. And I put four 60 watt buls in the light fixture. So, the total wattage is 240watt. One day, my wife said that she smells some burning stuffs around the ceiling fan. The smell could come from a different source. But, I am wondering if 240watt is too big for the fan's capacity. Does any one know this type of problem? I see some of light fixture says that the maximum wattage is 150watt, and some of them say 60watt. How do they determine that?
This light fixture is connected to the existing fan, which I don't know if the wire of the existing fan has the enough capacity. Does it make sense?
ANSWER:
I have seen this time and time again. You probably bought the light fixture from a discount place, right? They are rated for 60 watt bulbs, but the sockets they install do not hold up. The wires are riveted instead of screwed into the light bases. The rivet loosens, causing an arc, and then burning of the wires. That will explain the burning smell. Ultimately, you will see a bulb out, and when you replace it, it still won't work. These are foreign made, and do not hold up.
I can't tell you how many light sockets I have replaced for people on these. I believe I did 2 last week. Go to the hardware store and pick up some new sockets, and replace the one that's burning. There will be more, so pick up spares.
Remember to shut off the power before doing any electrical replacements.
Good luck.
QUESTION:
How to install hanging light fixture with only black wires and one bare silver wire?
My ceiling box has one each white, black and copper wire. The fixture only has black and a bare silver wire. The rubber part of the black wire in the fixture seems to be connected and you can pull it apart resulting in two black wires with copper in the middle. How to connect these to the wires in the ceiling box?
Used the advice from the first answer. Worked perfectly without killing myself. Thanks for saving me the cost of a pro.
ANSWER:
if it's a simple fixture, it really makes no difference which wire hooks up to which wire in the ceiling box. If you are really concerned, look at the two black wires carefully... you will see one of them has ridges on it... use that as the one connected to the black wire in the ceiling box, then hook the other one to the white wire.
The silver one is ground.
QUESTION:
How do I install a lighting fixture like a chandelier in an area with no hole in the ceiling?
How do I make a hole in the ceiling? and once I do make a hole what electric wires do I look for? I actually have to write about the process so I'm not planning on hiring anyone. If anyone could help me out on this, It would really mean a lot and would be a huge help! Thanks so much.
ANSWER:
It is a bit more complicated than you are saying.
The hole in the ceiling is easy, cut one.
But, you'll need the proper support for the chandelier in the ceiling.
The electric will need to be run from the breaker box to the ceiling, and down the wall to the switch. You can't just pop a hole in the ceiling and grab some wires.
If you are not just writing about the idea of the process, for your own safety, hire an electrician.
QUESTION:
how can i wire a light fixture from a switch that is controlling a receptacle?
The set up currently is the wall has a switch that controls a receptacle in the room. I want to install a ceiling fixture instead and use the switch to control this fixture but still have full access of the receptacles. I only have access to the crawl space above the room. I am not sure where to interrupt the current wiring.
Thanks in advance
ANSWER:
The easiest way to do this is to get a ceiling fan that has a wireless remote to control the speed of the fan and typically the light that is on it too. Many have dimmers as well so that you can control the fan speed and light intensity. This will not require any rewiring and will leave you with full control of all the recepticals as well. It will also remove the problem of pulling or rewiring and not having to go into the crawlspace of the actic which is like hell in the summer.
I have added a link below for some examples:
QUESTION:
How do I install overhead lighting in an old house?
I am sectioning off a portion of my living room to create a first floor bedroom for myself. The house is approximately 100 years old and there is no overhead lighting in this area. I would like to install a ceiling fan/light fixture but the ceiling is plaster and there is no access from above to run wiring. Does anyone have any ideas? I thought about creating a tray ceiling and placing can lights around the perimeter maybe?
ANSWER:
Hi Brandi,
Pulling a new electrical run in an older home can be difficult, frustrating and expensive.
The best alternative is the new track-lights. Anyone can install them with the most basic knowledge and a few common household tools.
QUESTION:
How do you hook up a ceiling fan when the existing light fixture only has two cloth covered wires?
The fan has about four wires total. The house is about 100yrs old. There are other fans in the house. This is a Hampton Bay ceiling fan. Can I ground the ceiling fan to the metal box I need to install in the ceiling?
ANSWER:
Both are correct to some degree in a hundred year house the wiring will be knob and tube. The first thing I would ask you to do is to visit the hardware store one more time they sell a bracket box that will fit into the opening between the rafters. As you tighten the box the cleats dig into the rafters and the box is rated for the weight of the fan. The neutral conductor is the grounded conductor in your home the green wire from the fan can go to the box, for the four conductors of the fan you will have to read the instructions very carefully and determine which conductors will be spliced together and which will be tied to the house power. I'm sorry I can not help you any further but you did not give enough information to determine the wiring f the fan.
QUESTION:
What light should I install into my room?
My Sister and I currently share a room, soon we're going to split it with a curtain, problem is she has installed lighting on her side, and all I have is a lamp. So if we split the room my side is going to be very dim. What light fixtures can I install? And do I have to wire it through the ceiling or is there any possible way to not have to open up my ceiling and install it? And how much would it cost?
ANSWER:
yes, you can run the wiring for another fixture, by placing an external box over the existing light fixture box, running external conduit to a second external box, and placing a light fixture there. This will need to be done by a certified electrician, which can be found in the yellow pages of your phone book, and will cost 0-0. Alternatively, if you have a receptical (outlet), you could put a bright floor lamp, or halogen work lamp there. Floor lamps are available at most stores for about . Work lamps are much brighter, and are available at home improvement stores, or Lowes/Home Depot, for -0. They also use much more power, and become very HOT.
QUESTION:
how to install a track light on the ceiling from scratch ?
I have just moved house, i have put up my dartboard.
But the light bulb from the middle of the room isn't good enoug to light up the dartboard.
I need to install a ceiling spotlight fixture, i think it's called track lighting. It has 3 halogen bulbs which i can light up the dartboard with to make playing darts much better.
My question is how do i plug these into my existing electricity circuit?
I'm assuming when i cut a hole out in the ceiling and screw the new lights in place i will run a cable into my attic then connect it to the power somehow, then i will have to cut my wall up to put a new switch in next to my other one for the main light then polyfill and repaint the wall ?
Can someone please help me as i have absolutely no experiance with electrics and what i might need to buy to get the job done or how to connect the light to the electricity supple etc.
My only other option is to pull out the lmain light move it 1 metre to the right and put in the track spotlights instead of the main light and use a lamp at night in that room.
Thanks for any help on this matter, sorry if i'm not very clear about what i'm on about but i really have no idea what to do.
rik.
ANSWER:
Congratulations on the new digs rik! It sounds like you have some great plans for the dartboard. I have attached three articles: (1) Installing Track Lighting Guide, (2) Track Lighting Buying Guide, and (3) Switch Buying Guide. Since this is your first time working with electricity, I would suggest getting some help/ advice from a licensed electrician or handyman who will be able to look at your home and make the best assessment as well as knowing the local electrical codes. They may be able to handle the more complicated parts of your installation. Best wishes in the new home!
QUESTION:
Installing a ceiling fan with a light fixture and two controls on the wall?
I am replacing an old ceiling fan with light fixture with a new ceiling fan with light fixture.
I removed the existing fan from my ceiling that had a light fixture, the fan was controlled by a flip switch on the wall and the light fixture by a dimmer on the wall next to the flip switch. Unfortunately I neglected to look at the wiring configuration when I removed it.
What I have coming from the ceiling is 1 green ground wire and TWO SETS of black and white wires, there is no red wire.
I've figured out which set of black and white go to the wall switch, how do I connect the light fixture with the remaining black & white wires?
I did the wiring that woodtick314 suggested...and I believe this to be correct. However, in prior attempts I believe I may have fried the wall switch, so I'm going to have to go Lowes & get a new one before I can say that I have successfully solved this.
ANSWER:
Connect all of the white wires together. Connect the black for the light to the blue wire on the fan. The other black goes to the black on the fan. Connect the grounds and you're all set. Hope this helps.
QUESTION:
i am replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan with a light fixture.?
The old fixture has a black and a white wire that were attached to two white wires coming from the ceiling. There was also two black wires nutted to each other in the ceiling. Essentially there are two sets of wires in the ceiling that have a black and a white in each, and the blacks are twisted together. How do I proceed to install a ceiling fan?
ANSWER:
Mark the white wire that was on the black wire from the light with several wraps of black electrical tape, then wire your new fixture white to white, and black to the taped lead. This should be the way the old fixture was wired. How heavy is the new unit? If more than 6 lbs, you need a special box to support the fixture.
QUESTION:
wiring for a ceiling fan and light switch?
I am installing a ceiling fan and light fixture. I want the fan and the light to be on seperate switches. How do I do the wiring?
Do I need to use 12-3 wire or can I use 12-2
QUESTION:
how to replace a ceiling fan with light to a light only?
I am replacing a ceiling fan with a light fixture to a light only. There are three back wires, three white wires and one red wire. The white wires were connected to the white wire on the fan, the red was connected to the blue and black in the fan. The three black wires from the ceiling are capped off. At the light switch itself there are two white wires, a red and a black, the whites are connected to each other and the red is in the top of the switch and the black in the bottom. What should I connect to what to install just a simple light fixture?
ANSWER:
The black wires are the power supply that is feeding the switch,just take everything down and hook the red and white wires to the new light it will bolt to the box where the fan hardware was mounted.
the blue wire on the fan is the light on the bottom and the black is the fan motor, the red wire will be the hot from the light switch and you will need to hook a white wire to the light too. brass is hot on the new light and silver screw will be neutral so just use the red and white wires to hook up the light and you will be fine.
QUESTION:
What caused the light fixture in my ceiling fan to stop working, and how do I fix it?
I installed the fan a year ago (swapping it for the original light fixture) and it worked perfectly. About 2 weeks ago, the lights (all four of them) just stopped working. The fan has 2 chains (to work the fan and lights independently from each other) and the room has two switches to turn it on - one of the switches has a dimmer, and they do not work together. In other words, if I turn on the fan using switch 1, and the fan goes on, then if I hit switch 2, nothing will happen.
ANSWER:
First problem: You have a pair of 3-way switches that is wired incorrectly. Check both switches to make sure the common wire is going to the proper terminal. Swap wires wherever necessary. On the light, the chain switch probably broke, and no longer operates the light.
Best course of action:
1. Take the fan/light down and replace the ceiling box with one that's rated for a ceiling fan. I assume you left the original fixture box in place. You can't do that.
2. Replace the cable feeding the ceiling box with 14/3. This will give you a second hot wire so that you can operate both the fan and light separately from the wall. Cut the chains off the fan while the fan is on HIGH and the light is ON.
3. At the switch box that's hot constantly, replace that box with a 2-gang box and connect the 14/3 cable in there. The other switch box will have only one (original) 14/3 cable with a black, white, and red. The black is common, other two are travelers. At the main switch box, pigtail the hot with two black pigtails; one for the fan control knob, and other for the light switch. From the new 14/3 cable, black feeds the fan, red for the light, and white is neutral.
QUESTION:
Why are my self-installed flourecent light fixtures flickering all the time?
I have typical flourecent "office fixture" ceiling lights. I'm replacing them with simple wall mounted, DIY fixtures and am using 13w spiral flourecent lights.
I wired the first one and tested it. Worked just fine.
Then I ran my wires to the second fixture, put it all together and tested it. Now the two bulbs to a little disco dance back and forth for a few minutes before they warm up.
What is causing this and how can I work around it? Will lower wattage bulbs do it? I plan on installing another 2 fixtures on the other side of the room. What can I do??
I don't think it's a wiring issue. Here's what I did:
Electrical box -> black wire -> rat tail -> black wire -> fixture -> white wire -> rat tail -> black wire -> rat tail -> black wire -> fixture -> white wire -> rat tail -> white wire -> electrical box
What these guys are saying about series/parallel is it, I think. Problem is, I don't know how to make the wire go "through" a fixture, so to speak.
If I join the black wire from the wall to the black wire from the fixture, which black wire to I connect to the next fixture? Do I need to combine 3 wire together?
So, the wires come out of the wall inbetween the two fixtures. I have the black wire from the wall and the two black wires from the fixtures together. I have the white wire from the wall and the white wire from the fixtures all bound together. And now the bulbs are working fine.
BUT it seems like there should be a better way. I have 2 more fixtures I would like to insert into the circuit. Where/How would I place them??
ANSWER:
I got the same impression as Alan from reading your wiring connections. All the blacks should be connected together and all the whites connected together throughout the circuit. I'm not sure what a rat tail is. But no black should be connected to a white in your circuit. So black and white to the first fixture each connected to the black and white fixture wires and to the black and white wires going to the next fixture and so on to the other fixtures. Stop at the last fixture. And of course there will be a ground wire in the circuit to ground the fixtures.
Edit:
Yes you are correct in that on all the fixtures except the last one, you will have three black wires connected together, and three white wires connected together. Four if each fixture has 2 each. The connections are made in the required box behind the fixture.
QUESTION:
Light bulb flashing after ceiling fan install?
I installed a ceiling fan where an existing light fixture was at. The bracket was fine so i kept the original box. The wires coming down to the fixture were 2 white wires. One neutral from the source, and apparently they ran the romex to a switch and used the white wire as the switch leg. Two black wires were wired together in the box. When i checked the wire with my voltage detecter with the power one, i found the voltage to be pulsating on what i though was the hot. I figured this had something to do with the dimmer switch so i continued. I finished the install, turned power back on, fan worked, lights worked, pull chains worked. I went back to the attic and found the light in the attic to be flashing. I removed the dimmer and the problem still exists. The flashing is definitely a 60hz flash. The only thing i can think of is i wired the wrong white wire to the black fan wires. The light kit doesnt have polarity, and the fan works fine so how can it not have the correct polarity. I think whoever wired the house alternated which wire they used as the switch leg when they used one piece of romex. It is confusing when you see black and white wires connected in junction boxes, and trying to figure out which devices it feeds. Im just thinking out loud at this point, but i am very frustrated.
Yeah i have checked all the connections and everywhere i was at in the attic. I retraced my steps and everything is fine. I must have the polarity wrong in the ceiling fan junction box because that flash is consistent in terms of the timing, its almost perfect. It has to be backfeed from somewhere and the light worked in the attic prior to the ceiling fan. Im going to pull the fan down and switch my wires and see what happens. I just cant figure out the pulsating on the assumed hot wire when i checked the voltage.
ANSWER:
How can you see a light blink 60 times per second because that is what it is doing. Also forget about the polarity issue, the polarity of a/c voltage changes 60 times a second. After you lose these issues, do what Jim W said and you will find a loose connection
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