Up Lighting Fixtures

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Where can I find 8ft blacklight bulbs to fit up in florescent lighting fixtures? We're opening a bar and almost done remodeling. I just need to find these bulbs to finish the look that I really want.
   
   • ANSWER:
     Try Spencer's Gifts at the Mall. Also, try any lighting supply house. If they don't have them, they can order them. A new bar! Sweet! Just don't be your own best customer! Haha!
     
2. QUESTION:
   How can I light up my room (lighting fixtures)? Okay, so my room has no ceiling light. I just have a few lamps and an open window to let in light. At night it's fine, having the room be a bit dim. BUT - During the day, it feels so gloomy! Having a dimly lit room and seeing out the window that it's a sunny day is just depressing feeling. I want my room to be fully lit. Without having an electrician come in to install a light in my ceiling, are there any lighting fixtures I can get on my own that will really do a good job of lighting up my room? Not just a lamp that lights up things within a few feet of it.
   
   • ANSWER:
     You could add mirrors to your room. Having them close to the existings lights will relect the light around the room. They also make floor lamps that have an arch and have one or several lights on them.
     
3. QUESTION:
   Can I hook up these light fixtures on my own or do i need an electrician? I already have a light fixture hooked up on the ceiling i just want to switch it out with the new one. There are a lot of wires and a ground wire. Do i need to hook the ground wire to both brackets on the fixture or will one be OK. I have never done this before so I dont know if i should just leave it to an electrician or do it myself since their already is one hooked up.
   
   • ANSWER:
     if you feel confident you can do it,get a friend to help just hook up the light the same as what is existing one ground is sufficient...have a voltmeter handy test for power,after turning off circuit,don't work any circuit hot.
     
4. QUESTION:
   i plan too hook up 4 light fixtures and 3 wall outlets on a 15 amp breaker. is this too much power? i plan too use 4 24 watt energy effecient bulbs in the light fixtures, and a tv, dvd and stereo. well considering the house i just bought is an old house, almost half of the house is run on a single 15 amp breaker. I am trying to fix the problem one room at a time. Now i am running into the problem of almost maxes out at 200 amps at the box.
   
   • ANSWER:
     House wiring is a permanent thing and should be kept at a quality level, not just for present use but also for people using it in the future.They should be able to use it with confidence that safe and reliable standards have been met. ( pretty cool speech ) I would recommend 15 Amp with 14AWG for lights and 20 Amp with 12 AWG for outlets and I would not recommend cheapy outlets.
     
5. QUESTION:
   Need to fix fluorescent kitchen lights- fixtures not lighting up completely. Any ideas? I bought new bulbs for my 2 kitchen lights thinking my bulbs were burned out but they're still not working right. I have a round fluorescent light fixture as well as a fixture that contains 6 very long lights. I turn the switch on & it turns on but very very faintly like it's not getting enough power or something. Is this something I can fix myself or should I call an electrician? I don't have too much experience with this stuff but do have a little bit of general knowledge. Any ideas anyone?
   
   • ANSWER:
     You probably have an old fixture with a magnetic ballast driving T12 bulbs. T12 means 12/8ths of an inch, in other words 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Virtually all such fixtures, standard before about 1988, are driven by a magnetic ballast that lasts at least 25 years (often much longer) but is fairly inefficient and makes an annoying flicker. Bulbs driven by magnetic ballasts strobe at 60 times a second, the same speed as AC power. Your ballast, or the starter which is really a replaceable part of the ballast, is dying, and should be replaced. Switch to a fixture with T8 bulbs (one inch in diameter) driven by an electronic ballast, which will strobe at about 20,000 times a second. That will eliminate your flicker and give you better lighting and better efficiency (since a 4 foot T8 uses between 25 and 34 watts, rather than 40, per bulb, to put out the same amount of light.) A new shop light type fixture currently costs .50 at Home Depot, so it doesn't make sense to just replace the ballast alone and fiddle with the wiring. Since every T8 fixture is electronic, and strobes at that fast rate, all you have to do is look for a T8 fixture. If your current fixture is hard wired, you might have to have someone a little bit handy in to put in a terminal box to plug the new fixture in, or buy a hard wired fixture for about , but it's worth it. I assume you have one of those recessed box part-of-the-ceiling type kitchen arrangements, with a 'lens' (see through plastic sheeting) between you and the lights, so no one will ever see what kind of fixture you put up there. You don't need to get anything pretty. Once you've done that, I'd recommend getting full spectrum bulbs for your new long fixture - try lightforhealth.com. Unfortunately, as far as I know, you can't replace the round fixture with a similar electronic ballast type fixture. No one makes an electronic-ballast version of a Circline fixture. You might just have to live with that until it completely dies, or replace it with a compact fluorescent (which fits a regular light socket), wiring up a regular closet-type ceramic socket, but that would also require a little rewiring. No help for that. Or if you're willing to do the drywalling and painting required, you could put in a recessed can fixture, with a compact fluorescent in there. I'm hardly an electrician, but this isn't much of a challenge if you're willing to get into the wiring a little. You'll get instructions in any new fixture on how to wire it into your existing setup.
     
6. QUESTION:
   Name of up down exterior light fixtures? what is the category name of wall mounted outside light fixtures where there are 2 lights - 1 shines up and the other down. it's a cylinder shaped fixture. i'm looking for 2 of these fixtures in a brushed nickel finish.
   
   • ANSWER:
     They are just a type of exterior wall sconce.
     
7. QUESTION:
   Just curious~Why in mobile homes do they not put light fixtures up...? In lots of mobile homes I've been in there isn't light fixtures in the livingroom or in some double wides no light fixtures in the bedroom...I've always wonder why...lol.....anyone know? I said "in lots" I didn't say ALL...because mine does just some that I've been in doesn't
   
   • ANSWER:
     Some actually do have light fixtures, but not installing fixtures and the wiring cuts the costs of manufacturing them, they figure the poeple can just put lamps in the rooms.
     
8. QUESTION:
   How do crickets get stuck up in the ceiling light fixtures? I have always wondered this as a child; I still don't understand how crickets would get into the ceiling... How do they get up there? I know they have wings but the fixtures are sealed closed!
   
   • ANSWER:
     there is a small crack that you just don't see somewhere on the light.
     
9. QUESTION:
   How can I fix up my bathroom lighting without replacing the fixture? I live in an apartment in which we cannot replace fixtures n' stuff. The lighting in my bathroom is hideous. It has a long metal panel on the wall above the mirror with three light bulbs screwed into it. CFL bulbs aren't exactly pretty to look at. Is there something I could get to kind of cover the thing up with? I think it's the silliest thing ever! Who want to be staring into three lightbulbs anyway?
   
   • ANSWER:
     Seperate bulbs are a very common bath fixture. The simplist thing to do is put clear round bulbs in place of CFL - why would you even think of CFL in this application. It ain't the fixture - it's you.
     
10. QUESTION:
    Why do some bathroom wall fixtures say "Wall mount only this side up"? The light fixture I bought is meant to hang with the lights hanging down, but I want to hang it with the lights up because it looks better that way. Does it say to hang it down because the 3 glass shades are too heavy to be pointing up? Should I just hang it up anyway instead of hanging down? The fixture looks similar to this one: http://www.lampsusa.com/productimages/Dolan/343-09_thumb.jpg
    
    • ANSWER:
      Hi The Answer is No, Your name makes me think of my wife :) As far as your fixture goes I would be comfortable hanging it up. The heat will vent up better then down so that isn't an issue. The shades won't fall up. I would do it. Norm
      
11. QUESTION:
    Could my light fixtures be heating up the room more? the light fixtures on my ceiling fan are opened at the end (not enclosed) . i use a hallogen bulb (the spiral kind). would this make it hotter than if i used a complete cover and/or bulb?
    
    • ANSWER:
      It's the watts of the bulbs that tells you how much they are heating up your room. If you are using say 5 60W bulbs, that is 300 Watts, about 1/4 of the heat a portable electric heater gives off. If heat is an issue for you, consider changing your light style & go with compact fluourescents. They will look ugly if the fixtures are open on the ends where you can see them, so you need to get a style that the glass opens upwards, or is fully enclosed. And if you get a fully enclosed style, make sure the fluourescent bult is rated for an enclosed fixture.
      
12. QUESTION:
    Cover up fluorescent light fixtures? I have fluorescent light fixtures (appx. 4'x6') in my kitchen and they are hideous. I'd like to install track lighting. What would be the easiest route to do so? How would I cover up the area where the fluorescent fixtures sit now so it'd be flush with the rest of the ceiling so that I can then install track lighting? The fixture isn't attached to the ceiling, it's recessed, so if I take everything out, I'll have a 4x6' hole in my ceiling. I'm wondering what steps could be taken to cover up this hole. Thanks.
    
    • ANSWER:
      One simple approach is to hide the fixtures with translucent plastic panels. There are a variety of patterns available, and you could install these to be level with the rest of the ceiling (leaving the fixtures recessed in the box). A neat solution, and it maintains the efficiency of fluorescent lights -- which, with track lights, you will probably lose: most track light fixtures don't distribute CFL light effectively.
      
13. QUESTION:
    Can light bulb fixtures heat up even if there is no bulb? to complete the current or even if the switch is turned off?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Large florescent fixtures have a ballast that can still pass a current without a bulb installed. Miniature florescent fixtures have a bulb with a self contained ballast and should not pass a current without a bulb installed. An incandescent fixture should not have a current path without a bulb. A "curly bulb" fixture is an incandescent fixture with a miniature florescent fixture screwed into it and should not have a current path without a bulb. None should pass a current with the switch turned off.
      
14. QUESTION:
    How to hook up a regular light fixture to a dimmer light switch? I am replacing a light fixture that appears to be once hooked up to a dimmer switch at one time.At the ceiling I have 3 black tied together, 1 black seperate,4 white tied together,and on green by itself,I would like to hook up a regular light fixture up to it having 2 wires the same,one has writing on it the other one doesn't,any help would be appreciated.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Replace your ceiling fixture with a new one of your choice, connect the wires as the old one was connected, then mount the fixture. Next, remove the switch & replace it with the dimmer you want...there will be a third wire connected to the dimmer's metal frame, connect that to your ground leg in the switch box. The other two wires connect to the ones you removed from your old switch...put the switch back in the box, replace the cover & dim away. Be sure the dimmer is rated for the total wattage your new fixture will draw. Good luck...
      
15. QUESTION:
    Bathroom is only set up for one wall lighting fixture. Ideas? Should light point up or down? How many light
    
    • ANSWER:
      Just a thought to play with how about a track light that can go up the wall if that is where the electrical source is or if on ceiling a simple replacement to a funky track with multiple heads will allow you to increase the light in the room. I would also consider using your outlets if veasible with wall mounted lights and cords (not hardwired). Lampsplus is a good source. For great deals on fixtures try Ikea as well. Michele
      
16. QUESTION:
    Aquarium build up on top of tank and light fixtures? what can I use to get rid of that white chalky/salty looking build up on the tank top. It doesnt come off with anything I have used and looks nasty, it also builds up to form like a crusty mess on the outside of the tank. The tank is freshwater, tropical fish.
    
    • ANSWER:
      since a razor blade doesn't work on mine i have tried 2 things, recommended by others, and they both work like miracles you can put white vinegar on it and let it soak for about 10 min and then wipe it of with a damp cloth you can also use pure lemon juice, also let it soak for about 5-10 min and then wipe it off with a damp cloth That way nothing gets scratched But don't expect that it won't come back, it will, I usually clean my cover about once a month DON'T use any chemicals on it hope that helps Good luck EB
      
17. QUESTION:
    How do I separate the switches for light fixtures? I have three switches which run as four way switches so they light up three light fixtures at once. I want to separate each of the three switches to each of the three light fixtures. How would I do that. I have some background info on wiring so plzz don't tell me to hire an electrician.
    
    • ANSWER:
      If you know enough to do this job without an electrician, then you need not ask for instructions here.
      
18. QUESTION:
    I have four light fixtures in livingroom hooked up to a diming light switch today i instaled 60 watt energy sa? Energy saving bulbs but the switch started doing a humimg noise
    
    • ANSWER:
      lots of the energy saving lights hum, particularly CFLs. If the switch is what is making the humming sound, it may not like the lights, or they may be to strong and you will have to go with lower wattage.
      
19. QUESTION:
    Where is a good place to get low voltage track lighting fixtures? I just moved into a house that has low voltage track lighting...or at least that's what the guy at Lowe's told me when I showed him one of the lights. I'd like to replace the light fixtures, but Lowe's doesn't carry them. Where is a good place to get these things? I'd like a modern look as opposed to the old can & bulb set up I have.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Hi, You can get low voltage track lighting fixtures here http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=low%20voltage%20track%20lighting%20fixtures&tag=recommended0b-20&index=garden&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325 Hope this helps.
      
20. QUESTION:
    How do I link 3 light fixtures to one wire/plug? I have 3 ceramic light fixtures I want to link so that when it is plugged in all 3 light fixtures will light up using only one wire. Is there any way to do this with lamp cord? if so how do I do it. :) I can't hire an electrician. It is for an indoor hydroponic grow box.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Yes there is a way, in fact two ways. One way is to strip off the insulation on a small section of the Lamp cord. Connect the black wire from one of the three light fixtures to the black wire on Lamp cord. Connect the white wire to the white wire. Do this for all three lights. If you do not see a black and white wire then look at the male plug end. You will see a small prong and a larger prong. The small prong will or should be the black or hot wire.
      
21. QUESTION:
    lighting fixtures and ceiling fan problems? My father had hooked up a new light and and a ceiling fan. whe the switch was in the off position the lights and fan came on, whe placed into the on position the lights went off, then the fuse popped. there are 2 switches that control both one in kitchen and one in the hall. unsure if the circuit they are on can handle the wattage they are producing or if there may be a short in the switch any help would be appreciated. When the lights came on and the both switches were in the off positioned it acted as a complete circuit but when the switch was placed in the on position the light went off, but at that time it popped the fuse. The switches on the control both lights at the same time. When both fixtures were lights it worked fine, but once one of the light fixtures turned into a fan/light combo its not working correctly. Im thinking either bad switches or the area cant handle the wattage but unsure since, the main concern is the lights come on when both switches are in off position
    
    • ANSWER:
      It sounds to me like you have three way switches. So the normal on and off position does not apply. And it sounds like the fan / light may have been wired wrong. Or the circuit is over loaded when the fan comes on.
      
22. QUESTION:
    Is there such a thing as retractable recessed lighting fixtures? I'm looking for a recessed lighting fixture that takes halogen bulbs... And, here's the thing. It's way up in a 25' ceiling. So, I'm not sure if this exists. But does anybody manufacture something that could lower the lighting can by motor and cable? Basically, I'd like to be able to flip a switch, have the cans lower to ground level (or at least reasonably closer to it!), and be able to change the bulbs, flip the switch, and send them back up. Any ideas?
    
    • ANSWER:
      i dont there is such devices available
      
23. QUESTION:
    What's the name of that lighting fixture that people use in museums or in homes to light up paintings? it's small and goes under the painting
    
    • ANSWER:
      I do not know of any light that goes "under" a painting. With a few exceptions, like those lights designed to enhance a plant or accent a sculpture, most lighting is designed to shoot from the top down as this is natural and relates to the sun. There are a variety of picture frame lights or picture lights available. http://www.picturelightuniverse.com/picture-lights_455.html Museums and galleries often use track lighting and recessed lighting. http://www.picturelightuniverse.com/search/default.aspx?tid=123&term=track+lighting&x=17&y=10 http://www.picturelightuniverse.com/search/default.aspx?tid=123&term=recessed+lighting&x=18&y=11
      
24. QUESTION:
    How do you hook up a deep cycle battery for lighting a small camper? I inherited a small camper. I know house wiring well. So if wire the camper with 12/2, can I use an inverter and therefore hook up regular AC 120V fixtures (fan and lights) and a plug (for a laptop, or microwave)?? Can the engine charge the deep cycle battery without draining the engine battery? The truck has a 7 prong plug in the bed. thank you
    
    • ANSWER:
      Yes, you can hook up the inverter and use house wiring inside the camper. Better yet, buy 12 volt DC LED for lights and use the inverter for plug in applications only. Your battery will last longer. As far as charging, you need to install a Ford starter relay in the line connecting the front battery to the deep cycle and the trigger wire goes to the ignition switch. This means the batteries are connected only when the engine runs. That way, you don't run down your front battery when camping. If you do drain the deep cycle, you can still start the engine on the front battery and it will recharge the deep cycle as you drive down the road.
      
25. QUESTION:
    Can anyone help with hooking up my light fixture? I am trying to hook up a light fixture, and the new one has the black wire, white wire, and the ground. But, for some reason the fixture that was there before required 2 blacks, 2 whites, and 2 grounds, so there are 6 wires coming out. I can get the light on, but I cannot turn it on and off, it just stays on. How do I know which of the six wires are the 3 to use to get it to work properly? Any ideas?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Since there are many things I do not know yet, please allow me to make some assumptions. If my assumptions are not correct, do not follow my instructions. Call an electrician. 1. I assume you know at least a little about electricity since you have the bravery to replace a fixture. 2. I assume that this fixture is a ceiling fixture, or something very similar. 3. I assume that this fixture has a wall switch to be used for turning the light on and off. 4. I assume that you are able to pull all wires out of the outlet box far enough to be able to see which wires enter the box as one cable. With 2 blacks, 2 whites, and 2 grounds, you should have one cable that enters the box with one of each color, and the other cable, likewise having one of each color. 5. I am going to assume that since you have been able to get the light to come on, then you are able to determine which of the two black wires is hot all the time. This one black wire that is hot all the time is the source. The white wire that enters the box with the source black wire is the source neutral, and is to be connected to the white wire of your new fixture. The black wire that is hot all the time is not to be connected to the light, but to the white wire of the cable that goes to the switch. This white wire that goes to the switch is not a neutral wire, but is a switch wire. It may already have a piece of black tape around it, or perhaps some black paint, to identify it as a switch wire instead of a neutral wire. The black wire that is not hot all the time, and this white wire with black tape or paint applied are the two wires that go to the wall switch. Connect this black wire that is not hot all the time to the black wire of the light fixture. The two grounds are to be connected together, and bonded to the box if it is a metal box. Again, if the instructions that I have given are not describing your situation, please disregard, and call an electrician. Please turn off the power to this light at the main panel before doing any work. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.
      
26. QUESTION:
    What color goes with polished gold brass fixtures? Hello everyone, We are currently taking off alot of wallpaper in a new home we just purchased. We would like to replace the really large mirror and two polished gold light fixtures with two smaller mirrors and 2 more "up to date" light fixtures. All hardware in the house is the 1990's polished gold. I dont want to change out all hardware in the house, so what metal color goes with the gold brass? If possible I dont want to have to put gold fixtures up again. I read somewhere that your house fixtures should match with the same finish?
    
    • ANSWER:
      I think you could get away with using the oiled bronze for light fixtures, cabinet knobs, etc. You do not say what color wood cabinets/bath vanities you have--maybe a white washed framed mirror or wood framed mirror as an alternative to the metal. Your attention would be drawn to the darker oiled bronze and the brass hinges on the doors, etc. would not be noticeable. If you have those "Hollywood makeup mirror lights", get rid of them--they are so dated.
      
27. QUESTION:
    Is it okay not to use the black wire to hook up a light? I am replacing a ceiling fan with a light fixture. The problem is, coming out of the box I have a black, red, white and ground wire. I belive the extra wire has to do with the three way switch. When I hooked up the fixture and did not use the red wire, the lights were on, but the switch didnt work. Now Ive tried the red wire and left the black unhooked. The switch is fully functional. So the question remains, is it okay to just not use the black wire and to cap it off and shove it back up into the box?
    
    • ANSWER:
      The black was just a consent feed left in the box for the fan and the red is switched for the light it is fine to leave in box just put a wirenut on it and tuck it in the box
      
28. QUESTION:
    What's a good way to light up my apartment? I'm moving to an apartment where the only light fixtures are in the kitchen and bathrooms. I like for the room, that I am in, to be well lit. Besides lamps, with no shade on it and opening my blinds during the day, what's the best way light up the place? If you can, include portable fluorescent lighting.
    
    • ANSWER:
      You don't want lamps with no shades nor do you want fluorescent which is harsh and hard on the eyes and skin. Buy table lamps that have three way bulb options. You can choose which level of light but you must have shades. Or do wall sconces. If you wish up lighting, pick a couple of torchieres with halogen bulbs. They are most like natural light and come with dimmer controls to adjust the light according to the mood and use. But even with torchieres you still need down lights for reading so both are recommended. Your room design and set up will determine how to use both styles of lamps in the room. Fluorescents are horrible even in an office and not used in homes because of their harshness. No one wants to create a harsh lighting atmosphere in their home no matter how bright you prefer it. Give yourself some options so you can create atmosphere when needed and good reading when necessary.
      
29. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know of a moving company that will uninstall light fixtures,sink fixtures and cut up a carpet?
    
    • ANSWER:
      No. They are there to pack and move, nothing else
      
30. QUESTION:
    Only one fixture lights up in a series? I just finished wiring a series of flourescent lights- 4 fixtures in all. When I turned them on the first light in the series lit up but the other three did not. Checking with a tester I confirmed that there is indeed power to the rest of the fixtures. What gives? Any ideas before I call an electrician? Also the fixtures and the bulbs are all brand new- T8's Thanks for your help! sorry- the lights are wired in parallel not series
    
    • ANSWER:
      Check all your connections starting at the the first fixture in the circuit. Chances you have a bad connection at the first fixture or the second fixture.
      
31. QUESTION:
    Which low energy lighting fixtures to choose? The story is we employed an interior designer to come up with a low energy lighting idea for our new library/music room which is 24 sq metres. She showed us a picture of some lights and had us have the electrician hang 4 wires 1.5m apart for these lights (forming a square in the centre of the ceilling). When the wires were plastered in she admitted that her fittings took only halogen bulbs -which would have made 640 watts at least!!! We parted company with her at this point but now cannot work out what light fittings would look well and work well and obviously take a low energy bulb. We've seen some ball-shaped lights and wonder whether 4 of those would look OK. Whatever we decide on is going to cost around 800 Euro upward so I'd be grateful for any thoughts.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Ask for CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) which will consume lesser energy in terms watts and also environmental friendly.
      
32. QUESTION:
    How do you hook up your christmas lights to your porch light? I've been seeing lots of people in my apartments with their christmas lights hooked up to their porch light because they have no outlet outside. I even went to applebees and saw that they have their christmas lights inside hooked up to the light fixtures over the tables. How do you go about doing that? Is there some sort of adapter you get to hook it up to it?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Hardware stores and depots have a 2 feature plug that replaces a light bulb, 1 side has another bulb outlet and the other a plug receptacle (about ) take out bulb, screw in adapter, plug in the light stringor extension cord, screw in bulb. The lights will be ON with the light bulb. As easy as changing a light bulb.
      
33. QUESTION:
    Are there any specific ceiling fans with light fixtures that light up a room more than others? We just bought 2 identical fans with light fixtures to put on each end of our 24 x 10 foot kitchen. These light fixtures in the fans provide the only light. The light that the ceiling fans give off is so minimal that it feels like there is a night light on the room instead of a real light. Are there any fans with really bright lights out there? We have a Lowe's nearest to us, so that is probably where we would buy the fans from. We like the idea of having a dome to cover the lightbulbs so that we don't have to stare at light bulbs, but if we have to go with a different kind of light fixture, I'm open to it. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
    
    • ANSWER:
      The fans I have in my den have 5 lights that have decorative globes that mostly hide the bulbs. However, they are exposed if you look directly into one of the globes, but do not look bad at all. I place 40 watt bulbs in each socket and they more than adequately light the room at full power.
      
34. QUESTION:
    How do I hook up a light fixture? I have two wires coming out of the fixture, plus a ground wire. I want to wire it into a wall socket plug.
    
    • ANSWER:
      call someone like a repairman
      
35. QUESTION:
    Can I use Elmer's Glue to hang up my new lighting fixture? If I use a lot? Its a small lighting fixture so its not heavy at all and I can't afford a hot glue gun but I found a TON of Elmer's Glue in the cabinet downstairs. I really want to hang up the new lighting fixture I bought before my boyfriend comes home because it would really surprise him! Thanks for the help everyone! Its light in weight and I dont see how it would look bad? Trust me, I have a LOT of it- like 7 or 8 bottles!
    
    • ANSWER:
      elmers glue is bacially for light art stuff, i would try to use a more stronger glue,ask a next door neighbor if you could borrow theirs.You don't want it to fall on your head and hurt you.
      
36. QUESTION:
    I have a 13y/o step -daughter and we are fixing her up a room, paint light fixtures floor,etc.? The house is brand new so thats why it's not done yet. We are really short on cash flow and need to know different short cuts on decorating for less money. Can't do credit cards either, maxed out already.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Almost all furniture/appliance/flooring stores stock remnants of carpet, vinyl etc... We bought a beautiful and new piece of carpet to redo our entire bedroom for . So there's an option to check into. I would take your teen with you when you're shopping around... If she is part of the decision making, she'll be happier and feel that the room is more "hers." As far as paint, check the mis-mixed paint at your local paint stores. You can find some great colors at half the price. Light fixtures can be picked up at thrift stores for pennies on the dollar - and there are some real cool ones if you spend the time to look around. Thrift stores are great all around for decorations. You're likely to find curtains, fabric, furniture, frames, pics etc etc etc! We bought an old canvas for , my daughter created her own wall art and stuck it in a thrift store frame that cost . Tons of options out there! Good luck and have fun.
      
37. QUESTION:
    Installed Lithonia Lighting Wrap Lite fluorescent fixture and T8 bulbs are only partially lighting up, why? I had a cheap fluorescent light fixture in my closet. The (2) 4 ft bulbs were always very dull and appeared to only light up about half way, even when brand new. I replaced the light fixture with a new Lithonia Wrap Lite 4' fixture using T8 bulbs thinking the ballast was defective on the old fixture. Even with the new fixture I have the same problem. New bulbs in new light fixture were nice and bright for about 10 seconds and then started flickering and now they are dull, just like the old fixture. Any ideas on what's going on here?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Make sure the fixture is grounded. Some ballasts need to be grounded to operate properly. If that doesn't work you need a volt meter to insure you have 120v to the fixture.
      
38. QUESTION:
    Are spotlight light fixtures as effective at providing general room lighting as standard incandescent fixtures? Hello, I have my sight set on buying a ceiling fan with lights (it is the Westinghouse Apollo Elite Plus found here: http://www.astra247.com/1705/Cooling-Air-Conditioning-and-/Westinghouse-Apollo-Elite-Plus-Ceiling-Fan-and-Light/52-Brushed-Aluminium/ ). I have no experience with the GU10 bulbs that the fixture uses other than as down lights. Can anyone tell me how effective they are at lighting up a room. Do the spotlights cause stark shadows and have narrow beams? Do they leave the ceiling looking dark? Any advice would be appreciated.
    
    • ANSWER:
      The bulbs that are in the ceiling fan appear to be a kind of spot light and I believe that they will cause harsh light and heat up your room. Find a fan that will accept the new twisty fluorescent bulbs. I have ceiling fans in every room of my house. The twisty fluorescent bulbs do not cause erie shadows.
      
39. QUESTION:
    How bad is it to hook up a light fixture and forget to hook up the ground wire?
    
    • ANSWER:
      I agree with Micheal N. I'm a veteran electrician so I've been around plenty of ungrounded fixtures and devices. We have a national electric code that is a compilation of rules resulting from people dying.....for the most part. The reason that your fixture has a ground is because it's metal. If it was plastic, it wouldn't have had a ground. Where were you going to hook up the ground anyway? Did you even have a bare ground wire in the electrical box? Depending on the age of your house, there is a good possibility that you don't even have grounds and that you are on a two wire system already. The purpose of the ground wire in that fixture is so that if the hot wire shorts out to the metal fixture, it will trip the circuit ensuring that anyone who touches it not be shocked. However, if it's not grounded and the hot wire does short to the metal fiture then the fixture becomes hot or energized. If that happens, just make sure that you don't touch the fixture and the nearest ground......which I'm sure will be well out of your reach!!!!! As for one of the commments about taking the fixture down and hooking up the ground, yea you could have done that just as quick as it took to post this and read all of the replies unless it's 14 feet up in the air and if that's the case, who cares if it's not grounded, nobody is gonna touch it way up there!! But honestly, grounding is a life safety precaution that is a fairly new concept but is always recommended. Absolutely nothing can go wrong if you hook it up. Most likely you'll be fine if it's not hooked up. Which one are you more comfortable with, absolutely or most likely. They did start making grounded aparatus for a reason......
      
40. QUESTION:
    Scale of lighting fixture size to that of building? My mom is looking for lighting to put up around and in her barn that was just restored. Does anyone have any information on a scale that would show for what size of building you'd need what size of lighting fixtures?
    
    • ANSWER:
      No such scale exists. You have to define the objective of the lighting; is it architectural (i.e. for design effects only), functional (provide lighting for functional purpose), for security (light up the dark areas so bad guys don't have a place to hide)? Once you define the purpose of the lighting that will guide you in the choice of lighting. Most any lighting store worthy of the name can help you, but that is the first question they will ask.
      
41. QUESTION:
    Can you use single tube lighting for a thriving planted aquarium? I am trying to set up a planted aquarium and I looked online at the plants I wanted and I saw that they needed moderate lighting. The tank will be 20 gallons and the plants will be wisteria, amazon sword, cabomba, hornwort, anibus nana, and some type of grass plant. Can these plants survive in a single lighting fixture. DOES INCREASING THE KELVIN MAKE UP FOR LIGHTING.
    
    • ANSWER:
      You might be able to get away with it since most of the plants you listed aren't very demanding. The grass plant should be the lone exception. Depending on what species it is, it will either just stay alive and not grow much if at all, or die. Higher kelvin ratings doesn't really do anything other than make the light more bluish. Kelvin just measure the color of the light.
      
42. QUESTION:
    how do you wire up a light fixture to light switch and then to a receptacle plug power at light fixture?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Where does the power come it? To the switch or the fixture? Do you want the receptacle switched or hot all the time? Maybe an electrician would be a good idea?
      
43. QUESTION:
    Overhead lighting in a townhome complex? I've moved a second time in the same townhome complex. I have foudn there is only one overhead lighting fixture in the place that is in the dining area. So how should I light up the place without adding too many lamps or installing things in the wall/ceiling?
    
    • ANSWER:
      You could change the fixture. Get a fixture that has multiple lights, like a chandelier. Or get brighter light bulbs
      
44. QUESTION:
    light fixture has white, black, and green my old fixture only has black and white how should i hook it up? my old fixture has only black and white nothing else. there are no ground wires anywhere near there in the attic. how should i hook the new fixture up? i tried white and black and i got nothing. there is no where for the green wire to be grounded; the old fixture had no ground but it worked fine. none of the light fixtures in the house have the green wires they are all old and they all work. how can i get the fixture to work without running more wires?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Green is the ground wire and apparently you have an ungrounded system. If the box that the feed wires come in to is metal, then attach the green wire from the fixture to the metal box with a screw. If it is plastic, then just cap the green wire and tuck it into the box. Then the blacks go together and the whites go together and you should be back to normal. Just know that you DO have an ungrounded system and at some point you should have an electrician look at it and make suggestions. In the interim you will be fine. There are still many many ungrounded systems out there that operate just fine, but the protection the ground wire gives you IS missing. You can google for more information about ungrounded systems for general information. Al
      
45. QUESTION:
    Flattering make-up in florescent lighting? Hey! I have a question pertaining to make-up: I am a high-school student, and all of the class rooms at my school are equipped with florescent light fixtures. I was just wondering if anyone knew a few tricks to applying make-up that will still look good under the harsh light, without being too high maintenance ( I don't wear loads of make-up.) Thanks in advance!
    
    • ANSWER:
      I gave someone looking for a foundation that is good for taking pictures, but it applies to you too. I'm just too lazy to write it all again: I think the thing you're looking for is Revlon PhotoReady product line. Find a foundation that you like (they have your regular liquid stuff in a pump tube, as well as their new screen liquid foundation. It's cool. Check it out) and then put their powder on top. Then, finish with the translucent finishing powder (this is key). This line is actually advertised as being beautiful in all kinds of light, and is especially good for taking pictures. One thing with photography though, is that the flash tends to make anyone look over exposed, especially when the picture is taken up close. So, maybe buy a foundation that you can wear all the time, but have a powder that is slightly darker for your skin tone that you can apply moderately or liberally to get the desired result. Don't forget about the translucent finishing powder though :) It really makes all the difference.
      
46. QUESTION:
    What is the ring you screw on an electronic ballast to hold up the light fixture on hanging ceiling lamps? I'm so confused, please help!!! http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x114/mmmkells/P7251382.jpg http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x114/mmmkells/P7251383.jpg
    
    • ANSWER:
      That should be called a "Ring Nut" I would think.
      
47. QUESTION:
    what happens if I down mount and up mount only light fixture? I have a light that won't fit if I use the existing bracket. Is it bad to mount the fixture downwards instead?
    
    • ANSWER:
      If you mount it outside then the fixture may no longer be rain proof; it depends on the design. Interior applications should make no difference; I have had to do that for a wall sconce on an interior staircase and the larger bulbs no longer fit properly into the fixture, so I changed to a smaller lower watt bulb.
      
48. QUESTION:
    Light fixture from Lights of America 7000e will light up a 4500k bulb but will not light up a 6500k bulb why? Everything is brand new. The bulb size and wattage are the same F15T8, one is 4500k in temp and the other is 6500k in temp.
    
    • ANSWER:
      The color temperature has nothing to do with the electrical operation of the bulb. The color temperature is determined by the chemicals coating the glass. As long as the wattage and plug configuration are the same in both bulbs, it sounds like the 6500k is a bad bulb. (It's easy these days to buy a bulb that "looks like the same bulb" but isn't. The plug part, where it goes into the socket can be slightly different, check carefully.)
      
49. QUESTION:
    How to light up a room without Lights? When we encounter an area of our house that is always "too dark," often our first inclination is to add another lamp or light fixture. Using common materials and items found around your home, demonstrate an alternative strategy for bringing light to a darkened area of your home without adding or subtracting the number of lamps or light fixtures. Alternatively, present an innovative method for dimming ambient light. Example: How can I make the dark corner of my room brighter, without adding more electric lights?
    
    • ANSWER:
      A classy solution is basically to use waveguides which have total internal reflection for visible light. They should be placed near the light-source at an appropriate angle and extend to the dark area you are looking to light. The light that falls upon the waveguide from your source will travel through all the way to its end and be emitted there, lighting up even the darkest parts of your room! That's SCIENCE!
      
50. QUESTION:
    What's the cheapest way to set up artificial daylight fixtures in my apartment? I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder so I need as much extra full-spectrum lighting as I can reasonably afford on a student budget.
    
    • ANSWER:
      you can get daylight CFL. they now come in all kinds of forms. I just got a daylight CFL a replacement for the 300watts mercury Floodlight 3weeks ago. there are also daylight flourescent bulbs available in DIY shops. heyyy do 1 thing visit your DIY shop and scout for the lighting fixture you wanted.