Problems Hanging A Ceiling Pendant Light From A Chain

Pendant lights suspended from chains provide ample lighting but are challenging to install.

Homeowners looking for stylish and functional lighting options for living rooms and kitchens frequently turn to pendant style lights as a versatile design choice. Pendant lights are suspended from the ceiling on a chain or cable; a single light and shade on the end of the chain provide direct lighting for the space. Though the cost effectiveness and wide range of styles attract buyers, chain pendant lights present some challenges during installation.

Chain Length

Pendant lights come with matching ceiling medallions and a length of hanging chain in addition to the light fixture. Achieving proper positioning is essential to the function and safety of the light; a light placed too high is difficult to repair while a light placed too low does not provide enough light and also presents a hazard to people walking below or beside the light. To ensure proper placement, you may need to either cut links from the chain or add links to the chain. Most kits come with several extra links, but if your ceiling is especially high, you may need to purchase additional chain and add it, a task that increases cost and runs the risk of ending up with a mismatched chain.

Weight

The design of your pendant light greatly impacts the weight of the fixture; small, modern lights are generally lightweight and suspend from cables while more traditional lights are larger, heavier and suspended from chains. If you are installing a pendant light where a flush ceiling light used to hang, you may need to replace the old junction box with a larger, newer box that can withstand the weight of the light and chain. If you need to add extra chain links to the fixture, weigh it with the added chain instead of relying on the weight listed on the box.

Wiring

All pendant lights require proper wiring to ensure functioning. However, pendant lights suspended from a chain present the added complication of running the wiring from the junction box to the fixture. Newer pendant lights that are suspended from cables enclose the wires in the cable so that they are hidden. Chain-suspended pendant lights do not offer a hidden wiring option. Instead, the wires must be threaded or looped through the links down the length of the chain. Though the wires don't present a hazard, wires are an aesthetic issue that may turn off some homeowners.

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