Change a Kitchen Light Fixture
According to "Home Improvement 1-2-3," replacing a kitchen light fixture should take roughly 90 minutes for a novice and 50 minutes for an experienced person, though those with little or no experience in this field can expect to spend longer to get the job completed correctly. The main concern for people dealing with the installation or removal of electrical appliances in their home is being electrocuted, but a little thought and care can easily prevent this. If you feel unsure about your ability to complete the task, refer the job to a qualified electrician.
Instructions
1. Place step ladder under the light fixture. Turn off power to the fixture at the wall switch, as well as the corresponding circuit breaker in the main fuse box. Remove the fixture's circular coverplate by unscrewing the central nut. Pull the wires (hot and neutral) down from the metal box in the ceiling and disconnect them by removing the plastic wire connectors (be careful not to touch the bare wires).
2. Test the bare wires with a neon circuit tester to make sure no electrical current is present. If the tester glows, turn off the correct breaker in the main fuse box. Do not proceed until the tester stops glowing while connected to the circuit wires. Separate the fixture wires from the hot and neutral wires coming from the metal ceiling box. Unthread the central fixture-retaining nut by hand and lower the fixture to the floor.
3. Thread the fixture-retaining nut of the new light fixture into the center of the ceiling box. Connect the fixture wires with the corresponding colors (black to black, white to white, etc.), using the plastic wire connectors. If the fixture wires are the same color, the marked fixture wire is neutral (connect to white circuit wire) and the unmarked wire is hot (connect to the black circuit wire).
4. Push all wires up into the metal ceiling box and place the coverplate back up over the ceiling box. Tighten the retaining nut to hold the coverplate in place. Finally turn on the breaker at the fuse box and turn on the wall switch to test that the ceiling light works.
Tags: circuit wire, fixture wires, metal ceiling, bare wires, breaker main, breaker main fuse, Change Kitchen