Some people remodeling their homes install chandelier or canopy ceiling fixtures. These go particularly well with cathedral or high-vaulted ceilings. Ceiling canopies are made of a material that's heavier than porcelain. It puts more stress on the ceiling and the support system that holds the fixture, so you need to make sure they're installed securely. It's never a bad idea to speak with a licensed electrician before starting any electrical project on your own, especially if you don't have experience with installing electrical fixtures.
Instructions
1. Power down the circuit breaker. Remove the old ceiling canopy, if there is one, using a screwdriver to take out the screws. Gently remove the fixture without breaking the plaster.
2. Locate the wire nuts (if any) and remove with the screwdriver. Sometimes the ceiling box has two wires connecting it. Use the cutters to cut any wires that are not insulated.
3. Push back the insulation about a half-inch. Use wire strippers to bare the exposed wires.
4. Look inside the ceiling canopy box and confirm there is a stud. If not, install one using a power drill, bits and screws.
5. Screw the hickey into the stud and make its bottom parallel to the ceiling box. Locate the short nipple that is part of the new canopy ceiling unit. Screw the nipple into the bottom of the hickey.
6. Place the canopy ceiling unit on a work table and remove its chain. Screw the chain support to the short nipple you just put into the hickey. Take the locknut off of the chain support.
7. Fit the ceiling canopy unit over the box on the ceiling. The chain's threads should be visible. Determine that the chain support has the proper length by screwing a locknut onto it. It should hold the ceiling canopy in place. If not, insert extension nipples between the stud and hickey.
8. Remove the locknut and take the canopy off the chain support. Push the locknut over the chain and push the canopy on top of the chain. Interweave the wires through the chain and up to the chain's support.
9. Re-attach the chain to the support. Pull the ceiling box wires through the hickey and even them out. Cut off about six inches of the unit's wires. Push back about a half-inch of the insulation and twist the wire strands clockwise. Use the iron to solder the wires.
10. Connect the wires between the ceiling and the new canopy unit. Make sure black wires attach to black and white wires to white. Put wire nuts over the ends and push into the ceiling.
11. Bring the canopy over its chain. It should cover the ceiling box. Push a locknut over the chain and turn the chain clockwise. Supply energy to the new unit by turning the power on.
Tags: chain support, canopy ceiling, ceiling canopy, over chain, about half-inch
