Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Replace Outdated Bedroom Ceiling Lights

Replacing the ceiling light in a bedroom will instantly change the look of the room.


Replacing outdated bedroom ceiling lights is a quick and easy way to update a room's decor. Light fixtures not only provide light, but also help to set the tone for the room, giving it a formal, casual or contemporary style. Taking into account the size of the bedroom when you're selecting your new light fixture.


Instructions


1. Switch off the electricity to the old ceiling light by flipping the corresponding switch on the house's circuit breaker panel. If you are unsure which panel goes to the light, turn the light on and have someone watch for it to switch off as you flip the different switches on the panel.


2. Unscrew any caps or screws that hold on glass shades or domes on the light fixture. Unscrew the light bulbs as well and set them in a safe place.


3. Undo any screws holding the medallion against the ceiling, then slide the medallion down the chain or rod and away from the ceiling. Peel off any electrical tape from the wire nuts, then twist the wire nuts off the wires.


4. Turn on your voltage meter and touch the ends of the black and white wires at the same time to test for an electrical current. Call an electrician if you find the wires are live and you cannot shut the power to them off by flipping off all the switches on the breaker panel. Free the wires from the support bracket in the ceiling, then unscrew the old bracket from the ceiling.


5. Screw the new bracket into place and use pliers to either add or take out links from the new light fixture's chain, if it has one. Feed the wires from the light fixture through the bracket's tube, except for the ground wire, which you need to twist around the ground screw in the bracket, and then drive the screw in all the way.


6. Use wire strippers to remove 1 inch of insulation from all the wires, then twist the same colored wires together using one wire nut per pair of wires. Wrap electrical tape around the bottom of the wire nuts and the wires to make sure the wire nuts do not fall off. Screw the new fixture's medallion into the ceiling and install any shades. Screw the light bulbs into the sockets. Flip the breaker switch on once you have finished.

Tags: light fixture, wire nuts, breaker panel, ceiling light, ceiling then, electrical tape