Remove chain links to raise light fixtures.
Many drop-down light fixtures, including chandeliers, have a chain that disguises the electrical cord that extends up to the ceiling. Since manufacturers must supply a chain long enough for vaulted ceilings, homeowners with lower ceilings must perform some adjustments. Adjusting the chain of a hanging light fixture requires some basic hand tools and bit of electrical rewiring. However, most homeowners can perform the necessary wiring cuts and adjustments themselves.
Instructions
1. Turn the power off to the room and place a stepladder under the light. Turn the lower at the base of the light counterclockwise until it comes loose. The canopy will also loosen and detach from the ceiling. Twist the wire nuts at the ends of the wires counterclockwise to remove them and then untwist the wires to detach the light from the ceiling.
2. Raise or lower the light until you find a height that you like. When you find a desirable height, grip the chain closest to the ceiling with your hand so you will know where to cut it.
3. Climb down off of the ladder and wrap a piece of tape around the link so you don't lose it. Locate two pairs of pliers and examine the link to locate the seam where the two edges meet. Place one pair of pliers on each side of the seam and grip them in separate hands. Move your hands in opposite directions until a gap appears.
4. Set the pliers aside and twist the opening of the link until you slip it off of the remainder of the chain. Set the excess chain aside.
5. Stretch the chain and the electric cord out flat on a table. Measure up 12 inches from the top of the chain and cut the two wires off using wire cutters. Place the last 1 inch of each wire into the wire stripper hole on the cutters and squeeze the handle while pulling the wires to remove the outer coating.
6. Thread the wires through the bottom of the hanging loop and then through the canopy. Raise the light fixture back up to the ceiling and reinstall it by reversing the steps taken to detach it.
7. Turn the power on at the fuse box to test the electrical connection.
Tags: from ceiling, hanging loop, light fixtures, Turn power