Connect A Ceiling Fixture To Old House Wiring

If you have old wiring, you may need a separate ground for your ceiling light fixture

Installing a ceiling light fixture is a basic electrical wiring procedure that you can usually do in less than an hour. It becomes slightly more complicated in older houses that don't have grounded wiring. If the fixture has metal parts, and the wiring becomes disconnected, the metal can become energized and give you a shock unless the light is grounded. You can do this by running a ground wire to a nearby copper water pipe, or, if necessary, a ground rod.

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to the circuit. If there is a wall switch, turn off the switch. If there is no switch, turn off the breaker controlling the circuit in the service panel, or remove the fuse.

2. Pull the wires from the house circuit through the electrical box in the ceiling. If there is no box, install a remodeling box. Cut a hole the size of the back of the box in the drywall with a utility knife and slide the box into the hole. Turn the screws so that the anchors wedge against the back of the drywall, then tighten the screws with a screwdriver.

3. Connect a ground wire to a nearby copper water pipe with a wire clamp, and run it to the light. If there is no convenient water pipe, connect the ground wire to a rod pounded into the earth.

4. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the wires in the ground cable with a wire stripper, if they are not already stripped.

5. Twist the black wire from the light and the one from the house wiring together clockwise with pliers. When they are secure, twist on a wire cap. Repeat this with the white wires. Finally, twist the ground wires together, but leave them uncapped. If the electrical box you are using is metal, attach the ground wires to it with a grounding screw.

6. Screw the adapter plate that came with the light fixture to the electrical box, then push the wires into the box and screw the fixture onto plate. Finally, turn on the power and test the light.

Tags: ground wire, light fixture, water pipe, back drywall, ceiling light, ceiling light fixture, copper water