Our Swansea electrical crew’s steps for replacing a ceiling light
Replacing a ceiling light isn’t a super complicated process. But if you have never done it before and are not great at jobs around the house then it can be a minor problem. So just to be on the safe side, our Swansea electrical crew has put together this helpful little guide.
Materials required
To begin, our domestic electricians in Swansea recommend you’ll need a few essentials, like:
- A pair of pliers (both standard and needle-nose)
- Voltage detector (both contact and non-contact)
- Wire cutter/stripper
- A Stepladder
- Screwdriver (four-in-one)
- Electrical box
- Tape for electrical wires (appropriate colour)
- Wire nuts
- Ground screws
- Light fixture
The step by step process
1. Turn off power
To prevent shocks and other potential dangers, the power should be turned off before any electrical work is begun. To determine whether or not the wires are live, you can use a voltage tester without touching them.
2. Removing the current fixture
Taking the canopy off the ceiling fixture and unscrewing the nuts and screws is the first step in replacing an old fixture. Holding the fixture securely at all times, you can disconnect it from the wiring in the ceiling by loosening the nuts and screws holding it in place. Then lowering it carefully to finish the removal process.
3. Inspect the wires
After the fixture has been taken down, the next step is to double-check that the wiring is in good working order. One black, one white, and one copper wire should make up the system. Once the power has been restored, use the non-contact voltage tester to verify that the wires are live again. Success will be signalled by a glowing LED on the device.
4. Assess the bracket
Now that you have access to the pre-wired box in the ceiling, you can determine if you need to replace the bracket that holds your fixture. Both circular baseplates and straps with a screw in the middle are common types of lighting fixture brackets. According to the manufacturer’s directions, you should replace the bracket on your wiring box if your new light fixture does not fit it.
5. Attach the new fixture
Connecting the fixture to the ceiling is the fifth step. Do this by splicing the frayed end of the wire leading to the fixture into the preexisting ceiling wiring. Next, twist on a wire connector, and repeat for the remaining wires. The best course of action, if you aren’t comfortable with the ins and outs of your wiring arrangement, is to speak with a Swansea electrical expert.
6. Move onto the new light
You may turn your attention to the new light fixture. If you’re hanging a chandelier or similar fixture with a chain, you can now adjust the chain to the desired length by hiding the excess in the ceiling or the canopy. Doing so will allow you to securely fasten your new light to the ceiling.
7. Turning the power back on
Finally, step seven involves turning the power back on to see if the light fixture is working. If this is not the case, it is probably because one or more of the wires are not attached correctly, necessitating the removal of the fixture and further investigation.
Conclusion
It’s now simpler than ever to upgrade your ceiling lights, which may bring much-needed illumination and aesthetic appeal to any room. Explore the many options our Swansea electrical team offers for fitting ceiling lights.