How do I change out my stationary light fixture for a chandelier?
I have a stationary light fixture above my shower curtain rod. I want to add a small chandelier with a chain and move it over about 1 ft.
Hardware store or lighting store will have a "swag light kit" that’s spefically designed for this. Consists of a trim plate to cover the junction box for the existing fixture, with a chain and cord set to connect to the new hanging fixture. Just be sure the hook for the fixture goes into a ceiling joist and not just the drywall/plaster. If you want to postion it between joists– if you have attic access, go into the attic and nail a block of wood between the joists in the appropriate location —– if you don’t have attic access, you’re going to have to open up the ceiling.
In either case, do NOT simply put a screw or drywall anchor into the middle of the ceiling — either the anchor will pull out, or a chunck of ceiling will come down. Combine this will a bathtub and electricity, and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Hardware store or lighting store will have a "swag light kit" that’s spefically designed for this. Consists of a trim plate to cover the junction box for the existing fixture, with a chain and cord set to connect to the new hanging fixture. Just be sure the hook for the fixture goes into a ceiling joist and not just the drywall/plaster. If you want to postion it between joists– if you have attic access, go into the attic and nail a block of wood between the joists in the appropriate location —– if you don’t have attic access, you’re going to have to open up the ceiling.
In either case, do NOT simply put a screw or drywall anchor into the middle of the ceiling — either the anchor will pull out, or a chunck of ceiling will come down. Combine this will a bathtub and electricity, and it’s a recipe for disaster.
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home builder
Is your electricity turned off?,Got your ladder?, dual-headed screwdriver?, portable drill w/small 1/16 inch bit ?,wire nuts, black electrical tape? & patience?? O.K. Now you’re ready to get started. As long as you also have the ‘new fixture you want to install along with the ceiling hooks you want to use to hang your light. In order to hang a chain type of light you need a ceiling ‘base cover’. Your light should come with one, if it was made for the ceiling. If not, you can find them @ most lgr. chain hardware stores. It’s shaped like a shallow bowl, but I believe it’s called a ceiling ‘plate’. They also come in different metal finishes, so you can match what you have. If not , there’s always trusty ol’ spraypaint! Moving right along… Once the power is off to that light, #1) you remove the existing ‘glass’? cover. You should find two screws holding the fixture to the ‘ceiling pancake box’. carefully take those out, holding on to the fixture as safely as possible, you don’t want it to fall to the floor. #2) remove the two to three wire nuts and electrical tape if any. There should be a black wire,(hot) white wire, (neutral) and possibly a green (grounding)wire; depending on what year the house was built. Set the old fixture aside. #3) Look up and decide where you want to hang the chandelier from and mark that spot with a dot. #4) Drill a small ‘pilot’ hole on the dot. Screw in the screw. However if your chandelier is heavy, and you ceilings are made of sheet rock, I recommend a butterfly ceiling hook, for greater strength. Just tell the customer service person what you want it for. they will know what you need. It is the hook that I would use myself just to be on the safe side. Once you’ve secured your hook, go ahead and hang your fixture from it. Making sure you give yourself enough slack to reach the place where the ceiling plate is gonna’ go. #5) time to connect. Start with the green wire. if there isn’t one coming from the ceiling then this wire needs to be attached to one of the screws by wrapping the exposed wire end under the screw head and then tightening it down. Next, place together the two white wires twisting them slightly with your fingers, then place the wire nut over the end and twist clockwise to tighten the connection .Once it feels secure, wrap it with the electrical tape. This will insure it from slipping off. Follow the same procedure with the black wires. #6) ‘Tuck’ the wires carefully back up into the ceiling ‘box’., lifting the ceiling plate as you up to the two existing protruding screws that should have come with the ceiling plate as a ‘repair kit. It should look like a long rectangular strip with two regular screw holes and two ‘bar’ positioning holes.w/ long machine screws sticking through. The pkg,. should have an illustration to guide you more directly. Once you’ve secured the plate to the ceiling you can adjust the length of the ‘swag’ (droop In the chain) to your peference. Hope this helps, and did’nt put you to sleep with the details.! Rose
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Do not do this without consulting a licensed electrician. There are code requirements and safety considerations involved. Do not take the advise of untrained people on yahoo concerning electrical work. You could die.
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Licensed Electrician and Electrical contractor
You’ll have to cut a hole in the ceiling where you want the chandelier and put a box big enough for it. Pull the same elec. wires over to it and wire up exactly as the light was. Take a pic and turn off electric. Also you’ll have to either have a board to screw the box to or put one in.
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