How to Install Wall Light Fixtures

The use of wall light fixtures would add light to a room or a space that is poorly lighted. Sometimes, wall light fixtures are installed to emphasize a decorative touch to any room. There are several types and models to choose from in buying your wall light fixture. In searching for the perfect one for you, have them tested by the merchandiser before deciding which one suits your desire. Make sure you get a complete set of the wall fixtures parts as per manufacturer’s standards.

Positioning the wall light fixture

In installing your wall light fixture, there are no building codes that specify the height at which wall lighting fixtures are to be installed. However, the accepted traditional practice is to mount the fixture about three-fourths of your wall’s height from the floor. This means if your wall has am eight feet elevation to the ceiling, by converting to traditional practice, you can mount your wall lighting fixture 5 to 6 feet above the finished floor.

The procedure

1. Begin by mark the spot on the wall where the wall light fixture is to be installed. Then use an electronic stud finder and make sure that the spot you have chosen would be halfway between two wall studs.

2. Then place the front of the remodeling box against the wall and draw around it. Now draw a second circle roughly about 1/2 inch inside the first circle.

Working on the inner circle, drill a 3/8-inch starter hole enough to insert your jigsaw blade. Using the jigsaw or a keyhole saw continue removing the cutout on the inner circle.

3. Then drill 1-inch holes down through the wall’s top-plate. The top horizontal two-by-four is accessible from the attic or from the attic crawlspace.

This means you drill one hole through the top plate into the wall space where the lighting outlet box is to be installed. Then drill another into the wall space where the room’s light switch is located.

4. For safety precautions, turn off the main circuit breaker supplying power. Make sure the power is shut off before you start to connecting wires. Use a tester and the tester will beep loudly if there is still voltage present but would remain silent if the circuit is safe to work on.

5. From the lighting outlet box cutout, run wiring up through the attic, along the top plate and then down to the switch box. In cutting your wiring, provide extra 6 to 8 inches length from the front of the switch box and 10 to 12 inches length from the wall cutout.

6. Working on the wall lighting fixture, insert the cable end through one of the openings in the outlet box. Pull out the extra 6 to 8 inches length from the outlet box. Then carefully push the box into the cutout and position it well. Then secure and tighten the wing-securing screws on the box.

7. To prepare the wires, remove the cable’s outer jacket using a utility knife. Then remove about ¾ inch of insulation from the black and the white wires using a wire stripper.

8. You can now connect the black and white wires with the fixture’s matching wires. Screw on wire nuts the stripped ends of each pair of wires side by side, but separate the blacks from the whites. Make sure there is no contact between colors.

9. You can now fasten or fixed the wall light fixture to its outlet box. Use the necessary hardware that came with the fixture. Follow the manufacturer’s diagram carefully.

10. Working on the switch, remove the black wire from the switch by loosening the screw and slipping the wire off. Cut off the loop then strip off ¾ inches of insulation on its end.

11. Make a pigtail. Cut a 6-inch length of black wire and strip 3/4 inches of insulation from each end. Then connect the two black wires (the new wire from the fixture and the old black wire you just remove from the switch terminal) plus the pigtail wire together and use a wire nut. On the free end of the pigtail, make a loop and connect it to the top terminal on the switch.

12. Then remove the wire nut from the original white wires in the switch box and connect your white wire to them with the wire nut. Then connect the new ground wire from the wall fixture the existing ground wire in similar manner.

13. You can now reinstall the switch box and turn the circuit breaker on.  Test your new wall light fixture.

14. Disclaimer: It is the contributor’s objective to give you a bird’s eye view of installing wall light fixtures. This contributor is not responsible for damages and injuries that might occur following information on this article. It would be best if you consult a certified electrician before starting your wall light fixture project.