How to Replace an Existing Light Fixture with a Chandelier

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Installing a chandelier in place of an old light fixture requires careful attention to detail. Because a chandelier will likely be heavier than the fixture it is replacing, it is essential that you perform these steps accurately.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Determine the weight of your new chandelier. If it is close to the weight of your current light fixture, you do not have to replace the ceiling junction box. However, if the chandelier is heavier than your current light fixture, purchase and install a junction box that will support the weight of your new chandelier.

Step2

Turn off the power to the circuit where the chandelier will be located. When you believe you have turned off the power, use a circuit tester to verify.

Step3

Remove the old light fixture. As you are performing this step, note how the fixture was installed and mark the wires with tape.

Step4

If you determined that a new junction box was necessary in step one, install it now.

Step5

Attach the new hardware from the chandelier to the mounting strap. If there is not a mounting strap, install one at this point. Either use one that came with the chandelier or purchase one.

Step6

Screw the mounting strap to the junction box.

Step7

Wire the new chandelier just as the old light fixture was. Remember to connect like colors (ie black to black, white to white, etc). You will need to remove about a half inch of the insulation from each new wire before attaching it to the wire that was previously attached to the old light fixutre.

Step8

Once you have twisted the wires from the new chandelier to the wires from the ceiling, twist on wire nuts in a clockwise direction.

Step9

The remainder of this procedure will be determined by the manufacturer's directions that accompanied the chandelier. Because all chandeliers are a little different, the process is individualized.