How to Replace an Outdoor Ceiling Fixture

Replacing an outdoor ceiling fixture is a fairly straight forward process even though there are a good many steps. Just follow these directions and you will be able to install your ceiling fixture so that it works properly and safely.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The first, very important step when replacing an outdoor ceiling fixture is to turn off the power to the circuit you will be using . The power switch is found in the circuit breaker box in your home.
   

2. Remove any light fixture that is already in place. Perform this task by removing any screws in the fixture. Make sure the power is truly off to the circuit by using a circuit tester on the wires that will be exposed once an current fixture is removed.

3. Take the wire connectors from current lighting apart from the wires extending from the ceiling. Untwist the wires and then take down the mounting bracket from the current fixture.
   
   

4. Find the neutral wire on the new lighting mounting bracket that is covered in white insulation. Using wire snippers, remove about a half inch of the white insulation from this wire.
   
   

5. Now find the hot wire on the new lighting mounting bracket that is covered in black insulation and remove a half inch of its insulation.
   
   

6. Next, find the ground wire on the new lighting mounting bracket that is covered in green insulation and remove a half inch of its insulation.
   
   

7. Now, twist each wire that you just exposed to the corresponding wire hanging from the ceiling. In other words, twist the green wire from the new mounting bracket to the green wire hanging from the ceiling. Do the same with the white and black wire pairs.
   

8. After twisting the wires together, twist a wire connector clockwise onto each pair.
   
   

9. Push all of the wires into the ceiling.
   
   

10. Attach the mounting bracket that came with the fixture over the hole in the ceiling using the mounting screws that came with the new fixture.
    
    

11. Put the fixture over the mounting bracket.
    
    

12. Using a pencil, note the position where you will screw the anchors into the ceiling.
    
    

13. Take down the mounting bracket and predrill holes on top of your pencil marks.
    
    

14. Replace the mounting bracket and screw the anchors into the holes you just drilled.
    
    

15. Once the lights are on, restore power to the light fixture. When you see that the lights are all working, put the cover on the mounting bracket.
    
    

Tips & Warnings

• Before staring installation, be sure to check that you have all of the pieces included in the box that are supposed to accompany the fixture. If you are missing any pieces, exchange the fixture for another one.
• It is helpful to have someone else turn on the power in step 15 so that they can turn it off again if the fixture is not working properly