How to Install a Porch Light

Outdoor lighting is a great way to increase the safety and security of your home, as well as make it more attractive after dark. Installing a porch light isn't difficult, but it does require some preparation. Follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Wire nuts
• Exterior-rated light fixture and bulb
• Barrel crimping tool
• Screwdriver (or drill with screwdriver bits)
• Junction box
• Mounting bracket
• Circuit tester
• Wire strippers
• Outdoor-rated electrical cable
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Shut off the power. Let everyone in the house know not to turn it back on.

2. Locate the area where you want to add a light. If it's too high to reach safely from the ground, get a ladder.

3. Find the junction box for the porch fixture, then use a circuit tester to test the wiring and make sure no residual power remains. The junction box is a small metal box and should be located on your porch somewhere.

4. Touch the end of the tester to the wires inside to test the circuit. Test all the wires.

5. Loosen the fixture that holds the wires in place, then remove the old wiring that connects the junction box and the fixture. Disconnect the black wire first, then the white wire, and finally the ground wire.

6. Screw your new junction box to the ceiling of the porch. Make sure that the screws you use aren't long enough to poke through the entire ceiling and into roof shingles (3/4-inch screws are best).

7. Measure the distance between the old junction box and the new one you just installed. Cut a piece of UF outdoor electrical cable to this length plus another 8 inches for connecting wires.

8. Use a wire stripper to strip 5/8 inch of insulation from the ends of the wires.

9. Insert the cable through the collar on the power supply junction box to attach the wires.

10. Attach the ground wire first. Building codes require that you use a barrel crimp for this.

11. Attach the remaining wires. Connect white to white and black to black. Use wire nuts to connect these wires.

12. Staple the length of electric cable to the rafter or ceiling.

13. Install a wire collar onto the new junction box you just installed.

14. Insert the end of the electrical cable through the wire collar.

15. Install a mounting bracket onto your new junction box.

16. Connect the electrical cable to the wires on your new junction box. Remember to use the correct tools and connect ground first, then white, then black.

17. Screw the base to the junction box.

18. Install your light bulb.

19. Turn on the power to check your work. If the fixture does not work, turn off the power again and check your work. Use the circuit tester before you work with the wiring.

20. Screw on the light faceplate and close the junction box once the light works correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the correct tools for this job to ensure you comply with building codes.

• Use only light bulbs and fixtures that are rated for exterior use.