How to Replace a Hallway Ceiling Light Fixture

In most modern homes, if the hallway is longer than 4 feet, it usually has its own ceiling light. Many do-it-yourselfers are nervous replacing light fixtures without the help of a professional. However, it's fairly easy to do. Here is how to replace a hallway ceiling light.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Voltage tester
• Wire strippers
• Wire nuts
• Electrical tape
• Ladder
• Flashlight

1. Your first step in any electrical repair is to turn the power to the circuit OFF. Leave the hallway light on and toggle your breakers off until you find the breaker supplying the feed. When the light goes out, you have found the right breaker. Leave it OFF. If you live in a large house and the breaker box is some distance from where you are working, make a paper sign which reads, "I am working on the electric, DO NOT TOUCH!" Tape it to the front of the panel box to ensure nobody accidentally turns the breaker back on.

2. With the circuit off, flip both switches to make sure that they are both dead.

3. Set up the ladder so that the light fixture is slightly in front of you. You do not want to be directly under the fixture; it is uncomfortable to work in that position and you can get covered in dust and insulation.

4. Remove the cover of the light fixture. How you do this depends on your fixture. Many hallway lights have a center bolt which holds the glass on, while others feature covers that twist off. When you get the cover off, remove the light bulb and set them both somewhere where they won't get broken.

5. You should see 2 screws holding the fixture to the ceiling junction box. You only have to loosen the screws, you usually do not have to remove them altogether. With the screws loosened, twist the fixture slightly until the screw heads line up with the holes on the fixture. The fixture should separate from the ceiling. Keep one hand holding the fixture at all times. Depending on how it was installed, the wire nut connection may not be tight and if you let the fixture dangle by the wires, it may come crashing to the floor.

6. If you have a voltage tester that can read the power by simply pressing a button and holding it to the wire, use it to ensure that power is still OFF. If there are a bunch of wires in the box, check them all for power. Just because one circuit in the box is off does not mean that they all are.
   
   Now, remove the wire nuts and then the fixture will be free. Place it with the cover and bulb.

7. With a small flashlight, take a good look at the wires in the ceiling box. Make sure that they still look good. Look for any cracked or brittle wires or danger signs, such as scorch marks.

8. Use the wire strippers to cut the ends off of the black and white wires (in the box) that are used to power the fixture. Then strip about 3/4" of insulation off of the wires.

9. Unpackage the new light fixture. Grab the base of the fixture and 2 wire nuts. On the fixture you should see a green screw. Wrap your ceiling ground wire (bare copper wire) around the screw and tighten it down.

10. Next, connect the white wire of the fixture to the white wire in the ceiling juction box. Be sure to twist the wires together before using the wire nut. Then place the wire nut over the screws and tighten it.
    
    Follow the same procedure for the black wires. Wrap electrical tape around each set of wires, making sure to wrap the tape over the point where the wires enter the wire nut.

11. Gently push the wires back up into the ceiling box. Make sure that no wires pop back out or get trapped between the ceiling and the light.
    Align the light fixture's holes with the 2 screws coming out of the ceiling box. Sometimes they do not always line up, which will require you to use the bracket which comes with the new light fixture.

12. When the screws come through the holes of the light fixture, give it a slight twist to set the screws. Use the screwdriver to tighten the screws to hold the hallway light fixture in place.

13. Screw a light bulb into the light fixture, turn the breaker back ON and check to see if the light works. If it does, attach the cover and clean up any debris which may have fallen from the ceiling.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear eye protection when working on things above your head.
• Always use electrical tape on your wires and wire nuts.
• Always check for voltage in the wires before handling them.
• If the light fixture base is stuck to ceiling with paint, use a utility knife to score the paint all the way around the base.