Things You'll Need:
- Attic access
- Wire stripper or sharp knife
- 12-2 non-metallic sheathed cable with ground wire
- Needle-nosed pliers
- Electrician's pliers
- Wire nuts
- Screw driver
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Step 1
Determine what is on each electrical circuit by turning off a breaker and making a list of what is not working. Electrical plugs can be checked with a table lamp. Attach the light fixture to the circuit with the least load. Leave the breaker turned off on the circuit that you intend to use.
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Step 2
Connect 12-2 non-metallic sheathed cable to the circuit you have chosen. This connection can be made in an existing outlet box over a light fixture or a wire can be cut in the attic and the ends connected to the new wire with wire nuts. Before cutting the wire, make sure there is enough slack for reconnecting. A junction box must be nailed to a rafter and the connections made inside the junction box. Connect black wire to black, white to white and all bare copper wires together.
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Step 3
Run the newly connected cable to the outlet box where the light fixture will be attached. If a wall switch is to be used, run a piece of cable between the outlet and switch boxes. Attach the black wire to the bronze screw on the switch, the white wire to the silver screw and the bare copper wire to the green screw.
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Step 4
Connect the white wire from the switch to the black wire on the light fixture. Connect the black wire from the circuit connection to the black wire from the switch. If a wall switch is not used, connect the black wire from the circuit connection to the black wire on the fixture. Regardless of whether a wall switch is used, connect all white wires together and all bare copper wires. Use wire nuts to make the connections.
