How to Wire Basement Light Fixtures
Many types of light fixtures are used in basements today. There are light fixtures that lay in a suspended ceiling, recessed can light fixtures, track lighting, surface mount fluorescent fixtures and surface mount incandescent to name a few. In order to light your basement, these fixtures need to be wired into the lighting circuit so when the light switch is turned on your basement is bathed in light. With the right tools, it is moderately easy to wire basement light fixtures. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Electrical meter
- Electrical wire
- Electrical fittings
- Wire nuts
- Tape measure
- Wire stripper
- Screwdriver
Instructions
-
Instructions
-
1
Turn off power to the lighting circuit by turning the breaker off in the circuit breaker panel. Verify the power is off with an electrical meter.
-
2
Measure the distance from the light fixture to the light switch in the room with your tape measure. Run electrical wire from the fixture to the switch. Consult local electrical code to see how the wiring needs to be run as regulations vary between municipalities.
-
-
3
Strip the wire by the light switch with your wire stripper. Connect the black (hot) wire to one terminal on the light switch. The other terminal should have a black wire connected to it that runs to your circuit breaker panel. Connect the white (neutral) wire to the neutral wire that comes from the circuit breaker panel with a wire nut. Connect the green (ground) wire to the ground wire coming from the circuit breaker panel. Take these two wires along with a short (approximately 4 inch) piece of wire and wire nut these three wires together. Take the other end of the short wire and connect it to the ground terminal in the switch box. The ground terminal will be a green screw and you connect the wire by bending it around the screw and tightening it down.
-
4
Tighten the light switch down to the box and put the cover on.
-
5
Strip the wire by the light and connect the black wires together, the white wires together, and the green wires together with wire nuts. Close the electrical box on the light. Some snap closed, others need to be tightened down with screws.
-
6
Turn the power back on to the lighting circuit by turning the breaker back on. Turn on the light switch and verify that the light comes on.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Read the individual light's installation manual to ensure it is wired per manufacturers specifications. Each light may be slightly different in how the wiring should be connected.
Always make sure the power is off to the lighting circuit when working on it. Failure to do so could result in electrical shock and/or death.
