How to Hang a 400Lb Chandelier

Chandeliers offer a dramatic lighting statement that can take a room from plain to elegant. A typical 400-pound chandelier is sized for a large foyer or dining room or a small banquet room and requires tall ceilings. Chandeliers of this size and weight are often attached to a winch that allows them to be lowered and raised for cleaning. There are a couple of steps to hanging a 400-pound chandelier that may differ from hanging one of a smaller size.

Things You'll Need

• Chandelier
• Metal outlet box
• Expandable metal cross brace
• Scaffolding
• Voltage detector

Instructions

1. Check to see if a permit or inspection is required; read and follow the code requirements.

2. Inspect how the wiring is done in the existing light fixture before removing it. Mark wiring with tape or a pencil, after testing with a voltage detector, to you know which wires are "hot" or have power running through them. Draw a diagram if it looks complicated.

3. Place heavy-duty scaffolding under the area where the chandelier will be hung. The scaffolding has to be large enough to accommodate several men. Use a lift, if you can get it into the room.

4. Turn off the electricity from the fuse box. Lock the box to ensure that no one turns the power on while you are working.

5. Install a metal cross brace from the attic or through a hole cut in the ceiling. This is a heavy-duty piece of metal that goes across the supports in the ceiling and is bolted to the timbers to support the weight of the chandelier.

6. Install a heavy-duty metal box outlet to replace the current box outlet by attaching it to the brace.

7. Place the chandelier on the scaffolding or lift and raise it to a height that allows access to the wiring in both the chandelier and the box outlet.

8. Wire the current chandelier to mimic the old wiring, matching black wires to black, white wires to white, etc. Refer to the instructions included with the chandelier if there are additional wires. Make the connections with wire nuts, small plastic "caps" that are twisted on to both exposed wire ends.

9. Use the attached chain to set the height of your chandelier. Leave no less than 30 inches above the table in a dining room and no less than eight feet off the floor in a foyer or ballroom.

10. Turn the electricity back on and test the chandelier. If it doesn't work, try replacing the bulbs first. If it trips the circuit, double-check your wiring and connections before calling an electrician.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a job best done by professional installers who will have the equipment and expertise to do it efficiently and without damage to the chandelier. They are also aware of any codes and permits the job requires. Be sure to use someone who is bonded and insured and ask for warranties on the work. The chandelier dealer can recommend a professional installer, but check with the Better Business Bureau and references before using them.

• It may be more expensive to rent all the necessary tools and equipment than it would be to hire a professional installer, not including the risk of someone getting hurt or the chandelier being damaged.

References

• Hurcules heavy duty brace
• Chandelier Installation

Resources

• Installing Your Chandelier or Lighting Fixture