How to Install an Incandescent Light Fixture

Installing an incandescent light fixture can update the decor of an area of a home.

A new incandescent light fixture anywhere in the home can update the decor of that area. An incandescent light fixture may be required to provide better lighting or it may be entirely for aesthetics. The light fixture is secured to an electrical box in the wall or ceiling where the fixture is being installed. Usually there are two and possibly three wires that must be connected to the fixture. Knowing how to properly install an incandescent light fixture will ensure that it works correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips screwdriver
• Standard screwdriver
• Wire strippers
• Wire nuts
• Electrical tape

Instructions

1. Shut off the circuit breaker that supplies electricity to the area of the house where the fixture is being installed.

2. Pull out and separate the wires in the electrical box where the fixture is being installed. There is a hot lead, a neutral lead and sometimes a ground. The hot lead is either black or red, the neutral is white and the ground is copper.

3. Inspect the fixture and determine if it consists of wires or terminals to connect to the home's wiring system.

4. Strip 1-1/2" of insulation off the ends of the wires in the electrical box using wire strippers. Do the same with the wires on the fixture, although most fixtures come with the wires pre-stripped.

5. Hold the hot lead from the electrical box together with the black or red wire on the fixture and screw on a wire nut to the pair. Wrap the wire nut and half an inch below it with electrical tape. Repeat this procedure for the neutral wire, connecting it to the white wire from the fixture and finally the ground wire, if there is one. If the fixture has terminals, loop the black or red wire to the brass-colored screw, the white wire to the silver screw and the ground wire to the green screw.

6. Secure the fixture to the electrical box using the screws that came with it and a Phillips or standard screwdriver, depending on the type of the screws. Attach the shade or globe to the fixture, if there is one, after installing a light bulb. Turn on the circuit breaker.