How to install kitchen island lighting

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  • Author Ryan Allen
  • Published April 28, 2010
  • Word count 586

Here are a few tips on how to install a kitchen island lights. Some of the things that you will need to have to do this is a screw driver or drill with a Phillips bit. A ladder, wire strippers, circuit tester, pliers, and wire nuts. One of the first things that you will want to do when installing your island light is determine how far you want to have it hang down. Typically 30" is a good height off a bar or pool table for optimal lighting. Once you have determined the height that you want the island light to hang you will want to adjust the length in the chain this can be done by removing or adding links in the chain.

Now that you have prepped your light you will want to turn of the power to the light fixture in the breaker box. Now that the power is off you can remove the old light. If your old light is a mini pendant light or island light this can be done by removing the decorative mounting nuts typically there are two. This will allow you to take off the cover plate. With the cover plate removed you will want to double check that the power is off know that the wires are exposed. You do this with a circuit tester. You will want to check all the wire to make sure that there is no power to them but the black wire also known as the hot wire is the most crucial.

The next step is to remove the wire nuts from the old light fixture. You can do this by turning them in a counter clockwise direction. You will not want to reuse these when installing your new light fixture. Next remove the old mounting plate this will be attached with two screws that are attached to the electrical box. Now that you are to a clean slate you will want to make sure that you make sure that that the wires on the light fixture and the existing electrical are stripped to 3/8 of an inch. You can do this with a pair of wire strippers. Make sure to use the proper size hole to strip the wire. Next you will want to install the mount plate provided by the manufacture. Using the new mounting plate is a very crucial part of installing your new island light because this will align all the back plates and insure proper installation.

After you have installed the mounting plate you will want to hang the light fixture so that the back plate is slid down the chain so you can access the wiring. Once the Island light is hung so that you can still access the back plate you can know hook up the wires. Put the black wire to black wire and the white wire to the white wire. Make sure to twist the bare wires together in a clockwise motion before installing the wire nuts in a clock wise motion. After you have connected the wires together neatly tuck them up into the electrical box. And slide the cover plate up the chain and install it with the decorative nut.

Now that you light is all wire you can install the decorative glass shades and light bulbs. Make sure to use the proper watt light bulbs so you do not create a fire hazard. After your light is completely assembled you can turn the power back on and enjoy your new island light.

There are many great retailers of island lighting and lighting fixtures on the internet and in your local showrooms.

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