How to change a light fitting

This step-by-step guide provides detailed information on how to complete a task.

It includes a list of tools and materials needed for the task.

Please be advised that this is only a guide and I cannot accept responsibility for any work undertaken. If you are not confident undertaking electrical work then you should have this work undertaken by a qualified electrician.

Tools and Materials

New light fitting
Screwdriver (flathead and/or Phillips, depending on the screws used)
Drill
Impact driver
Screws
Appropriate wall fixings
Voltage tester (optional but recommended for extra safety)
Ladder or step stool (if needed)
Someone to help

Step by Step Guide

Turn off power

Turn off the power to the circuit you’ll be working on. Locate the correct circuit breaker in your fuse board and switch it off. The circuit breakers should be labelled, if not it will likely have a 6A or 5A written on it but you may need to try a few to find the right one, so have the light on to know when off.

Prepare the area

Turn the light switch to the off position. Place a ladder or step stool under the light you are changing if high up and requires you to reach it safely. Make sure the area around you is clear

Examine the wiring

Remove cover/ceiling rose that is covering the wiring. You will either need to unscrew the cover/ceiling rose or there will be two screws in the side you will need to remove. Be careful as once you do this there is nothing supporting the light which can be heavy. I recommend getting help at this stage to take the weight of the light while the wires are still connected.
Once wires are exposed double-check to be sure it’s safe to proceed by using a voltage tester to verify that there is no electricity running through the wires.
Take note of the wiring connections. You should typically see 1-3 cables coming from the ceiling, all should have three wires. The cables will have a Live (red or brown), a Neutral (blue or black), and an Earth (green and yellow).

Disconnect the wiring

It’s essential to keep track of which wire goes where as you will need to replicate for the new light fitting, a good way to is to take a picture on your phone. You may also want to mark the wires that are grouped together with a pen or some electrical tape.
Loosen the wire terminal screws ONLY for the wires coming from the ceiling cables with a flathead screwdriver to remove the wires from the old light fitting.
If your light fitting is metal, you may find there is an earth wire from the earth terminal connecting to the light. Disconnect from earth terminal. Plastic light fittings will not have this.

Remove the old fitting

Unscrew the screws that are holding the old light fixture to the ceiling or wall. Be careful as once these screws are removed the light fitting is no longer supported, so if heavy you may need help at this stage to carefully lower down.

Prepare new light fitting

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare it for installation. Making sure you are aware of how they recommend wiring and how to attach the light fitting to the ceiling.

Mount the new fitting

Securely mount the new light fitting bracket to the ceiling or wall by drill holes and using appropriate screws and wall fixing. If the new light fitting is of similar size and weight, try to use the same screw holes.
For heavier light fitting you will need to make sure you are securing the bracket to a joist in the ceiling to ensure the new light fitting is supported. Where the hole is in the ceiling for the cables you should be able to see/feel the joist and its direction as cables should be next to a joist for this reason.
Once you are clear where the joist is mark your new hole positions using the bracket and drill pilot holes for your screws being careful to avoid the cables. Ensure when you are drill up you can feel the drill going into the joist.

Connecting the wires

Connect the wires from the ceiling to the corresponding wires on the new light fitting in the correct terminals. At this step you may need to refer to the picture you took or to how you marked the wires.
Make sure the wires are securely connected to their respective terminals. To check you have done correctly you should see minimum copper (if any at all) making sure you have tightened onto the copper and not the insulation.
Tighten the terminal screws to hold the wires in place. Do a tug test to ensure they cannot come out.
Again you may need assistance here to hold the light fitting while connecting the wires

Secure to ceiling bracket

Following the manufacturer’s instructions. This will likely be either screwing the light fitting to the ceiling bracket or using two screws to secure the light fitting to the ceiling bracket
Again you may need assistance here to hold the light fitting while you secure to the ceiling bracket

Install light bulbs

Install the appropriate light bulbs in the new fitting, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Test the new light fitting

Once the light fixture is securely in place, turn the power back on at the circuit breaker/fuse box. If the circuit breaker trips you have a fault and best to contact an electrician.
Test the new light fitting by flipping the light switch to the “on” position and ensuring that it functions correctly.

To learn how to change a light switch to dimmer – click here

CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE COMPLETED IT!

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