Install Lights in a Ceiling With no Previous Light Box
Installing a light in a ceiling with no previous light box improves your access to lighting. It can be a simple process if you have the right tools and moderate knowledge of electricity. Doing this project yourself can save a lot of money. However, working with electricity can be dangerous, especially if you have little or no experience and are be afraid of electricity. If this is the case, have an electrician do the work because safety comes first.
Instructions
1. Measure the location for the light box in the ceiling, using the tape measure. Mark the area you measured with a pencil.
2. Drill a hole in the edge of the pencil mark, using the drill and the 1-inch wood bit. Take the jigsaw and cut out around the mark you made for the light box.
3. Drill a hole near the breaker box for the new 110 wire.
4. Drill a hole where you are putting the light box. Put the electrical box on the wall and trace around it with a pencil. Use the jigsaw to cut out around the pencil marks.
5. Run the wire snake behind the drywall down toward the breaker box. When the end of the wire snake comes out of the wall, attach the 110 wire to the wire snake using the electrical tape to hold it. Pull the wire snake back through where you are putting the electrical box.
6. Cut the wire you just attached to the wire snake with the wire cutters once the wire is to the electrical box. Leave extra wire for an easier connection to the light switch.
7. Run the wire to the breaker box, leaving extra wire for an easier connection to the new breaker. Cut the wire with the wire cutters.
8. Run the wire snake from where you are putting the light box and run it toward the electrical box.
9. Hook the wire to the end of the wire snake, wrapping the wire around the end of the wire snake. Wrap the wire with electrical tape until the wire is nice and snug.
10. Pull the wire snake back to where the light box is going. Once the wire snake is there, pull it until you have a little extra wire for an easier connection.
11. Cut the wire at the electrical box with the wire cutters, leaving extra wire. Attach the electrical box to the wall.
12. Clean the wires with the wire cutters for the light switch. Attach the black wires from the new light box at the breaker box, on the right side of the light switch. The white wire and the copper wire goes on the left side of the light switch. Place the light switch in the electrical box and tighten it down with the drill, the Phillips drill bit, and the Phillips screws.
13. Mount the light box in the ceiling and attach it using the drill, Phillips drill bit and the Phillips screws. Connect the wires on the light by connecting the black wire to the black wire, the white wire to the white wire, and the copper wire to the green ground screw. Attach the wire nuts on each set of wires and tighten them down by turning clockwise. Tape the wire nuts with the electrical tape and keep taping them until they are completely covered. Attach the light to the ceiling with the Phillips screws and the Phillips screwdriver.
14. Clean the wires at the breaker box with the . Make sure the breaker is turned off. Attach the black wire to the breaker and tighten the breaker screw down with a flat-head screwdriver. Attach the white wire and the copper wire to the ground bars in the breaker. Tighten the screw on the ground bars with a flat-head screwdriver. Turn the breaker on.
Tags: wire snake, light switch, wire cutters, , , drill Phillips, extra wire