Replace large fluorescent light fixtures with modern-looking recessed lights. Fluorescent fixtures do give off a lot of light, but they are large and can make the living space feel less homey. They take up an entire ceiling tile space--either 2-foot-by-2-foot or 2-foot-by-4-foot. Recessed lighting fixtures are cut into the existing ceiling tile and general sizes are 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch. Replacing the lighting will not involve wiring in new circuits as all you have to do is disconnect the wiring from the fluorescent fixture and reconnect it into the recessed light fixture.
Instructions
1. Turn off power to the lighting circuit in your circuit breaker panel. Working on live circuits can be dangerous, even deadly.
2. Climb up your ladder to gain access above the light in an adjacent ceiling tile space. Open up the junction box on or near the fluorescent light fixture.
3. Disconnect the wiring to the fluorescent light fixture. Generally all you have to do is unscrew the wire nuts and untwist the wiring.
4. Lift up on the fluorescent light fixture from below, tilt it slightly and lower it through the ceiling grid.
5. Measure the diameter of the recessed light. Cut out a circle on your replacement ceiling tile 1/16 to 1/8 inch larger than the diameter of your .
6. Lift the ceiling tile up and set it in place in the ceiling grid. Take the recessed light into the ceiling space and set it over the cut-out hole. Extend the recessed light's arms and clip them over the ceiling grid.
7. Connect the lighting circuit's wiring into your recessed light. Extend the existing electrical cable into the junction box on the recessed light and secure with an electrical connector. Twist the black wires together and screw on a wire nut. Repeat for the white and ground wires.
8. Install the recessed light's trim ring. This trim ring will finish off where the light meets the ceiling tile and provide a finished, clean look. Installation may vary depending on light. Some just push up into the recessed light from below while others have spring hooks that hook on to tabs inside the fixture.
9. Screw in the correct wattage light bulb as indicated by your recessed light and restore power to the circuit.
Tags: recessed light, ceiling tile, fluorescent light, light fixture, ceiling grid