Add Ceiling Lights

A ceiling fixture that operates off a switch when you enter a room is a convenient way to light a room.

Add ceiling lights.

This technique connects the fixtures in parallel which guarantees that each light will stay on if the other one burns out. Make electrical connections between the 14 2 electrical wire and the wires attached to the light fixture. Luckily you don t have to. With a little ingenuity and special remodeling housings you can install a roomful of recessed lights or canister lights with minimal drywall tear out and patching.

Some rooms remain dark and dreary with a single ceiling or wall light fixture. Adding a new light is easy because you can wire it to the existing light. To do this you need to make pigtails in the wires to split the electrical path. Tie them together with wire nuts.

Adding a ceiling fixture where none existed before entails bringing power to a wall switch. Additionally since there are so many parts involved with this lighting system you run the risk of losing remotes and dealing with dead batteries. If the wall is heavily insulated push conduit through the insulation and then feed wires or cable through the conduit. For example if your previous light fixture on this circuit used five 75 watt bulbs then a safe wattage is 375 watts total 5 x 75 375.

Choose a spot that meets your needs. Plus the existing switch will control both lights. For instance if the fixture is intended to provide light to the entire room place. Do not exceed the total wattage of the circuit.

Choose the area of the ceiling where you want to place the light fixture. Adding a wall switch to a ceiling fixture can be done in a matter of hours. Also find a diagram for adding a light from a switched receptacle you. Then turn the power back on and check to be sure the lights are working.

Tie the electrical box to the adjustable length box bar using the hanging clip. The biggest challenge is planning the cable route and running it from the fixture to the new wall switch position. Thinking about adding recessed lights or pot lights but don t want to tear out your whole ceiling to do it. Battery operated lights tend to be unreliable or dim.

Stripping and twisting wires together and adding a wire nut takes only a minute or two. Once you have completed the trim simply add the light bulbs you like. Different wiring arrangements are included to allow for either the light or the switch to come first in the circuit. Place the adjustable length box bar inside the ceiling and twist it into place until it s locked in.