will usually include more chain
than you will actually need.
Measure and cut the chain to its
desired length with metal snips.
Then cut the wiring 6 inches
longer than the chain.INSTALLATION
To install the fixture, you’ll need
a screwdriver and some wire strip-
pers. It might help to screw the
metal mounting strap to the junc-
tion box to keep the wires close
together while you work. The end
of the chain will thread into the
mounting strap.
Using a combination stripper,
pinch the fixture wire in the appro-
priately sized hole, squeeze to cut
the sheathing, then twist and pull
to remove about 3/4-inch of insu-
lation from each wire.In modern home supply wiring,
individual wires are bundled
together in a sheathed cable.
“Two-wire with ground” cables
have a black wire, a white wire
and an uninsulated ground wire.
“Three-wire with ground” cables
(used with three-way and four-way
switches) have a black wire, a
white wire, a red wire and an unin-
sulated ground.
The white wire is usually the
neutral wire, and the black is thelive or “hot” wire. Any red wires are
hot, too. The unsheathed, exposed
copper wires are ground wires
Match the fixture wires to the
supply wires (hot to hot, neutral to
neutral), twist the exposed wires
together clockwise. Light fixtures
don’t have black and white cables,
but it’s still important to connect
the neutral wire of the circuit to
the neutral wire of the light. To
identify the neutral wire, examine
the lamp cord closely; the neutral
wire usually has a white rib on the
sheathing as its indicator. The
ground wires typically anchor to
the mounting strap with a small
green-painted screw.
Because the fixture wires are
stranded and the supply wires
are solid, it usually helps have
1/4 inch extra exposed strand
wire to wrap around the solid
wires. Secure the connections
with a UL-listed wire nut.
If only a single cable, or one
set of black and white wires,
enters the box, then the fixture is
at the end of the circuit, which
allows for the simplest methodQUICK FIX
The new chandelier’s height is
optional, but measuring the
height of the existing fixture will
serve as a good reference when
determining the height of the
replacement.A good DIY tip is to snap photos of
the existing wiring connections to
use as a guide for the new fixture.Measure and cut the chain to its
desired length. Thread the electri-
cal cord through the chain every
three loops, leaving it 6” to 8”
longer than the chain.When adding or subtracting links
to the chain, pry them open in a
“C” shape rather than twisting
them, which will weaken the link
and risk breakage.Since the fixture was located
above a split-level stairway, the
job required a telescoping multi-
ladder. I used the Leveler by Little
Giant Ladder, because each side
of the ladder telescopes inde-
pendently, granting the ability to
set up the ladder with one side
safely on the floor and the other
resting securely on a stair tread
above.64 ExtremeHowTo.comQuickFixEDIT.qxp_Layout 1 6/24/19 1:13 PM Page 64