How To Install A Ceiling Light Box

If you are removing an existing fixture.

How to install a ceiling light box.

It will not only hold the wiring but also support the full weight of the fan. If you re wondering how you install a light fixture without an electrical box the short answer is that you don t. Ceiling fans need to be properly anchored to an electric ceiling box that s designed to hold a heavy fixture. To replace a ceiling light fixture follow these steps.

Installing a ceiling electrical box lets you add a light fixture to a room. Installing the box is easily done but you must be careful anytime you are working with electrical wiring. If you want to install a ceiling fan then you will need to get a box rated to hold the weight of a ceiling fan or you will want to add some additional bracing to hold the ceiling fan. An easy solution is to install a fan brace box available from home centers and hardware stores that s designed to be installed without cutting any additional holes in your ceiling.

Screw the ceiling plate to the mounting strap or support rod then put the mounting stem onto the ceiling plate. Trace the mounting box on the ceiling where the light fixture will be mounted. Cut out the traced hole with an oscillating saw. If your light fixture weighs more than 50 lbs it has to be supported independent of the electrical box.

Use a circuit tester or turn off the power to the whole house to ensure that all the wires in the box are dead. Turn off the power. Junction boxes typically hold up to 50 pounds. Use painter s tape or a pencil to lightly mark the ceiling joists.

The electrical box or junction box is a code requirement that was established to prevent fires and other electrical accidents. If you plan to control the ceiling fan from a light switch make sure the switch is wired appropriately for the fan. It should be 48 from the floor. At this point make sure that the installation is secure and that the fixture is.

Slide a stud sensor across the ceiling in the area you want to install a junction box for your electric light fixture. Determine a location for the light switch. Before you begin make sure your junction box can support the weight of the new light fixture. Trace the electrical box for the switch and cut it out the same way as the mounting box.