How do I replace a broken or outdated light fixture?

Replacing a light fixture involves several steps, with safety as the primary concern. Here's a general guide on how to do it:

1. Preparation and Safety
   • Gather your tools and materials. A flashlight or headlamp is crucial since you'll be turning off the power.
   • Turn off the power. Never attempt to replace a light fixture without cutting power to the circuit. Locate the correct circuit breaker in your home's electrical panel and switch it off.
2. Removing the Old Light Fixture
   • Remove any globes, shades, or covers, and then remove the light bulbs.
   • Detach the fixture canopy. The canopy is the base of the light fixture that sits flush against the ceiling.
   • Take note of the connections by taking a photo or writing down how the wires are connected.
   • Disconnect the electrical wires, usually held together by plastic wire nuts.
   • Once the wires are disconnected, you can fully remove the old fixture.
3. Installing the New Light Fixture
   • Inspect the electrical box. The electrical box in your ceiling is the foundation for your new fixture.
   • Remove the old mounting bracket and attach the new bracket to the electrical box using the provided screws.
   • Connect the wires, matching the colors:
     • Connect the green (or bare copper) wire from the fixture to the green or bare copper wire from the ceiling.
     • Connect the white (neutral) wire from the fixture to the white wire from the ceiling.
     • Connect the black (hot) wire from the fixture to the black wire from the ceiling.
   • Carefully tuck all the connected wires and wire nuts up into the electrical box.
   • Lift the new fixture's canopy up to the ceiling, aligning the mounting screws on the bracket with the holes in the canopy. Secure the canopy in place using the provided cap nuts or central locking ring.
4. Testing and Troubleshooting
   • Restore power and test the light by turning the breaker back on and flipping the switch.
   • If the light does not turn on, turn the wall switch and circuit breaker off before investigating.