Replacing an outdoor lantern light involves a series of steps, primarily focused on safety and correct electrical connections.
Steps for Replacing an Outdoor Light Fixture
To safely and correctly replace an outdoor lantern light, follow these essential steps based on standard procedures:
- Inspect the New Light Fixture: Before starting, take a moment to examine your new outdoor light fixture. Ensure all parts are present and there's no damage. Familiarize yourself with its components and how it mounts.
- Turn Off the Power: Crucially, locate the circuit breaker or fuse box that controls the power to the outdoor light fixture you are replacing. Turn off the power completely to this circuit. This is the most important safety step.
- Remove the Existing Light Fixture: Carefully unscrew or detach the old light fixture from the wall or ceiling. Be prepared to support its weight as you remove the final screws.
- Check for Power With the Voltage Tester: Before touching any wires, use a non-contact voltage tester to confirm that the power is off at the fixture location. Hold the tester near the wires; if it beeps or lights up, the power is still on, and you need to return to the breaker box.
- Identify the Existing Wiring: Note the different wires coming from the junction box (typically black, white, and sometimes a bare copper or green ground wire). These correspond to hot, neutral, and ground connections.
- Disconnect the Wires From the Old Light Fixture: Once you are certain the power is off, carefully disconnect the wires connecting the old fixture to the house wiring. This usually involves untwisting wire nuts or unscrewing terminals. Keep track of which house wire was connected to which fixture wire.
- Attach the New Mounting Bracket: Often, the new fixture comes with its own mounting bracket. Remove the old bracket if necessary and install the new one according to the manufacturer's instructions. This bracket provides a secure base for the new light.
- Connect the Wires to the New Light Fixture: Connect the wires of the new fixture to the corresponding house wires. Typically, black connects to black (hot), white connects to white (neutral), and the ground wire (bare copper or green) connects to the fixture's ground wire or ground screw. Use appropriate wire nuts to secure the connections.
Follow any additional manufacturer instructions for your specific fixture installation, such as sealing the fixture base against the wall to prevent water intrusion.
