Traditionally, it is believed that connecting a chandelier is a difficult task that a professional electrician should perform. But, there is nothing difficult in connecting two or four wires, so any man can easily hang a new chandelier in his house with his own hands.
Connecting a chandelier in a new home
If it's just built a private house, and if it is self-built, then it all starts with wiring. Usually, it is made internal. Although, you can use external wiring, which is retracted into a decorative casing.
Internal wiring
In concrete, brick or wooden wall a special groove is made for electric wires. This groove is called a groove. You can make it either with a special device, a wall chaser, or an ordinary chisel. In case of wooden wall- chisel. The same groove is made in ceiling.
Creating a channel for wires
The wire is placed in a special casing, which is closed from above during interior decoration premises. Don't forget about junction box, from which the wires should diverge to the chandelier, to other lamps, to the socket and to the switch.
Junction box
The presence of a junction box will facilitate the replacement of a piece of electrical wiring if necessary.
External wiring
The principle of laying external wiring is the same, with the only difference that the strobe is not made, and the wire is fixed directly on the wall in an insulating decorative casing.
Wires in an insulating casing are hidden in the wall
If the switch is single-key, then two wires go from it to the chandelier. And if two-key - then four. Usually, the pairs of wires in the chandelier itself are of different colors, so there are no connection problems.
Connection diagram of a single-gang switch
When conducting wiring, it must be borne in mind that to connect the chandelier, it is necessary to leave sufficiently long ends. This will make it easier to connect. Surplus can always be hidden either in a hole in the wall or behind the decorative cover of the chandelier.
Chandelier mounting types
There are chandeliers that are quite heavy. And the safety of people under it depends on how well it is fixed. How it will be attached must be decided by looking at the fastening provided by the manufacturer. Usually, it is of two types:
- fastening with a strap;
- fastening with a hook.
How to hang a chandelier with a plank
Almost all modern chandeliers are attached with a strap. It is a strip of metal, which is fixed to the ceiling with self-tapping screws. To make the fastening secure, you need to drill two holes in the ceiling. Plastic chopsticks are hammered into the holes, to which the bar is attached with screws. Self-tapping screws, entering the chopiks, expand them, which makes such fastening even more reliable.
Photo: fixing a chandelier with a strap
After the bar is fixed on the ceiling, it is necessary to connect the wires to the chandelier. Here it is better to use the services of an assistant who will hold the product. Although, you can temporarily hang the chandelier at some distance from the ceiling with a strong and thin nylon rope. And after connecting the wires, hang it the way it should hang. In this case, one person can do all the work.
You should always use a ladder for this kind of work. No need to stack stools, tables, etc. This is dangerous for your health.
Wire connections may vary. On modern products, special couplings are sometimes made at the ends of the wires. Wires that come out of the ceiling are inserted into these sleeves and secured with a bolt. If there are no couplings, then the ends of the wiring and the wires of the chandelier are simply twisted together. They just twist. You can not connect the wires simply by making hooks at their ends, since the connection must be strong.
Photo: wire connections using a terminal block
Everything is insulated with high-quality insulating tape. If the wires are copper, consisting of many strands, then all the strands must be twisted together before connecting. Of course, the ends of the wires must first be cleaned of insulation.
On modern chandeliers at the ends of the wires there are special couplings for connection: just press the spring with a button or lever, insert the wire and that's it!
After the wires are fastened and insulated, you need to lift the chandelier and hang it on the bar. Usually, there is no problem with this. Each chandelier has a decorative casing with which you can close the ends of the wires. This work is facilitated when, during gating, in the place where the chandelier will hang, provide an additional recess.
How to hang a chandelier on a hook
If fastening to the bar is not provided, then a hole is drilled in the ceiling, a plastic chop is driven into it, and a hook is screwed into it. Usually the key is equipped with a special latch that is driven into drilled hole and then screwing expands the spacer. The concrete ceiling is drilled with a Pobedite drill to a depth of about 7-8 cm.
Hanging a chandelier with your own hands is not so difficult. A person with no experience in carrying out such procedures may first be frightened by the need to work with electricity. However, no serious knowledge is required to complete this task. To install a chandelier on the ceiling, you need to carry out only two operations: connect it to electrical network and fasten.
Safety
Before starting any electrical installation work, you need to take care of safety. Mounting the chandelier involves contact with wires through which high voltage flows, so this issue must be approached with all seriousness. Here are the main recommendations and guidelines:
- all electrical installation work must be carried out with the power turned off (you can simply turn off circuit breaker in the shield);
- after turning off the machine, it is worth making sure and checking the absence of light;
- after checking the absence of voltage in the wires with an indicator screwdriver, you can safely proceed with the installation;
- often a Chinese manufacturer in the manufacture of chandeliers resorts to the use of low-quality materials, so their choice should be treated more carefully.
How to determine the location of the wiring in the ceiling?
Before you hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling, you need to know the exact location of the electrical wiring. If this is not done, when drilling holes for fastening the chandelier, it will be possible to easily drill wires. The search process must be carried out while current is flowing in the wires. Therefore, this procedure can be divided into the following steps:
- Power outage.
- Installing a temporary bulb holder.
- Electricity supply.
- Turn on temporary light.
To determine the location of live wires, there are many devices from different price categories. This device must be driven perpendicular to the line along which the wiring is supposed to run. In the place of detection of the phase, it is necessary to put a mark, and then continue to move the indicator. The next label is placed at the place where the phase disappears.
For control, these steps should be repeated in the opposite direction. In the interval between the resulting marks and the wiring is laid. Now you can safely drill holes for fasteners and hang the chandelier.
Ways to fix the chandelier to the ceiling
If everything became clear with the wiring, now the question arises: what are the ways of fixing the chandelier? Today, the three most common technologies are most often practiced, allowing you to quickly and easily hang a ceiling chandelier. Relatively light products can be fixed on hooks. In cases with heavier lighting fixtures, the use of anchor bolts is provided. In addition, there are chandeliers attached to the bar (bracket). Another way is to mount directly to concrete ceiling.
How to hang a chandelier on a hook?
Most simple fastening for the chandelier to the ceiling is a hanging hook. To fix it in the ceiling, it is necessary to drill a hole with a diameter of about 8 mm. If the weight of the chandelier does not exceed one and a half kilograms, you can use a regular threaded hook, which is screwed into a dowel inserted into the hole. For heavier products, expansion anchors with a diameter of at least 10 mm should be used.
If you plan to fix the hook in the dowel, it is recommended to choose a corrugated one. Such fasteners are better fixed in the ceiling. The screwed hook should be wrapped with two layers of insulating tape.
After these manipulations, it is necessary to connect the wires from the chandelier to the mains. This can be done both with the help of ordinary twisting, and by resorting to the use of terminal blocks, which are most often included in the package of most lighting fixtures.
At the next stage, you should attach the chandelier to the hook, and then move the special decorative trim as close as possible to the ceiling surface. This bowl will hide all wire connections. This completes the installation of the chandelier. The main disadvantage of such a mount is the gap between the ceiling and the lining. It can be either a couple of millimeters or 1-2 cm.
It is important to understand that mounting a chandelier on a plasterboard ceiling in this case is fraught with unpleasant situations. If light products can still hold out, then drywall will not withstand heavy lighting fixtures. The hook must be attached to the frame, so its installation should be planned during the construction of the ceiling.
How to hang a chandelier with a plank?
There is a way to fix the chandelier without a hook. This procedure is a little more complicated, but quite doable.
The kit should come with a special mount for the chandelier to the ceiling. This fastener is called a bracket. This bar for the chandelier must be attached to the ceiling, and then put marks for drilling holes for the dowels. In the bracket itself, you need to fix a couple of screws. In this case, the distance between them should be equal to the distance between the holes on the decorative cover.
After fixing the bracket, connect the wires. You can hang a chandelier of this type only with an assistant, since it will be very difficult for one to do this. One should hold it, and the second should deal with the connection to the mains.
At the next stage, it is necessary to get the screws fixed in the bracket into the holes of the decorative trim, and then tighten the nuts. Once the lamp has been installed and performance verified, the mounting procedure ceiling chandelier can be considered complete.
Fixing ceiling lights directly to the ceiling
Often, such fasteners are used for small chandeliers and lamps that are light in weight. On reverse side such products always have several holes designed for fixing to the surface. If the base is made of wood, you can fix the ceiling lamp directly to the screws. If you want to hang the lamp on a concrete ceiling, you first need to drill holes for the dowels, and then fix it.
Installation under a single-gang switch
If everyone can hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling, then connecting to the mains is sometimes difficult. Most chandeliers installed today have two conductors. By standard marking blue or white-blue wire is zero, and white or brown is phase.
If your house hasn't been rewired for a long time, there will be two aluminum conductors in the ceiling. As a rule, they are not marked, however, you can determine where is zero and where is the phase using an indicator screwdriver. If the wiring is relatively new, there will be three wires in the ceiling: zero, phase and ground. We do not need the third one, so it can be insulated and bent to the side.
If the chandelier has two or more shades, the wires coming from them must be connected together. Zero must be connected to zero, and phase to phase. After that, zero from the mains is connected to the connection of zeros from the chandelier, the same with the phase. Next, you can already mount the chandelier to the ceiling.
When hanging lighting fixtures, you need to understand that it is not recommended to connect aluminum and copper wires directly. Over time, such a contact will begin to oxidize, and the connection itself will lose strength, as a result of which the twist will begin to overheat. At best, the chandelier will fail, at worst, the wiring. In such situations, chandeliers can only be hung by connecting wires through terminal blocks.
Installation under a two-gang switch
If you want to install a chandelier under two-gang switch(i.e. one key turns on only a part of the bulbs, and two keys together - all the bulbs at the same time), the principle changes a little. In this case, all the zeros of the chandelier are connected together and connected to the zero of the mains, and the phases are divided into groups.
In the first group, it is necessary to combine all the phase conductors of the lamps, which should light up from the first switch, in the second - from the second. Next, the first group is connected to the phase coming from the first key, the second - to the phase from the second key. The installation of the chandelier can be considered complete after it is attached.
How to check the strength of the mount?
After completing all the procedures, be sure to check. Small flaws can escape your sight, so you should immediately visually determine the quality of the work. The wires must be completely hidden under the decorative cover.
You can determine the reliability of fastening by slightly loosening the lamp. Well, the main indicator is a performance check. If, after turning on all the keys of the switch, the bulbs lit up, and the wiring did not sparkle, then you installed the chandelier on the ceiling correctly!
So, you needed to replace or hang a chandelier from scratch on the ceiling in the house. At first glance, this event causes little concern and seems difficult for a novice electrician. But it's much easier than you think, because installation work last no more than half an hour and at the same time special efforts not required.
In order to hang a chandelier to the ceiling with your own hands, you must:
- familiarize yourself with safety precautions;
- prepare tools and materials;
- choose the right mounting method;
- install the product
- check if the connection is correct.
Now let's take a closer look at each of the stages.
Safety
Any electric installation work not safe, because a person is dealing with a high voltage current. So that when you connect you are not shocked, but you yourself do not fail after a while, we recommend that you take into account following rules and tips:
- Before you hang the lamp on the ceiling, turn off the electricity in the network (it is enough to turn it off in the shield).
- Make sure there is no electricity in the room by turning the lights on/off.
- Use an indicator screwdriver to check the voltage on the wires coming from the ceiling. If there is no current, get to work.
- Carry out with terminal blocks. "Grandfather" twisting with insulation is not safe.
- Don't buy Chinese products Low quality, because More often than not, they are the ones that fail.
- Take care of quality.
If you follow these safety measures, you can fix the chandelier on the ceiling quickly and without any problems.
Tools and materials
In order to carry out the installation, you will need the following tools:
- electric drill or puncher;
- ladder;
- screwdriver or screwdriver;
- indicator screwdriver;
- pliers.
From the materials you need to prepare:
- connecting blocks either (they are not always included, especially if the product is cheap);
- fastener (hook or anchor);
- self-tapping screws with dowels.
As for the latter, it should be clarified here. If the chandelier will be fixed to a concrete ceiling, it is necessary to purchase anchors, they are better installed in the wall. To hang the case on wooden ceiling you can do without a hook, use wood screws (if the lamp is light in weight). To drywall can only be fixed if you get on the frame of the profiles using metal screws.
Installation methods
In order to independently hang the chandelier from the ceiling in the house, you can use one of three methods, each of which is predetermined by the manufacturer. If the product is not heavy, it can be hung on a hook. If weighing more than 5 kg, you must use anchor bolts. The design of some chandeliers requires the installation of a special bar (bracket). Well, the last way is to fix the back cover of the lamp directly to the ceiling or wall. Now we will consider in detail each of the above methods.
Hook
For easy installation chandeliers, you can buy an inexpensive hook with a dowel (as shown in the picture) and screw it into the ceiling, and then hang the loop on the hook, provided for by the design of the lamp.
Please note that this method is only suitable if the ceiling is wooden or concrete, because. then you can drill a hole in it and insert the dowel. If the sheathing is plasterboard, apply this species installation is prohibited, because the hook will simply vomit after hanging the lamp.
If the chandelier is large and heavy, you can hang it on an anchor hook. Its design is shown in the photo:
All that is needed is to drill a hole of the required diameter in the ceiling, and then screw in the hook. The anchor will “break open”, which will create a reliable fastening of the product of even greater weight.
Such a connection can spoil the interior of the room, so it is recommended to buy lamps that have a decorative bowl, which will hide all fasteners.
bracket
If the manufacturer has provided a plank mount, it will be necessary to spend a little more time on installation.
The kit includes a metal bar and 2 screws with nuts. All that is needed is to fix the bar (bracket), and then hang the chandelier tightly to the ceiling yourself.
This option is more time consuming, but at the same time it is not difficult at all. The main thing is to correctly adjust the distance between the screws (it must correspond to the distances between the holes in the luminaire body itself).
Back cover
If you want to hang a chandelier on the ceiling without drilling with a perforator, you must choose a special type of lamp, the ceiling of which can be fastened with self-tapping screws. In this case, you just need to screw a few self-tapping screws through the holes in the back cover. Most often, this method of fastening is used if the product is light and is installed on the wall (as shown in the picture).
Connection
So, in order for you to understand each of the connection methods, we will provide the corresponding step by step instructions for Dummies.
If you use a hook, it is enough to drill a hole in the ceiling with a drill, drive a dowel (or anchor) into it, and then screw the hook itself. Next, you need to connect the wires between the body and the supply wires, carefully insulate them (if required) and only after that hang the chandelier on a hook. We need to dwell on this in more detail so that you know how to properly connect the chandelier to the ceiling.
If the design of the luminaire does not provide for grounding, two wires must be connected to the housing - phase and zero. Usually, metal lamps provide additional grounding, so in this case you will deal with three wires - phase, zero and ground. Each core must be connected in the terminal block according to the color marking of the wires, as well as symbols. If 4 wires come out of the lamp housing, then it means a chandelier for two light bulbs and it must be connected by analogy with two lamps.
Video lesson on connection
If you are installing electrical wiring from scratch, then you need more. You can get acquainted with the technology by simply clicking on the link.
In order to hang the chandelier evenly on the bracket, you must first set the screws at a suitable distance. Then fix the bracket using dowel-nails. Next, you need to thread the body through the studs, and with the help of decorative nuts, securely fix the product on the bar. As in the previous case, the wire connection must be done in advance.
We also draw your attention to the very important point. When connecting a chandelier, the cores must be correctly connected: phase to phase, zero to zero, and ground to ground. If you mix up the contacts, it will happen. To prevent this from happening, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with.
Well, the last way is to mount the back cover directly to the ceiling. In this case, the design of the product has several holes on the back cover, which are simply fixed with self-tapping screws. There is nothing complicated, the only advice I would like to give is that it is not necessary to use all the holes. If the lamp is light, but 4-5 holes are provided, then three self-tapping screws may be enough to hang the case.
Connecting a socket, switch and light bulb in a junction box
Control check
When you complete the electrical connection, you need to check all the work. First, visually - so that the wires are not visible (hide the cores in the case). After that, you need to shake the lamp to make sure that the fastening is secure. Well, in the end, turn on the machine and if it doesn’t knock out, and the lamp itself doesn’t sparkle, then everything is done right! As you can see, one person and even a woman can easily hang a chandelier from the ceiling! The main thing is to follow all the rules that we told you about!
Non-standard situations
Above, we have provided you with instructions for installing a chandelier in the most standard conditions - when the ceiling is even and without defects. At the same time, sometimes you have to carry out fastening in non-standard conditions, which we will discuss briefly.
To hang a chandelier on stretch ceiling, you can use the bar, as shown in the photo below. In this case, fastening can be carried out even if the ceiling is already stretched and, moreover, the replacement of the luminaire can be done without the risk of damaging the film coating. 
If you decide to hang the product on a sloping ceiling, then it is best to use a hanging chain. When for some reason you have to change the location of the chandelier in the apartment, the main thing is not to get into the wiring when drilling a new hole in the ceiling. To do this, it is recommended to use, which will show where the wires go.
If there is already a hole in the ceiling, be sure to use it so as not to re-drill the hole with a puncher. Too large a hole can be hidden with a special plaster cover, which is sold in most hardware stores.
If three wires of the same color come out of the hole, then in order to find the phase, zero and ground, you will have to use a multimeter. Things are easier with two-wire electrical wiring - you can find the phase and zero with an ordinary indicator screwdriver (when you touch the phase, the light will light up).
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A chandelier is not just an ordinary lighting device, which is an attribute of any interior. It also serves as an additional decorative element. Fashion does not stand still, in order to please it, it is often necessary to change the chandelier when repairing or changing the situation. However, it is not necessary to resort to the help of outsiders, you can hang the lamp from the ceiling yourself, the main thing is to follow the algorithm of work.
And even if you never happen to fix the lamp to the ceiling yourself, it will not be superfluous to at least just know how to do it right in order to be able to control the work of employees. Therefore, let's figure out how to hang a chandelier so that it is reliable and safe.
Basics
Initially, the installation of the chandelier begins with an inspection of the existing mounting system.
According to the type of fastening, three methods of suspension are distinguished - they are used most often (meaning specifically for chandeliers).
- fastening on powerful hooks built into the ceiling.
- suspension bracket.
- platform mounting
Attachment installation
The first option is most suitable for massive lamps that have a leg or are suspended on chains (or wires) of different lengths. The hook is able to withstand constant, significant loads. It used to be always built in by default - even at the stage of laying floor slabs. Today, builders do not always do this.
Modern models of lamps are usually made of lightweight materials, and it is not at all necessary to make powerful fasteners for them. In addition, usually the hook is located clearly in the center of the room, and designers often shift the visual center or zone the space with the help of lighting. And then what to do with the ugly hook tightly built into the ceiling?
Therefore, in the buildings of the new model, the new settlers, at their discretion, plan the location of the chandelier, shifting it in the right direction. For hanging the luminaire, a simple and reliable mounting plate is used (shown in the second photo), which successfully copes with light loads. This mounting option allows the use of flat lamp models, which, as planned, should fit snugly against the ceiling. Such systems can be mounted on suspended ceiling structures.
The latter type is used on hollow stretch and plasterboard ceilings. By themselves, these materials are not strong and stable, so the holder (in the form of a wooden block, for example) is attached directly to the concrete floor. And then a lamp is hung to it, flush with the hanging surface.
Holder profiles must be strictly parallel so that there is no increased load on any one side. The only exception is a significant difference in the planes of the ceiling, when you need to level the platform using hangers of different heights.
Work safety
During operation, you need to remember three main rules: adhere to the basics of safety, observe the polarity when connecting wires and use a reliable mount. These prescriptions, like three whales, must be strictly observed.
In addition, in order to correctly (and without health consequences) perform installation ceiling lamp Keep in mind the tips below as well.
The most important thing is to ensure absolute safety of work. This means that it is necessary to replace the lamp during the day in order to be able to completely de-energize the apartment throughout the entire installation period.
Even if the circuit is de-energized, be sure to check it with a special tester screwdriver with a built-in light bulb. Sometimes the residual voltage can hit very hard.
Always de-energize and test the lighting circuit when hanging fixtures from the ceiling. Mounting chandeliers is work at height, so even a slight electric shock is enough to cause a more serious injury when falling from a stepladder.
New chandelier and old wiring
You need to be especially careful if your wiring is old and made of aluminum wire. Ideally, it should be completely replaced by copper, with a large cross section. This is absolutely justified, since much lower rated loads were previously laid on the chain. Therefore, it would be right to expand its throughput. If it is not possible to change the wiring, then protect yourself as much as possible by following our recommendations.
Remember - in no case do not connect directly copper wires chandeliers with thick cable aluminum wiring. In close contact, both substances react, and as a result of corrosion, there is a real threat of a short circuit, and, as a result, a fire.
Therefore, put insulating solder on the copper wires, and only then screw them to the aluminum ones. In this way, all three wires are processed, to be sure, additionally solder all the joints (especially if the chandelier is installed in wet rooms, such as a bathroom). And it is better to use special clamping terminals that provide a safe and reliable connection. Models of their mass and the cost is very small.
Do not be lazy to make grounding, both for the lamp itself and for the switch. This will minimize the risk of electric shock if the neighbors suddenly flood you.
We will analyze the features of installation in rooms with different starting conditions in order to perform the installation correctly. We give three main types of ceilings: concrete, stretch and plasterboard.
concrete ceilings
chandelier hook
The most common option for attaching chandeliers to concrete surfaces is conventional hooks. If you don’t have a hook, or after a long time it has become unreliable, it’s better to play it safe and change it, strengthening the structure properly.
To do this, you will have to re-embroider the seams between the plates, going a little to the sides. A strong metal plate (or pin) is inserted into the resulting opening - it is much easier to do this if the floors are hollow. For wet rooms it will not be superfluous to treat the plate with any enamel paint, then it will be less susceptible to corrosion.
Then the hook itself clings to the plate. As a result, it turns out reliable system capable of withstanding heavy loads.
A solid concrete base allows you to use the other two methods of fastening, if suddenly there is a need for this.
Stretch ceiling
Many inexperienced craftsmen often have a question - how to hang a chandelier on a stretch surface (canvas or PVC film)?
In fact, if you have a stretch ceiling installed in your room, you can mount the chandelier in the manner described above. With the only amendment that you need to hang the lamp away from the canvas, so that the heated lamps do not touch the flasks to its surface. However, most often installers resort to the third type of fastening - with the build-up of the platform.
In order to attach the chandelier at the same level with the canvas, you will need to make a solid frame. It might be simple wooden block installed flush with the film surface. A mounting plate is screwed onto it with self-tapping screws. The fastening of all elements of the base must be rigid so that the vibrations of the tension film do not cause the luminaire to chatter.
Chandelier fixture
In addition, special spacers are installed on both sides of the stretch film, which reinforce the perforation site. They do not allow the web to stretch under its own weight, and also act as a thermal insulating layer that protects the web from heat. They look like rings. The one that needs to be fixed from the outside is usually transparent, and it is not at all visible behind the decorative overlay of the chandelier.
Stretch ceiling preparation
The wires must also be well insulated at the junctions. And it is better to use special clamping terminals that connect and seal the joints with high quality.
Plasterboard ceilings
You can attach a chandelier to a plasterboard ceiling using the same technology as on a stretch ceiling. The second type of fastening is also used - if you plan to install heavy chandelier. Then the bar is used right size. It is attached to the ceiling with a special collet stud. It allows you to significantly enhance the potential of the design.
Drywall fastener
A mounting plate is screwed to the base, and almost any chandelier can already be safely attached to it.
Low ceilings and other nuances
Generally, the larger the room, the large sizes pendant lamps can be installed. And they weigh a lot, and in fact they pose a real danger to residents - in the event of an unforeseen break in the fasteners and a fall.
Depending on the type of chandeliers, there are some features of fastening. For example, traditional hooks are not suitable for hanging flat luminaire models that do not have a rod. Therefore, if you have low ceilings, and you want to smooth out this drawback with a flat lamp, you will have to redo the mounting base. Change the massive hook to a flat bar. If the chandelier is small and light, it is enough to mount it on aluminum ceiling hangers.
A massive and heavy chandelier should definitely be hung on a thick steel hook, deeply “embedded” in the ceiling. Today you can buy a special, very convenient and practical hook. It is equipped with spacer bars that open during installation - like butterfly wings, and do not allow the mount to hang out and fall out.
After installing such a hook, the hole surrounding it must be primed and cemented. Wait at least a day for the mixture to set. As a result, such a mount will be able to withstand even a heavy chandelier.
Chandelier fixture
Please note that the wiring is not attached to the hook. A special chandelier holder is hung on it, and the cables are freely, without tension, located next to or around.
Scheme
Another important point in installing a ceiling light is to connect the wires correctly. Typically, lighting systems use three wires: phase, ground and zero.
It’s great if they differ in the color of the insulation - then you don’t have to guess which one is which.
The “phase” has brown (or black) insulation, grounding can be identified by the yellow braid, and “zero”, as a rule, is blue. IN quality models chandelier wires are always marked in different colors so that there is no need to “ring out” where the phase is, where is zero. Then your task is to connect the wiring to the cables of the lamp - by color.
If all three cables look the same, you will have to empirically determine where the “phase” is located. It can be identified by bringing an indicator screwdriver in turn to each wire. When the light comes on, this cable is the “phase”. Although this popular method is far from safe, it is better to use a special tester. To avoid confusion, mark the cables with a multi-colored marker or electrical tape.
When it is planned to install a luminaire with the simplest control, a single-gang switch is enough. The assembly diagram of the lighting circuit is as follows:
Single switch
If you want to be able to turn on each lamp individually (or all together) - put a two-gang switch. Then the connection diagram will look like this (for example, a chandelier with three light bulbs is taken).
double switch
By analogy, a three-button switch is installed.
Before twisting (or terminal connection), strip 3-4 cm of wire from insulation. Do this carefully so as not to damage individual wires. It is better to use a special tool for stripping insulation.
Now you can connect the lamp, it will be correct to first connect the “zero”, and then the “phase”. If you have three wires in the circuit (that is, an additional ground is laid) - then the corresponding cables with yellow insulation are also simply connected in pairs.
Fixing a chandelier to the ceiling
When buying a new chandelier, the question of its correct and reliable fastening to ceiling surface, as well as a safe and correct connection to the electrical network of the home. You can do this without outside help, so arm yourself with the necessary installation tool, read our instructions and proceed with the installation.
This article will discuss how to fix the chandelier to the ceiling with your own hands.
Fixing the chandelier with a mounting plate
As a rule, chandeliers are of two types:
- Equipped with mounting bracket. The bar is mounted on the ceiling, and then the chandelier is attached directly to it.
- Mounted on a ceiling hook screwed securely into the ceiling. We will try to cover in more detail how to attach a chandelier to a ceiling surface using each of these methods.
Advice! Before mounting the chandelier to the ceiling, remove the shades and other decorative elements of the chandelier. This will protect them from accidental damage, reduce the weight of the chandelier and make installation more convenient.
Mounting the mounting plate
Fixing the ceiling chandelier begins with mounting the mounting plate to the surface:
- To begin with, try on the chandelier to the place where its future fasteners are supposed. The decorative element of the chandelier, covering the place of attachment and wires, must fit snugly, without gaps and play, against the ceiling.
- If there is a hook from an old lamp at the installation site, it is bent to the ceiling so that it does not interfere. Cutting off the old hook is not recommended, because your next chandelier may be attached with it, and you will need to re-mount this type of fastener, which is impractical.
- Perform markup for fastening mounting plate and install fixtures for the chandelier on the surface. To do this, the bar is applied to the ceiling in such a way that it does not interfere with the wiring connection, and with a pencil mark the place of attachment. Next, holes are drilled and dowels are driven into them. Then fasten the bar to the ceiling using screws.(read on).
Wiring connection
Before attaching the chandelier to the ceiling surface, it is necessary to connect the power wires provided in it to the power system of the house. Before connecting the chandelier, it is imperative to de-energize the home wiring and make sure that there is no voltage using the indicator.
The rules for connecting a chandelier to the mains are as follows:
- In the presence of a single-gang switch, the ceiling wiring under the chandelier usually consists of two or three wires - phase, zero, and optionally a ground wire. The presence of a ground wire often depends on the time the house was built - in Soviet time such a wire was provided extremely rarely.
- It is necessary to determine the purpose of each wire, both among the ceiling and among those available in the chandelier. The phase wire is usually hidden in black, brown or red insulation, the neutral wire is in blue, and the ground wire is in yellow-green.
- Regardless of the presence of colored or other markings on the wires in the ceiling, they should be tested with an indicator screwdriver. To do this, you need to turn on the power supply for a while. You should alternately touch the bare part of the wires and fix the indicator indicator. The lit indicator will point to the phase wire, if the indicator does not light up, then the wire is zero.
Advice! Do not forget to press the light on switch on the switch before checking the wires with an indicator.
- Wires of the same type are connected through the terminals, and if there is a “no pair” wire (grounding), it is isolated and pushed aside. After that, you can continue to further mount the chandelier to the ceiling.
- A two-gang switch assumes the presence of two-phase wires in the ceiling (see). Their connection is carried out, respectively, to the phase wires of the chandelier of the 1st and 2nd groups (if any). Zero and ground wire are connected in the same way as in the first case.
Fixing the chandelier to the mounting plate
You can do this in the following way:
- Closing decorative element chandeliers are attached to the bar and their connecting holes are compared.
- Screw decorative nuts into the holes, thereby attaching the lighting fixture to the ceiling completely.
- Mount lamps, shades and other decorative elements in their original place.
Fixing the chandelier to the ceiling surface in this way can be considered finished.
Fixing a chandelier with a ceiling hook
Such a fixture for a ceiling chandelier, like a hook, is often installed at the stage of building a house, and if you have one, you should check it for strength. Checking the hook is to try to tear it off. To do this, you can pull or hang a load for it, comparable in mass or exceeding the weight of the chandelier, and let it hang for a while.
If the hook is fixed "tightly", you can mount the chandelier to the concrete ceiling.
If it fell out or is simply not provided for on the ceiling, you will need to mount it yourself:
- Drill a hole under it.
- Prepare and screw a metal anchor into the hole. It must be selected with such a diameter that it fits snugly against the walls of the hole during the screwing process.
- For installation in a wooden ceiling, you can use a self-tapping hook.
- When mounting the chandelier on a plasterboard ceiling, the hook must be attached to the ceiling. Distance between main and plasterboard ceiling overcome by means of a canopy on the hook of the chain, equal to the length of the gap between the ceilings. It is to the chain that the ceiling chandelier is attached later.
Advice! The metal hook must be carefully insulated for safety reasons.
We can assume that we figured out how to mount chandeliers of various types. We hope that our instructions turned out to be understandable, and with an eye on it, you will be able to install the chandelier with your own hands without any problems.
For those who have not fully understood all the intricacies of the installation process, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video presented on our portal - how to fix the chandelier to the ceiling.