You want to make sure no electrical current is flowing to the light fixture. Be sure the fixture you are replacing is turned on, then find your home’s electrical service panel lined with fuses or circuit breakers. Start at the top of the box, and remove and replace each fuse or flip each circuit breaker to “Off” momentarily. Have someone watch for when the fixture’s light turns off, and leave that circuit disconnected. Back in the room where you’re working, flip the light switch on and off to double-check the circuit is offline. Holding the weight of the fixture in one hand, remove the screws that hold the thin metal crossbar to the junction box with the other hand. Remove crossbar and light fixture. Leave only a hole with wires and the junction box behind. Connect the new end of the chain to the loop atop the light fixture using the special link provided with the new fixture. Then weave the fixture’s insulated wire and bare ground wire through the length of chain, going in and out of each link. At the top end of the chain, weave the wire through the collar nut and canopy. Connect the white wire in the ceiling to the white wire on the fixture, and the black wire on the fixture to the red or black wire in the ceiling. Twist their ends together, and tightly secure them with the wire nuts that came with the fixture. Wondering why your light won’t turn on? Make sure you head back to your circuit breaker and replace the fuse or flip the circuit to the on position. Congratulations on your DIY light fixture installation!
