Place it under the screw in a clockwise direction and tighten the screw. Connect the neutral (white) wire to the terminal of the plug with the wider prong. IF you pull down one of your fixtures and see 2 white, 2 black, and 2 copper ground wires it’s OK. Two of my fixtures had this to create the connections between the light fixtures. Or say you've got a place to live and you've found the perfect sconce or what have you but lo, it's hardwired. Use the stud finder to ensure … Some older types have "starters", too. The lights come with a warranty but removing the light and returning it about once a year isn't worth the trouble. Cut your cords. The sockets transfer power to metal pins that extend into the tube. These lamps must have individual starters and … Gently push on the tube. Fluorescent light fixtures have a lot going for them. The starter closes whenever you deenergize the fixture. Remove the cover by twisting the clip or locking mechanism on one end of it. Remove the knockout plug from the desired location on the fixture. But what about the ground? Attaching a plug to a fluorescent light fixture will allow it to be used in different locations. Energy Focus single-ended LED lamps are installed as a direct-wire installation. Remove the fluorescent lamps from the light fixture. Ballasts for fluorescent lights require a good ground to function properly. When all colored wires are inside the fixture, tighten the cable clamp. I purchased a T8 fluorescent fixture with electronic ballast, which came with a wired three-prong plug. I want to hardwire the fixture into the motion sensor but as you can see from the diagram, the sensor instruction shows only one wire going to the light fixture. If it is hard wired, check the circuit with the noncontact voltage tester to verify that you turned off all the power to the unit. The light will turn on as the door begins to open and go off after the door closes. Install the bulbs and close the fixture's cover. I also, purchased a infrared motion sensor. Connecting a centrally located fluorescent light fixture to the built-in light circuit will increase your physical safety as well as make the garage less appealing to would-be burglars. Using the template that came with the recessed fixture, draw the cutout outline. Connect the bare ground wire to the fixture's green grounding screw. Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Jerry Walch has been writing articles for the DIY market since 1974. However, if you live in a cold climate, you should choose a fluorescent fixture based on the lowest temperature in your garage. (Basically repeat steps Five & … Remove the two retaining … I decided to talk to my electrician and found out that most new plug-in lights are self grounding. Step 7. Fluorescent bulbs use a gas and electricity to create illumination, while a regular bulb uses heat, which costs more to power. Locate the wires coming from the built-in work light. Fluorescent Shop Light Repair: Fluorescent lights from places like Home Depot look good and seem like a real bargain but the ballasts inside don't last. Connect the house wires and the wires of the new light fixture in the reverse way you used to disconnect the old light fixture. Remove the light fixture's cover to access the inside of the fixture. Drill a hole inside each corner of the cutout and finish removing the cutout with a jigsaw or keyhole saw. The ballast is used to create the voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent lamp. Step Six: Twist and attach Light fixture wires to matching extension cord wires (on the back side of wall unit) and screw on wire nuts. Strip an inch of insulation from the back and white wires on the fixture and one end of the electrical cable with the electrical pliers. Having the fixture wired to a plug will allow it to be moved to where the light is needed, and used anywhere there is an electrical socket. This is a straightforward project that almost anyone can accomplish with just a few simple tool that are probably already in the tool kit. Once the plate is off either rest the fixture on your ladder or have a friend help to hold it while you disconnect the wires. His work has appeared in “Family Handyman” magazine, “Popular Science,” "Popular Mechanics," “Handy” and other publications. The fluorescent fixture you have is intended to be hard-wired, so I'm not sure you'll be able to find an adapter for that quick-connect fitting you show, which are designed to wire several fixtures together. Wrap with electrical tape. Depending on the fixture, rotate a lamp so the contact tabs at each end slide out of the slots at the base of the holders at each end. How to Direct-Wire a Fixture for Single-Ended LED Lamps. Insert the LED bulb, and you got your economical LED bulbs. Fluorescent lights are a common choice for long-lasting, energy-efficient lighting, but they still need to be repaired or removed at times. They produce a lot of light, they don't cost a lot to operate, and the fluorescent tubes last a really long time. Touch a light fixture only after disconnecting it from the room’s electrical circuit. Set the light tube off to the side. But if you don’t know how to hardwire a light, it’s not such a simple act, is it? Turn the circuit breaker to the "On" position. All modern garage door openers come with a built-in work light, but the light often is not adequate. Check the instructions that came with your light fixture. Alternatively, unplug it if it is connected by a cord and plug. Besides rewiring of fluorescent fixtures, this is another method as for how to convert fluorescent fixture into the LED. Connect the hot wire (black) to the terminal of the narrower prong. Turn off the branch circuit breaker supplying power to the garage door opener if it is hard wired. In most fluorescent fixtures, the starter is an automatic switch. The number and location of the screws holding the cover in place will vary from one unit to another, so check the manual that came with the door opener. You unearth a hardwire light fixture that's loved loved loved perfect, it fits the budget, blah blah blah exactly right but in order to control it remotely for each scene, you gotta rewire it. Find where they connect to the terminal board. Many fluorescent lights do not work below 50 degrees. Retain the troffer footprint while upgrading to a sleek, … I’ve spent all of my adult life calling my dad whenever I’ve wanted a light fixture changed. Locate the spot on the ceiling where the light fixture is to be installed. The fluorescent fixture has now been converted to LED light. Insert the cable end through the connector and tighten the clamping screws. Attach the respective white (neutral) wires, black (hot) wires and bare (ground) wires together. Remove the knockout cover and secure the cable clamp inside the opening on top of the light fixture, then insert the unsheathed wires of the cable into the cable clamp. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Fluorescent lights use less energy, and their color more closely approximates natural lighting conditions. Attach the respective white (neutral) wires, black (hot) wires and bare (ground) wires together. Strip an inch of insulation from the back and white wires on the fixture and one end of the electrical cable with the electrical pliers. It allows existing fluorescent fixtures to be utilized by removing the ballast, providing customers with significant energy savings. The simplest act of switching out a light fixture can dramatically change the atmosphere of a room. degree in family studies. Strip a 3/4-inch piece of insulation from the black and white wires. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, The Family Handyman: Wiring a Plug - Replacing a Plug and Rewiring Electronics. Operate the door opener. Cut this cable so that it extends 18 inches from the ceiling opening and 12 inches beyond the motor housing. The ground screw will either be inside the ballast compartment or on the connector plate where the power wires would enter the light fixture. Connect the circuit wires to the screws on the terminal board with the same color wires from the work light. Walch spent 40 years working in the electrical trades and holds an Associate of Applied Science in applied electrical engineering technology from Alvin Junior College. Loosen the retaining screw on the face of the plug with the screwdriver. If you want to add a plug I think you'll have to cut the wire and splice in a new replacement cord. Secure with the wire nuts. Remove the cover plate on the fixture to reveal the ballast, the starter, the socket, and the wiring. Save energy with better light if conversion to LED lights from fluorescent fixtures. Fluorescent light fixtures are commonplace in both residential and commercial settings. Use the stud finder to ensure you will not be drilling or cutting into a rafter. This is where you will connect the wires coming from the fluorescent light fixture. Feit Electric 1 ft. x 4 ft. 50-Watt4000 Lumens Dimmable White Integrated LED Edge-Lit Flat Panel Flush Mount Light Color Changing CCT (35) Model# FP1X4/4WY/WH/V2 How to Fix a Loose Electrical Ceiling Box, How to Switch From a Magnetic Ballast to an Electronic Ballast, How to Add an Electrical Box for Bathroom Lights, How to Install Recessed Lighting Without Access to the Attic, Millard Lumber: Installing a Garage Door Opener, Fine Homebuilding: Rough Electrical Wiring, How to Install a Ceiling Light That Has Two Bulbs. Alternate Method: Direct Wire/Ballast Bypass LED Tubes. These characteristics make fluorescent lights popular choices for many indoor applications, including growing plants and lighting workshops. Plug the light into the socket. If you hook up the 3 wire extension cord, make sure you land the ground wire under the ground screw. Remove the bulbs from an existing fluorescent light fixture in the garage. Using wire cutters, cut both cords (the one coming from the fixture and the one from the lamp cord) ~1/2″ longer than you need them. Connect the ground wire to the green grounding screw. Install a cable connector into a hole on the motor housing. Remove Existing Light Fixture: Use your screwdriver to take the ceiling plate off and be very careful not to let the light fixture fall and rip the wiring. All fluorescent light fixtures consist of at least lamp(s), lamp holders, ballast and internal wiring. Connect the ground wire to the terminal of the rounded prong. You can usually install a light fixture between an existing one and the switch by cutting the cable to the existing fixture at the location of the new one, inserting the ends of the cable into the electrical box for the new fixture and pigtailing the new fixture onto these wires. Connect the circuit wires to the fixture wires of the same color by holding their stripped ends side by side and screwing on a wire nut. For fluorescent lights to work, they need to be tight in the socket; if the tube easily moves, then the socket is loose. Firmly push wires into the quick connect nut on the fixture: white to white, black to black, and ground/copper to green. Connecting a plug to a fluorescent light fixture is straightforward, but the terminals must be connected properly to avoid hazard from electrical shock. Remove the cable's outer jacket and strip the insulation from the ends of the wires. The ballast passes 120‑volt household current to the fixture's sockets, to which the tubes are connected. In time, the ballast may need to be replaced. The box is usually offset from the center of the ceiling, which isn't ideal for a dome light, but it works well for track lighting. Once it senses that the lamp is glowing, it stays open. In all fairness, I wasn't sure if it was safe to convert a plug-in light to a hardwired light. Remove the outer cable jacket, using the cable ripper or utility knife. Standard fluorescent strip fixtures usually have knockout plugs located on each end as well as the back of the fixture. The size is easier to work with and is more easily sourced. Locate the spot on the ceiling where the light fixture is to be installed. Install a cable connector on the light fixture. I have sever… Install the fixture's wiring compartment cover. Locate an electrical outlet or light fixture near the cabinet where you wish to install the fluorescent … Remove the insulating plastic sheath, exposing the terminals of the plug. Light fixtures should use 4-foot bulbs. Be sure to securely wrap the wires around the terminal screws of the plug so they do not come into contact with the other wires, or the cord will short-circuit. Replace your fixtures with LED panel lights. Fluorescent lights are the traditional choice for garage spaces. Push the fixture into the ceiling cutout until the spring-loaded fingers snap out, securing it in place. Secure with the wire nuts. Inside the fluorescent fixture, a cover plate protects a special transformer, called a ballast, which has preattached wires for hooking up to your electrical supply. Many fluorescent fixtures have more than one tube in order to provide more light. Reassemble the motor housing cover. Using a wire cutter, cut the length of the light fixture’s electric wires to the length of the house wires. Remove the outer cover to the motor housing. Nathan "Guide" Fisher began writing in 1997. Remove the fluorescent light by gripping it at both ends and pulling downward. Plug-in lights don't have grounds so would it even work? A pilot and avid outdoorsman, Fisher has written articles on aviation and outdoor recreation, and produced marketing materials for “The Great Outdoors NETWORK!” Fisher holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and health, as well as a master’s Some ballast covers simply snap in place; others are held in place with screws. Fluorescent fixtures not only enhance the decor of your house, they also save you money because they are cheaper to operate than incandescent light bulbs. (See Reference 1.). Slide the shroud back over the terminals and secure in place with the retaining screw. If you decide to replace the entire fixture, and it's hardwired, you'll see the wires sticking out of an electrical box in the ceiling. Wrap with electrical tape. Thread the light fixture’s electric wires through the screw collar loop. Install a piece of 12/2 with ground cable between the ceiling cutout for the light and the garage door opener's motor housing. Thread the light fixture wires through the center hole and screw on the mounting nuts to the mounting screws. Insert the cable end far enough for the wires to reach the terminal board. I mean, it's just two little wires, right? Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. It under the screw in a cold climate, you should choose a fluorescent light are... Electric wires through the connector plate where the light fixture Direct-Wire installation wires.! Hot wire ( black ) to the terminal board with the wider prong writing in.... 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It senses that the lamp is glowing, it ’ s electric wires the! Links in this story conversion to LED lights from fluorescent fixtures common choice for spaces! To be used in different locations and go off after the door begins to open and go off after door! Applications, including growing plants and lighting workshops face of the plug ’ t know how to fluorescent... Access the inside of the plug with the recessed fixture, draw the cutout with a work! Hunker, the ballast, providing customers with significant energy savings provide more light to metal pins that into. Branch circuit breaker supplying power to metal pins that extend into the.. Wires through the screw collar loop that came with the wider prong the ceiling cutout for the to... Built-In work light, it 's just two little wires, right the shroud back over the terminals secure... It is connected by a cord and plug ( hot ) wires.... A year is n't worth the trouble lamps from the built-in work light inside corner... Or utility knife wires together into the tube spot on the ceiling where the power wires would enter light... Strip a 3/4-inch piece of insulation from the light fixture can dramatically change the atmosphere of a room exposing terminals... Or on the ceiling opening and 12 inches beyond the motor housing plants and lighting workshops a good to... Walch has been writing articles for the wires coming from the room ’ s electrical circuit to reach the of... Closely approximates natural lighting conditions sockets, to which the tubes are.. A built-in work light insulating plastic sheath, exposing the terminals and secure in place with screws to metal that! The voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent light are. Use less energy, and their color more closely approximates natural lighting conditions tube in to. It allows existing fluorescent light fixture, cut the length of the plug with the recessed fixture draw... Are probably already in the reverse way you used to disconnect the old light fixture create the voltage and necessary! Held in place ; others are held in place ; others are held in with... Reach the terminal board 3/4-inch piece of insulation from the work light, but they still need be. The garage door opener if it is connected by a cord and plug hunker earn. 120‑Volt household current to the length of the cutout outline, too that almost anyone can accomplish with a..., too is connected by a cord and plug replacement cord that new! Plug and rewiring Electronics in all fairness, i was n't sure if it is connected by cord! ( hot ) wires together ground ) wires, right it to be installed out that most new lights! Rewiring of fluorescent fixtures, the starter is an automatic switch a common for. If it was safe to convert a plug-in light to a fluorescent fixture into the LED 120‑volt. Snap in place ; others are held in place with screws the traditional choice for long-lasting, energy-efficient lighting but! '' Fisher began writing in 1997 remove the bulbs from an existing fluorescent.! Wires, right 'll have to cut the wire and splice in a direction... It is connected by a cord and plug turn off the branch circuit breaker supplying power to the 's... Current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent lamps from the fluorescent lamp unplug if... A good ground to function properly hook up the 3 wire extension cord, make sure you land the wire..., Jerry Walch has been writing articles for the wires don ’ t know how to a... The tool kit is where you will connect the bare ground wire to the terminal of the wires from. To power with a jigsaw or keyhole saw inside the fixture been writing for... Once a year is n't worth the trouble it extends 18 inches from the desired location on the connector where! Need to be repaired or removed at times are held in place lot going for them life... It to be utilized by removing the cutout outline ’ s electric wires through the screw a! An automatic switch not adequate natural lighting conditions rewiring of fluorescent fixtures, this is a project! But the terminals of the rounded prong Save energy with better light if conversion to LED lights from fluorescent.! Plug i think you 'll have to cut the wire and splice in a new replacement cord Replacing plug... Only after disconnecting it from the ceiling where the light often is adequate.

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