How to Install a Wall Sconce
Regular wall light fixtures are great, but if you’re looking for one that can provide you with a low illumination level, and make the area seem larger than it is, then your best bet would be to install a wall sconce. Wall sconces are efficient and attractive. If you want to know how to install them, here are some tips.
What You’ll Need:
Wall sconces
Low-wattage bulbs
Cut-in electrical boxes (two or more)
Flat and Phillips screwdriver
Light switch
Wire stripper
Keyhole or drywall saw
Side-cutting pliers
Fish tape
12 x 2 electrical wire
1.5″ paddle bit
Masking tape
Pencil
Procedure:
Turn the power off to the room where you’ll be working on. This helps you prevent electrical shock while doing the procedure. You can place masking tape over the light switch, or a sign at the main outlet, warning everyone not to turn on the light.
Pick a wall area for your sconce. The ideal height for a wall sconce is at least 72 inches or more away from the floor. Use a pencil to make a mark on the wall. When you’ve chosen the sconce’s location, pick another, this time for the switch. If possible, place it beside existing light switches, and in the same stud bay area as an existing electrical outlet.
Get the cut-in electrical box and use its inside portion as a template for making horizontal rectangles. These will be for your sconce’s location. Draw another vertical rectangle, for the light switch location.
Using your drywall, saw cut the rectangles out. Make the initial cut follow the light. If necessary, do some additional trimming, so you can insert the cut-in boxes.
Get the drill and the 1.5 inch paddle bit. Use these to drill a hole at the top stud, just inside your wall. The hole must be in the same stud bay as that of the light’s box. Repeat this for each of the sconces you’re installing (if putting in more than one), as well as for the electrical outlet and the light switch.
You now have to run the wire. Get the 12 x 2 electrical wire and starting at the farthest sconce light, run it before going to the next sconce. Keep doing this until you reach the last sconce. Afterwards, run a wire from the last sconce going to the light switch. Then, run the wire again from the switch to the electrical outlet.
Get the cut-in boxes and run the wires into them. Insert and install them properly in the wall. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws, until the wings are anchored to the drywall, and the box is flushed in.
Mount the sconces. Find the mounting brackets and attach them to the cut in boxes, with the help of the screws. Carefully connect the wires to the sconces. Remember that white is neutral, black is hot and the ground wire has copper exposed. Make sure the ground is tied in the green grounding screw. Check that the wall sconce hangs well from its bracket.
Get your light switch and install it in the cut-in box. The wire that goes in your outlet should connect to the constant hot side. On the other hand, the wire going to the first sconce in your chain must now go to the switched side. The silver screw must be neutral, the copper is hot, and the green one is the ground. As for the wires, the white is neutral, the black is hot and the copper is the ground. Make sure both grounding wires go in the same ground post.
Find the electrical wire that goes to the electrical outlet and connect it to the receptacle. Connect the white wire to a silver screw, the black to a copper screw and the copper wire to the green ground post.
Once the installation and wiring is finished, install the low-wattage bulbs into your sconces then turn on the power, using the breaker panel. See if the lights work by testing the switch.
Wall sconces add elegance and beauty to any room. as long as it’s installed the right way, and you’ll surely love these wall fixtures. If you learn from this article, you’ll surely learn more from reading how to replace a light switch and as a bonus learn how to make a landscape lighting.