How to fix pull chain light. Ceiling fans with pull chains can be a handy and attractive addition to any home. The pull chains can break down, though.
Unfortunately, without them, there’s no way to operate the fan or light fixture by hand.
It may be convenient at first to try replacing the pull chain yourself, but you might find out that is a bit harder than you first thought. With the right tools and preparation.
You might try your luck instead of hiring someone who knows what they’re doing and save yourself some time, money and strain but more importantly, peace of mind.
How to fix pull chain light
When time is short, resorting to calling an electrician can be tempting.
But even though paying for an added service can save one a lot of time in some instances, patients will often save the day with complicated DIY endeavors like changing light fixtures.
When we attempted this task, it took no more than 15 minutes to find and break off the old chain and install the new one.
The only tools necessary were a pair of needle-nose pliers and a screwdriver that we used to get situated enough to snap on the wires by hand.
Shut off the power
The thing that scares us the most about doing electrical work is when parts of us touch live wires.
So it’s important to make sure we turn off the power at circuit breakers before any electrical work begins, for both ourselves and our customers.
For an extra dose of inner peace, don’t touch the wires after you’ve pulled out your lamp’s switch chain because you could be injured that way.
Instead, use a voltage meter to check the electricity doesn’t flow through anymore after revising the pull-chain. You’ll then know if it is safe to proceed with rewiring your lamp’s switch chain.
Removing the lightbulb & AccessoriesÂ
If you need to change the pull chain in an electrical box. Remove the lightbulb from the electrical box. Then use a screwdriver to remove the covers and accessories from the box.
Moving the accessories out of the way will make it easier for you to get your hands on the pull chain without damaging any of the other parts.
Disconnect the wires
Before taking a picture of or making a written note of the wire connections, unhook the wiring.
If you decide to take a photo or make a note of the wire connections before changing them, then you could possibly risk putting the wires back into the wrong place if they were hooked up improperly and this can be very dangerous.
Take out the old chain
This is the same process. The old light switch was faulty and needed to be replaced with a new one.
Once switched out with the new one, it’s followed by the pull chain and tugging on it to make sure that it works as intended.
This way, one can be comfortable knowing that their new light switch is working perfectly before proceeding to complete their task successfully.
Reconnect the wires
Making sure the connections are made correctly is important when changing a light fixture. If they aren’t done properly, it could make the fixture overheat unnecessarily.
This could cause someone to get electrocuted while changing the lightbulb because they neglect to check that the connections have been completed safely.
Look at your photo of how the wires were connected or note you made of its arrangement if you need to remember how to make a safe connection.
The end of the prongs where it is attached to the outlet should be ground and black, respectively.
Reattach all covers and accessories
Use a specialized screwdriver to tighten the covers and accessories removed previously, including any covers on your electrical box with mounting screws that have been loosened.
You’ll need to twist the fixture’s wires in order to spiral them into your electrical box, which will be held secure once the fixture is screwed down.
Just be careful not to overdo it when putting too much pressure when tightening screws, as it could cause your cover or end cap to crack.
Creating an opening that would put you at risk of electric shock from water damage inside the box. It’s usually best for plastic pieces because of this.
Plugin the light bulb
You will need to unscrew the old light bulb and set it aside. With a new bright surprise (A24-T8, recommended), it goes back into its traditional fixture, and you’ll hear a satisfying click. You can rest assured that everything is as it should be.
Connect the power & test the new pull chain
When all is completed, you will be safe to turn the power back on at the circuit breakers.
To test that the new pull chain is working, simply pull it and make sure that your overhead light turns off and then back on again.
How to fix pull chain light
Related Guides
