Replace Ceiling Electrical Box

Having access to your attic is convenient when replacing an electrical box in the ceiling but you also can do the work from inside your room under the ceiling.

Replace ceiling electrical box.

If your light fixture pulls out from the ceiling chances are that the light box has cracked. Pry out the box s mounting nails and pull the box down from the ceiling. The round or octagonal box houses lightweight fixtures or safety devices in the ceiling. Remove the old electrical box from the ceiling.

The family handyman editor in chief gary wentz will show you how to remove an old light and install a ceiling fan brace so you can properly install a new c. We use an old work electrical box to replace a damaged or loose. See the section on calculating box sizes. Typical 1 1 2 to 2 in.

Disconnect the cable from the box. Repair a broken plastic electrical box mounted in a ceiling or wall this article describes how to repair a ceiling light fixture electrical box that was falling out of the ceiling. If it s suspended from a bar you may have to take off a metal plate to unscrew the box. A square electrical box also known as a double gang box houses two devices.

The finished replacement of an old style pancake ceiling electrical box ready for a standard light fixture the box above is ready for a standard light fixture installation. The nec dictates how many wires and clamps you can safely put in an electrical box. Even so you should run through the calculations to be sure. Pry the tab and pull the cable out.

If it s nailed to a joist pry it free with a flat bar. Then pry the bar from the joists. You also should replace a ceiling box if the existing one is loose or damaged. Installing a ceiling fan chandelier or other heavy light fixture in an existing ceiling requires the right junction box j box.

Ceiling light boxes consist of metal or plastic boxes. If the box has a cable clamp remove the locknut. Deep octagonal or round ceiling boxes are quite large and overcrowding is rarely a problem. They ll have a combination outlet switch or a pair of outlets switches inside.

Hold a 1 2 inch thick pancake box against the ceiling centered on a joist and trace around it with a pencil. Broken plastic electrical box swing clamp supports allowed the box to fall from the ceiling leaving the light fixture hanging by its electrical wires. Number 10 x 1 5 sheet metal screws were used to secured the pancake box to the ceiling joist.