How to Replace a Wall-Mounted Light Fixture (Sconce)

Turn off the Power

Before any repair is performed on an electrical circuit, you need to make sure the power is off. Turn off power to the circuit feeding the switch and light fixture by switching off the corresponding circuit breaker at the main service panel.

Remove the Old Light Fixture

Remove any shade or globe on the sconce, then remove the light bulb. Loosen the mounting screws or knob that holds the base of the light fixture to the electrical box, then gently pull the fixture away from the box.

Use a non-contact circuit tester to check the wires for power. Once you've verified that the power is off, disconnect the wire leads on the light fixture from the circuit wires by unscrewing the wire connectors. If the light fixture has a ground wire that is attached to the metal box, loosen the green ground screw to disconnect this wire. With all wires disconnected, remove the fixture and set it aside.

Remove the Mounting Bracket (If Necessary)

Compare the existing mounting bracket to the new one included with the new light fixture. These brackets usually come in two varieties. One type is a round plate, as shown here. With these brackets, the circuit wires extend through the center of the plate, and the fixture attaches to screw holes in the sides. The other type is a mounting strap that spans the electrical box.

In our example, the new fixture uses a strap-style bracket, so we are removing the old plate-style bracket. But if your new bracket matches the old one, you can leave it in place and reuse it when mounting the new fixture.

Install New Mounting Bracket

Attach the new mounting bracket included with the fixture (if necessary) to the electrical box, threading the screws into the openings on the box. Make sure the bracket is secure and can't move around.

Attach the Ground Wire

Your new fixture will have a bare copper or green insulated wire that serves to ground the fixture. Attach this ground lead to the green ground screw on the mounting bracket by wrapping the wire clockwise around the shaft of the screw, then tightening it down.

This connection links the fixture ground to the circuit ground wire, via a pathway through the metal box. The circuit ground wire should be attached to the metal box. If it is not—or if your wall box is plastic—grounding can be accomplished by joining the circuit ground wire directly to the fixture's ground lead, using a wire connector. Sometimes this is done with a pigtail wire that allows both the light fixture and the metal box to have a direct connection to the circuit ground wire.

Connect Hot and Neutral Wires

Use wire connectors to join the white fixture lead to the white circuit wire (the neutral), and the black fixture lead to the black circuit wire (the hot wire). Tug on the wire connectors to make sure the connections are secure.

If the wires are the same color (and there is no black and white wire), distinguish between the two by looking at the wires themselves: The neutral wire will usually have ridges along the side of the wire, while the hot wire will not.

Tuck in the Wires

Carefully fold the wiring into the electrical box behind the strap or disc so as not to pinch the wires as you attach the fixture to the mounting bracket. Try to naturally coil the wires, rather than bending them sharply.

Often, fixtures won't have a black wire and both wires will be the same color. To differentiate between neutral and hot wires, the neutral wire will usually have ridges along the side of the wire, while the hot wire will not.

Attach the Fixture

Position the light fixture over the box, and attach it with either mounting screws or a decorative cap threaded onto the mounting post (the method will depend on the style of your fixture). You may need to fine-tune the depth of the mounting post by screwing it in or out.

Install any light bulbs that are required for the fixture, then attach the shade or globe.

Turn on the Power and Test the Fixture

Restore power to the lighting circuit by turning on the circuit breaker, then test your new wall sconce.