Home Electrical Repairs : How to Replace a Ceiling Mounted Pull Chain Light Fixture

A ceiling mounted pull chain can be repaired with tools like a voltage tester and side cutters. Replace a ceiling mounted pull chain with help from a residential and commercial contractor in this free video clip.
Expert: Jim Gajdosz
Bio: Jim Gajdosz is one of the owners of CJS Electric in Tampa Florida. He and his partner started the business back in 1987.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz
Series Description: Electrical problems in your home may not be difficult to fix, but that doesn't mean you should proceed without caution. Learn about home electrical repairs with help from a residential and commercial contractor in this free video series.

[@bluesky11187]

I’m 58 a woman , it was a breeze , I did it myself , thank you 🙏 blessings

[@kateleo1962]

Thank you, Jim for publishing this video. I never attempted to fix anything electrical before and just replaced my closet ceiling light that has been out for months, thanks to this video.

[@DukeXYT]

@kate leonard how are you in 2022 ?

[@benbarbro]

This video helped me to replace the pull chain light fixture in my girlfriend's closet. I've never dealt with anything electrical and felt great to replace it! Knowing what to look for on the grounding wire vs the live wire that goes to the darker bolt really helped! Very helpful!

[@DillanBoutin]

I love learning electrical from Vince Vaughn!

[@SeekAStrak]

And if you don't try, you are never disappointed.

[@Genochi]

Got right into the work. Thank you.

[@PrincessCarrieGraham]

Note to self - adequately position sheathed wires prior to tightening screws to avoid breaking exposed copper wire (extra 20 minutes stripping more wire for adequate seating). Accurate, concise, and my light works now. Thank you. Putting my boots on just got easier. If my house burns down tomorrow, I may get the sense I've skipped some crucial step.

[@JuanGarcia-bw7um]

thanks Jim this helped out a lot!

[@meganmanning8412]

Regardless of the little flubs mentioned of below...still very helpful and kept simple. Sometimes people take "too long" and break it down to too many steps. I liked it!

[@lavernewright1263]

Nice clear simple instructions. Thank you.

[@sumwear7]

All in all, very informative.

[@cshepherd6]

Great video...thanks

[@vipelectricianbrisbane4259]

Thanxs for this video. Keep it Up!

[@tmwa5502]

That was great now I can fix mine

[@tinamckeage6665]

Thank u for this video.

[@fxridrxmli3549]

thanks sharing

[@elenapendantlight1107]

Nice to see our porcelain lamp holder here. Our factory produce this kind porcelain lamp holder.

[@timpritchard5397]

Hello There, You video is really good one. Wow amazing Beautiful! Thank you!

[@alligatorman1601]

You should of used your tester to see if there was still power to the wires.

[@jimbo33]

Thanks!

[@wrongturn6154]

Nice vid, Jim. Btw, what if I connect a light pendant instead of the one you connected, is that okay?

[@Justificable401]

Wow so easy !

[@zeroooossssss7817]

We work in the dark to serve the light We are electrical workers XD.

[@virginiaswain2331]

The one I need . Light holder on ceiling, has NO screws, just four little holes. To put the wires in, I want to find one. Thank you.

[@jonathank3054]

Does the pull chain fixture need to be connected directly to box?

[@13uciram13]

Is it really necessary to turn of the electroc panel or is it alright just the light switch os turned off.

[@chefmic1330]

What about the ground wire? Do you just cap it off And connect the black and white wire only?

[@thickman2337]

what do you do with ground wire? just cap it off?

[@grandpaobvious]

The ground wire typically attaches to a green screw on the electrical box. There should be no reason to detach it in the first place, so don't. If it is unconnected now, connect it to the electrical box with a screw.

[@zmaninpgh]

Thomas Hoover I’m replacing a ceramic pull chain light in my bathroom because when I pull that light on it blows the GFCI to my microwave in the room next-door. I took that old porcelain pull chain fixture off and there is a black white and brown wire. I know the white goes to the silver and I always remember that the black wire goes to the gold because I think of Steelers black and gold colors. But that brown wire was not connected to anything. The new light fixture that has a globe on it had a thin copper ground wire that I grounded it to electrical the box. I capped off that lone thick brown wire. The light works but did I do this right? Now the light works and my GFCI does not trip the microwave. This house was built in 1964 in Pennsylvania if that helps.

[@markk4015]

I was wondering that myself.... I'm about to put in a new box on the ceiling for a LED and tap into existing fluorescent for power. The box I'm using is for "old work" and is plastic. Where does the ground go?

[@kvdgadj]

How about replace the pull chain with a light fixture that has a ground wire?

[@SIDEKICKONYOUTUBE]

how come their wires have this neutral thingi that you have to connect correctly. in the Philippines we can connect whichever wire.

[@wendywu2199]

Thank you ! Does it matter if I use black and white wire anyhow? I could not get my light work🤬

[@bryanwhisenhunt5158]

what if the old fixture has 4 wires?

[@JustinBsDentureJourney]

Good info, but mess ups. You say flat head screw driver is needed, side cutters and voltage detector. Not in any of the steps do you use these tools! lol You only use a phillips screw driver.

[@babethebuilder1]

Justin Behnk thank you for this! I came to the comments to see if anyone else noticed that! I paused it after he said which tools and my carpenter pos husband who won't fix ANYTHING around here has a million of the star looking tipped screw driver but I can't find a single flat head! I also didn't know which of all the dozen plier looking things was a side cutter! And we don't have a voltage tester either AND none of the switches on out breaker box are labeled so I had to turn power to the entire house ofg and have my daughter hold a flashlight all while I'm precariously balancing on her vanity stool over cement steps on the back porch. I asked everyone on Facebook top tell me which of the pli er things I had would work. I posted pictures and everything. Lucky a friend had a electrician at his house and they face timed me. If you're going to put up a tutorial like this you'd better make a right bc ppl can die of electrocution...i.e females with no electrical experience before!

[@jackiedelafuente5435]

@@babethebuilder1 don't generalize all females with your incompetence 😂 I'm 21 and this was the simplest video I've seen. Maybe if you would've kept watching the rest two minutes you wouldn't have needed to do all of that unnecessary work lol

[@nico1et]

what about when there's 2 wires coming in (two black/two white), but the fixture you're trying to install (since the other got broken by someone bumping into it) only has place for the 2 wires - like you're showing..?

[@joshlavecchia9888]

nico1et put a wire nut on those wires and also add another wire (tail) going from the the wire nut to the screw on the lamp holder. Do that for both black and white.

[@SIDEKICKONYOUTUBE]

2:20 why is there an expose wire i can see a copper wire there. is that safe ?

[@mosessupposes2571]

I just need to replace the chain

[@samuelgamato971]

I tried to fix mine but both of the wires are black. There's no black and white, both are black. What should I do?

[@llopez6109]

What if your chain is gone completely can that be the only thing replaced?

[@adigames]

that is what i am wondering as well. i guess i pulled too hard and it took the chain out completely.

[@coolgarrett02productions42]

+L Lopez That will need replace.

[@mari54ish]

I have short wires!

[@tracy-kimlavoie332]

what if both screws are the same color?

[@kyoudaiken]

Then you're screwed.

[@tegunn]

if that is the case, trace the screw feed that runs to the tab at the bottom of the socket-that will be your hot(black typically) wire, the return (white) traces to the screw connected to the threading sleeve inside the socket.

[@MrSamuel2400]

I didn't see if the light bulb turns on?

[@EMERALDJAYNE]

YAY--FROM A BROKE GRANDAM---I CAN DO THIS MYSELF AND SAVE 70$$--THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@cardinalnest6272]

Most of these videos talk about how to replace the fixture, but I can't find one that clearly explains how to replace a broken chain!!!!!!!!!

[@rosaelenazaragoza3675]

Hi, to my understanding once the chain is broken it cannot be replace. So you must replace the whole ceiling mount light bulb socket.

[@fortysaginaw1512]

How to replace a pull chain with a wireless remote switch?

[@mattsimmerson5430]

OC is sxbnvd

[@kimhayes8267]

You didn't explain when/how to use the voltage tester (that you said was needed) to test the wires after shutting off the power to be sure that no live wires there. And, you didn't show whether the fixture worked when turning the power back on.

[@manFromPeterborough]

He didn't change the socket, just showing how to, that socket looks to be made in Nov 09 by the date code

[@EIGHTBITPUNK]

Tha was a test…and you passed

[@garryroberts9506]

help! what if both wires from the ceiling are white???????????

[@anna-ivelissevera8502]

Garry Roberts pray

[@garryroberts9506]

ANNA, GOOD ONE. I AM LAUGHING LOUDLY. HA HA. I DO PRAY FOR EVERYTHING.

[@manFromPeterborough]

Not likely

[@JaydenAmoncio]

Im watching this video because I accidentally broke out light bulb socket and I have yo fix it before my mom finds out...

[@sallysrock]

Put a sticky note over the breaker 'WORK IN PROGRESS DO NOT SWITCH ON" unless you're the only one who lives in your house, then it would be pointless.

[@anna-ivelissevera8502]

sallysrock thanks.... I was about to ask if I needed to turn the breaker off .:::

[@michealbmillzlynnmass4928]

A easy repair. I still don't think I'm replacing the light. There's bigger issues here. Old wiring throughout the cellar. Old faulty electrical outlets. It's a big fire hazard

[@mari54ish]

How to add more wiring ! You don't have that!

[@julioserna5659]

Bad video, should have explain the if''s ,,,,what if the breaker is not labeled etc... what if a new bulb doesn't work, and how to check it with a tester etc .....

[@kylehenderson8569]

This was painful to watch and listen to.

[@Zen-cc6ij]

Are you sure you're an electrician?!? The Boack (hot) wire ALWAYS goes to the brass screw!!! By screwing the Black wire onto the silver screw you electrify the light bulb receticle and anyone unfortunate enough to make contact with the silver base of the lightbulb while installing a new one will be electricted! Redo this video, ASAP!!!!!

[@anna-ivelissevera8502]

Blind Bushcraft black did go on brass

[@kylebabcock5756]

u lost me at install the light bulb