How To Install A Light Fixture With Pull Chain

Leviton 29816 Lampholder: amzn.to/396RPNu
I will walk you through the complete process of removing your old lampholder and installing a new one. I prefer porcelain compared to plastic for lampholders which will usually only cost $1 to $2 more. Whenever doing electrical work you will want to make sure you are following local code as this video is for your entertainment only and not meant to provide advice on how to install a lampholder to code in your area.
Tools Used
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[@tonidevereaux8409]

I'm a 78 year old woman and I like to try to do repairs myself if I can. I watch a lot of how-to videos and this is the best one I've seen - clear, easy to follow, addresses every question. Thanks!

[@justmom1516]

Thank you so much! I’m a 52 year old widower and after watching your video, I was able to get my ceiling socket working again. ❤

[@lindaheatherly4839]

I put up a ceiling fan so removed the porcelain base- now wanting to put just light back up and it’s amazing how hard it is to remember how to do that lol Thank you for your simple to the point video!

[@josephcarreoniii6434]

I really like your your explanation. I have to replace a porcelain fixture just like you did in my attic. Thank you for your help.

[@lisaOlisaOlisaOlisa]

Thanks for the tips about screwdrivers and creating the hook.

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

Yeah, that was a great tip

[@paigedothan9167]

Thank you!. Just fixed the ceiling light in my utility shed by following this!

[@missige]

Thanks! You make it look so easy and unintimidating. Great tutorial!!

[@mypointofblue5260]

Just learned something new again! I was unsure about the gold and silver connections! Thanks for sharing!

[@obedkingoina6226]

thanks so much for this video!! it was a long search tool i found your video.. closet is now lit and lovely!! 👍🏿👍🏿

[@linnijones55]

I really appreciate how u show us the tools and what they are called and especially the name brand products we should get. You are Awesome!!! I’m sending ur videos to all my girlfriends.

[@MikeHunt-zy3cn]

Thanks for the video. My fixture had the chain snap off a long time ago and I never really got around to fixing it. Mostly due to forgetting how to do some of this stuff from highschool.

[@allanjeong]

When the pull chain broke away from the fixture, I re-attached the pull chain to the socket and saved the cost of having to buy a whole new pull chain socket. To do that, turn off the circuit breaker to the light, take the entire socket down and then pull out three small screws to pull out the switch. Then slide the end of chain in between the metal clips that secure the chain to the switch. Use pliers to carefully pinch the two metal clips together to keep the chain secured to the switch. Take pictures to make sure you know where all the screws, switch, bulb socket, and metal connectors are positioned so that you can put it all back into the porcelain fixture correctly. This process might also be used to fix a jammed pull chain.

[@TomokoAbe_]

Thank you! Just what I needed!

[@juanespinoza3664]

Great video thanks for the information step by step , funny story it just happens that I need to repair one in my storage shack . thanks

[@michaeljavert4635]

I always use the one with the outlet. Further more, I make sure to put a GFCI on the circuit that have the porcelain sockets with outlet. I don't like they're upside down though, but it's handy to have one when you need it. And of course it should be grounded, regardless of GFCI or not. So many people ignore a ground wire and it really bothers me. Like here, the ground was ignored. While I am aware there is no grounding screw on the socket itself, I hope at least the box itself is grounded. There is a potential for a short to contact the chain and energize the pull string. And in some cases, people use an actual chain like you had, so that for sure would shock you if it were to become electrified. Also, if you're grabbing something that is energized, your hand muscles are going to spasm and contract, forcing your hand to close, and if you can't slip from that chain, it has more potential to be lethal.

[@justink2874]

Dude calling me out on the turn method 😆😆😆😆🙌

[@kerribizjak279]

Thank you. Very helpful! 😀

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Happy to help 👍

[@yazsher]

Thanks very hopeful!

[@prettiinpink816]

God bless you! Thanks so much! - a single mom💕

[@CostcoDunkin]

I have a unit that has the ground go through the pull chain device, then continues to the bulb area. Not sure why it's like that. I am going to have to cut the wires. Do all wires for lights have that solid copper beneath insulation? I don't want to cut the wires and use them on a new light if it is raw strands of copper.

[@brentvance9090]

I honestly like to see a video showing how to convert a pull chain to a switch

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Appreciate the feedback, I will put it on the list 👍

[@brentvance9090]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs Thanks! That was quick :)

[@addrickstich6385]

If you have a chance to do a video on the lights with 3 wires I'd appreciate it, we have ours set up in a really dumb way because we couldn't figure it out.

[@5thg5]

Great informative video.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks!

[@ygbodybuilder3023]

For the three prong fixture you said you will need a ground. Is that the case if you only plan to plug in two prong equipment

[@bopa1053]

Nice Job!

[@africangraycheeko5215]

I need little question I have led lights I have Artika Skylight 1 ft. × 4 ft. LED Flat Panel ok and I put all Together it working well power on and off and very dark Night off switch but is glows but not off

[@ivanwill]

And to think, I have two closets that I would love to add lighting to. But, there is no wiring in those closets at the moment.

[@mariolopez2161]

Thank you sir!

[@temptedhazelaht]

So what do you do with the ground wire? I get it isn't needed for this light but I don't know what to do with it.

[@realcoolbreeze]

Was going to reattach a pullchain by removing socket. Mine must be over 40 years old because you can t reach the sidescrews. They are down deep in bottom of porcelain socket. I even tried pulling out the metal clunker that holds the sidescrews. No dice. I ll cut the wires and match it up/ buy a better one with an extra plug in source too at Ace hardware.

[@PeterApologetics]

Is it true if you wear rubber gloves it can help insulate you from electrical shock?

[@rtmartin57]

My pull chain is getting hard to use. Could I leave it on and screw in one of those adapters and just use the chain on the adapter rather than change the entire thing ?

[@susanb453]

Question, chain broke when light was off. How I test to see if the circuit is live? Breaker is not marked.

[@xwatsitboutx]

How about if I'm changing a ceiling fan to one of these pool chain light fixtures?

[@robv5343]

I Just replaced one but the one with the plug on it but i get no power after turning on the breaker… what do you think I did wrong? Any help helps. Thanks!

[@cwrobinson6363]

Please answer this question if you can and will? What size screws did you use to hang the light fixture? Were they #6-32nd or #8-32nd? Also, is the metal case grounded for the one you are working with in this KZbin? And finally, I didn't see in your writeup how to remove the Porcelain knock-outs. knock-outs.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

The screws were 6-32, the metal electrical box was grounded, and here is the video for the knock-outs kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoKYpnWDeJmCjac

[@robert_b9251]

Same installation if existing is grounded or do u have additional video with grounded light fixture ..thanks

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Rob, pretty much the same just the addition of connecting the ground wire to the green screw on the light fixture base. Does the current light fixture have a 3-prong receptacle where you could plug something in as well? If so, make sure you get a base that matches.

[@freedommakers101]

3 questions: 1) I have a ceramic fixture in my cold storage that is located in my bedroom. And the chain snapped off when i pulled it on and now stayed on being in the "on" position. Can I just unscrew the bulb til I get my broken chain ceramic fixture fixed? Cause as I say, it broke off in the "on" position so now it's always on and don't want to burn the bulb out or use power. And if unscrewing the bulb, does that switch off the fixture so not using power? 2) Also,, can I just replace the broken chain without having to change out the fixture? It's just the chain that snapped off. It snapped off high up in the fixture so not visible to try to grab any remnant chain left. There is nothing sticking outside the hole of the fixture to grab onto in order to try to switch it off. 3) Also, since my light fixture with its now broken off chain pulley broken inside the fixture is in my cold storage thats in my bedroom, that fixture is on the same breaker as my lights in my bedroom, so was wondering, so that I can still see in my bedroom, can I keep the breaker on that gives power to both the bedroom pot lights and cold storage fixture, and just unscrew the light bulb in my coldstorage that had the broken pull chain cause it snapped off while in the "on" position and stayed on. As mentioned in question 2, I couldn't retrieve any visible chain to switch it off. So getting back to question 1, wondering if I just unscrew the bulb out of that fixture, it is still "on", right? And using power?

[@CalitranoN]

OK, i have the smaller box, how do i knock out those holes???

[@homeguestunton]

These were common in garages, basements, or closets. But they are now illegal to install (if builder). Now it requires enclosed or recessed luminaire.

[@1575murray]

I have two closets which had old style incandescent lampholders which were not original to the house. I replaced them with Lithonia Lighting LED strip lights which give much better illumination.

[@valeriexoxo]

What is a luminaire? Why?

[@GT_Racer347]

Or use the ECX bit to tighten it. 😁 👌

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Upgrade 👊

[@toolinhand]

I used a plastic fixture, and agree that those ones don't last long. Use porcelain.

[@unchained5051]

Don’t forget the part where you have a shared neutral between 3 circuits so 3 breakers need to be off, but then you can’t figure that out right away because your body has such a static charge on a step stool that the ticker constantly goes off when half your breakers are shut off. Then you realize you need to ground yourself every time you go check. The electrician that wired my house must have been drunk......

[@doak4886]

Maybe you said why there doesn’t have to be a ground wire?

[@StephenRahrig]

6:29 what link?! This is literally all i need to knkw

[@JonahCBR]

You have your voltage tester set for low voltage instead of high voltage. Red light = high voltage, Blue light = low voltage.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback! It was my understanding the blue light just indicates power and then the row of led bars above are what will indicate low and high voltage. 1 yellow bar indicating 12-24V DC and 2,3,4, and 5 bars which go from yellow to red indicate AC with an increasing number of bars as you get closer to the source. I might be wrong but that is what I read in the instructions for this tester. Do you have the same brand / model or use a different one? Thanks!

[@JonahCBR]

Everyday Home Repairs while it’s on try, pressing the on button quickly to change mode from blue to red mode. Could be a slightly different model but it’s worth checking for safety.

[@Websitedr]

I honestly hate the pull cord light fixtures because of the cord getting in the way. Sure we don't always have a switch control but if the closet door can act as a switch those open light sensors are awesome.

[@stevel6895]

Ground wire? This video does not mention anything about it. If I'm pulling power from another junction box using 2 AWG with the copper ground, but the fixture only has connections for the hot and neutral, what do I do with the ground wire? My assumption is to connect to the metal junction box the fixture mounts to, but I hate to assume things. I much prefer to do it to code.

[@georgedavall9449]

BIG thumbs up! 👍👍👍 Some great safety and common sense advice here! I’m thinking ima send you a new pair of wire strippers?! @ 3:02 . 😬🙄😁😄👍🇺🇸 Stay safe and Healthy!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hahaha, no doubt. Might be time for a new pair for the holidays 🎄

[@georgedavall9449]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs Check out the Milwaukee in Home Depot gift center, for $19.99. It’s not bad, a bit bigger than a Klein, but looks solid!?

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Will do, thanks for the tip!

[@cricutcheerful]

The chain broke. Do I have to replace the entire lampholder?

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You could most likely just replace the switch but honestly for the cost and time involved just easier to change the whole lampholder.

[@allanjeong]

When the pull chain broke away from the fixture, I re-attached the pull chain to the fixture and saved the cost of having to buy a whole new pull chain socket. To do that, turn off the circuit breaker to the light, take the entire socket down and then pull out three small screws to pull out the switch. Then slide the end of chain in between the metal clips that secure the chain to the switch. Use pliers to carefully pinch the two metal clips together to keep the chain secured to the switch. Take pictures to make sure you know where all the screws, switch, bulb socket, and metal connectors are positioned so that you can put it all back into the porcelain fixture correctly. This process might also be used to fix a jammed pull chain.

[@A3Kr0n]

I believe those are against the local code where I live because it has an exposed bulb. At least that's what the electrician told my dad when he got a light in his closet a couple of years ago.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback, totally agree that you should always check local code but these are at least not against code in our area. 👍

[@harveylong5878]

even if not against code, still makes more sense to go with a covered fixture. Home Depot,lowes have an almost direct replacement style one with plastic lens

[@harveylong5878]

Those screw in type replacement type fixtures are meh at best. Work fine as long as the socket in the original porcelain fixture is good. We ditch the entire porcelain fixture, use lutron utility room fixtures

[@KameraShy]

You are CORRECT! Bare bulbs are NOT allowed in closets. That is a requirement of the National Electrical Code. Most jurisdictions adopt the NEC as a whole, then may specify exceptions. For example, in Illinois most jurisdictions adopt the code and then delete the section that allows non-metallic sheathed (Romex), so conduit is required. Regarding bare bulbs in closets: NEC 410.16(B) states: “Incandescent luminaires with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires or lampholders shall not be permitted.” Period. For existing open bulb lampholders like here, if one is truly not inclined to replace it, then it would at least be prudent to replace the glass bulb which is subject to breakage and injury with a plastic LED "bulb."

[@bibo3373]

Code says exposed incandescent bulbs are a no no in closets. LED’s are not incandescent.

[@georgequalls5043]

Yes, the porcelain will crack. 😖

[@daisyjung3599]

If I had seen this a week ago i could have saved 400. Dollars.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Daisy, an electrician charged you $400 just to install a lamp holder?

[@ANDRE-ys4yd]

I like the tutorial but i Don’t like the replacing bulb

[@RMalai]

I first thought the broken chain can be fixed. after watching your video I realized it was a waste of my time. for 8 dollars for a new holder I will not spend even 10 minutes trying to fix the broken one.

[@OCC_Plumbing_and_Restorations]

I'm getting rid of mine entirely