How to Install an Antique Light Fixture | All About Lights | Ask This Old House

Scott Caron, master electrician for Ask This Old House, helps a homeowner install an antique light fixture in her historic St. Paul, MN, home.
#ThisOldHouse #AskTOH
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Shopping List for How to Install an Antique Light Fixture:
Antique light fixture
Electrical tape
Circular electrical box
Wire connectors
Retrofit ceiling fan support brace
Tools for How to Install an Antique Light Fixture:
Reciprocating saw
Wire cutters
Pliers
Screwdriver
Pencil
Steps for How to Install an Antique Light Fixture:
1. Turn off power to current light fixture.
2. Remove current fixture (if applicable) and cut wires with wire cutters.
3. Reinsulate cut wires with electrical tape by wrapping it around the wires.
4. Trace the outline for the new circular electrical box on the ceiling with a pencil.
5. Enlarge the hole as needed with a reciprocating saw.
6. Insert the retrofit ceiling fan support brace into the hole in the ceiling.
7. Place it horizontally and twist to expand the bar until it locks into the ceiling joists.
8. If working with armored cable, as in this video, place anti-short bushings over exposed wire and flush with metal BX sheathing.
9. Screw in clamps with a screwdriver to go over wires, bonding them to the metal electrical box.
10. Splice the old wires together and to the light fixture using pliers and wire connectors.
About This Old House TV:
This Old House is the No. 1 multimedia home enthusiast brand, offering trusted information and expert advice through award-winning television, a highly regarded magazine, and an information-driven website. This Old House and Ask This Old House are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC and are presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.
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How to Install an Antique Light Fixture | All About Lights | Ask This Old House
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[@Burps___]

I like this gentleman. He's a nice addition to the TOH team.

[@alex_byrnes]

I like the new electrical tape insulation - a nice touch

[@ThiasRussell]

Really nice old lamp. Thx for sharing. Regards.

[@michaels1813]

Switch is a nice touch!

[@krisone5253]

I like these guys. They love their work, and they like to get into these old houses and fix everything!!! ✝️

[@compactcow]

What does this video or comment have to do with Jesus Christ?

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

sure it's an old gas line, but throw a plug in there, or tape the opening or something.

[@DordiHOTS]

+kodiak wild there was probably a hole in the end of it so he knew it was the old line

[@lilblackandblue2728]

kodiak wild true but he does. wiring and more so he leave it to the plumier

[@ericwotton2046]

Yeah I've seen some of those old gas line still be charged with gas.

[@slimdevin99]

He should be a permanent member

[@angusmccloud1565]

Love this guy

[@dananeu8276]

Where do you purchase the great little bar the fits into the small opening and spins outward to stabilize the antique light?

[@matthewnowak3488]

Any home center, it’s a very common crossbar we use on all these old houses with cloth wiring, but he got lucky running armored cable that flexes, we mostly run into 1/2 black pipe used a conduit back then, at that point you would have to cut the ceiling, huge mess. Plus every job is different. That bar is an remodeling fan/light brace, it’s not a new construction fan/light brace.

[@jeremymurphy7320]

I don't normally comment on the homeowners but that is a very alluring lady, I gotta say.

[@robertnbryant1586]

My thoughts exactly 💯

[@trickster_qc]

Yikes that wallpaper 😂 Another job for all this old House!

[@jgroenveld1268]

Wow so lights and sockets can be on the same circuit?

[@Marcel_Germann]

In the most countries this is permitted I suppose, except for appliances which are requiring a dedicated circuit. And naturally you can create separate circuits for lighting and outlets. And that makes sense, if the circuit breaker, RCD/GFCI or AFCI is tripping at least you still got light which is a good thing, especially if it's dark and you're looking for a defect appliance which caused the power-outage. Here in Germany it's permitted to use the same circuit for outlets and lights, but it's not considered as state-of-the-art.

[@appleintosh]

Yes. Lights and outlets both draw the same power, and both use the same gauge of wires. It’s my understanding that countries where light and outlet circuits are separate do so because the light circuits draw less power and have lighter gauge wire.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

not typically the case in new construction, but back when this house was electrified yes.

[@youarehere1251]

This guy always got the hot paid actresses on the show.

[@susanknauss9655]

Not a paid actress, she owns that house! Follow their remodel on FB at Saving Old St Paul!! Amazing!!

[@dalesworld1308]

Ask TOH can do every project at her house and I'd be happy.

[@16BitDoggo]

Ok Soo how does the switch power feed in and out go on the same wire Edit: what did me from 1y ago mean?

[@Dredpath1]

Gonna plug the gas line? 3:11

[@AutoUnder]

What's the point? The old bit of pipe he took off wasn't plugged or going into anything either

[@stepanstas]

@@AutoUnder I think the old one was capped

[@pepsicolachao4537]

I think the gas has been cut off to this pipe

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Should invest in a non-conductive Werner fiberglass multi-ladder on sale for $199 at the Home Depot Let’s Do This!

[@jacob4639]

Weird comment

[@markowalski1]

@@jacob4639 Lmao it reads like a Home Depot ad

[@xgum]

4:19 !!?? look at that gaping hole where the base of the light fixture meets the ceiling!! what??

[@clydebalcom8252]

She's got good taste. As for the original fixture... Yikes!!!

[@JoeWagner21]

Pretty simple solution to that big chunk out of the ceiling. Just get a light with a wider base.

[@jej3451]

Or put a "ceiling medallion" on it.

[@byzidjhan]

Scott is very professional and knows his job. However, this lady is extremely and exquisitely gorgeous. 😜

[@kevinmurphy5506]

Miss scott's explaining how to do it right.

[@xgum]

okay. okay.

[@jeremiahsimpkins5943]

if I did this I would've of put a cap over the gas line

[@Engineer9736]

No need to. If anyone would get it in their mind to re-use the gas line, a pressure test is required to put it in service again. And you shouldn't want to re-use that 100 y/o pipe so it's good this way :-)

[@elmetro78]

Asbestos wires 😮😮😮😮

[@artnull13]

Looks like old asbestos insulation in the attic there 😬

[@Engineer9736]

Philips Hue is king. Get rid of all the switches, just automate it all. Any color and brightness you like.

[@NoName-ef3jq]

Bruh... I'd just grab those old wires and pull them out then install new ones... I would NOT trust those old wire at all.

[@MrKevanGordon]

I do enjoy watching these short videos. However, i cannot help but cringe each and every time i see conductors joined the American way. This whole twisting things together just doesn't cut it for me. Especially when the copper is badly corroded like those ones were. Mechanical joints for me, thanks!

[@raisinghopelove140]

Kevan Gordon Would you mind telling me what that mechanical joint entails. Sorry, I'm not familiar with that.

[@randomisoty422]

I believe he speaks of something like the Wago connector

[@Altenarian]

So essentially in Europe, they hook wires together in a similar way a plug goes into a socket?

[@MrKevanGordon]

I mean connectors that apply mechanical force to hold the conductors together. Block connector being the most common way. I am not sure what you would call this type of connector. It is also the case that no metal parts are exposed that are considered to be 'live' under normal operating conditions. So, for example, if you remove a socket, switch or any other outlet, there is nothing that you can accidentally touch that would result in shock. The switches i have seen installed on ToH videos seem to show an exposed screw terminal on either side that the conductor gets wrapped around and clamped down on when the screw is tightened. This is an example of what i mean by mechanical connection (rather than just conductors being twisted together. However, in the US, it appears that it is OK for those clamping screws to remain accessible. I am not keen on that!

[@MrKevanGordon]

We call them block connectors. A brass, hollow cylinder with a flat edge on one side. The flat edge has a threaded screw on each end that bears down on the inside, opposite side of the cylinder when tightened. Conductors are put into one, or both, ends of the cylinder and are clamped in place by the screw.

[@noahholt482]

Mount it and screw it

[@Esiggies]

Sorry that BIG HOLE in your ceiling would only cost about 20.00 to fix but if you look at my other video's I have no idea how to repair it and me being a MASTER ELECTRICIAN (???? ??? ????) I ran out of basic equipment that a real electrician carry's so sorry for the mediocre job i done, but i done it to the best of my ability. THIS OLD HOME Should use this guys video's on how a backyarder makes mistakes and leaves common issues unaddressed. But not to show how a professional job is accomplished.

[@MichaelDawson03]

+Peter Linch I saw that too, but for the purpose of the segment, they are showing how to add the light fixture, not repair the plaster in the ceiling. We are not sure how they left the project when everything was wrapped up. When you are shooting a 23 minute episode things have to get cut out. Possibly they could mention in the segment that there is additional work ... plaster, painting, ceiling medallion, etc. ... that needs to be finished. I would love to see @ThisOldHouse respond and let us know if they left the project and the site with the plaster work unfinished.

[@Esiggies]

+Michael Dawson True would be good to see a finish product and yes I do understand the film industry some shoots can last all day and get 30 seconds. Watching this guy's video's their always seems to be large holes and things not done to a high standard that i am use to out of This Old House.

[@magdygliny3221]

+Michael Dawson I

[@ericwotton2046]

That ceiling had been beat up many times over the years. It's hard to cut horse hair plaster without it slipping off the wood slats. It tends to crumble once touched.

[@matblack9288]

I personally hate the colonial and Victorian homes. I just thought this was cool.

[@ps4drama380]

what an ugly room