When you need to install some lighting in your closet, you can either choose to install battery operated lamps that can be moved around, or you can hard wire the closet light. Installing battery operated lamps may be more efficient because you are able to move the lights around to suit your needs, but they also require you to replace the batteries. A hard wired light, on the other hand, requires you to mount the light to your drywall, and run electrical wires which, if you are not experienced, could require you to call a contractor to have the project completed.
Step 1: Locate a stud in the wall, usually on the inside, above the closet door. You are going to have to mount the light bracket to this stud. When you are sure that you’ve located one, and have lined up the mounting box, you will need to mark the hole that you are going to cut.
Step 2: Cut away the outline using a drywall saw, making sure that you are not going to clip any wires that may already be in the wall. The template you outlined should pop out of the wall, leaving you a space to install the closet lighting bracket.
Step 3: Push the bracket into the hole you’ve created, and using a power drill with wood screws, fasten the bracket to the freshly exposed 2″x4″ stud. Make sure that the face of the bracket is flush with the outside edge of the drywall, to ensure that you do not have a gap between the wall and fixture.
Step 4: Now run your wire from the breaker panel, or junction box down into the closet opening. You may have to drill through the double plate for the wall in your attic, so be careful that you do not hit any wires. Push the wire out through the bracket.
Step 5: Attach the closet lights fixture to the wire, making sure that you properly fasten wire nuts to protect the connection. Once finished, install the fixture onto the bracket that you have created. If you are looking for a seamless installation, you can run a fine bead of caulk around the base of the fixture and drywall.
Step 6: If you are installing an automatic closet light, you will need to install the sensor. You want to make sure that the sensor is positioned so that the doors movement will cause the light to go on, or off, depending on the situation. When the sensor is installed backwards, you’ll be able to quickly tell what you’ve done wrong.
Thu, Aug 5, 2010
Indoor Lighting