Mounting an incandescent ceiling light fixture is a simple task once the electrical cable has been routed and the fixture box and switch have been installed. Be sure that the power to the circuit is turned off before working on it! (See Ceiling Light Fixture Mounting Methods before starting.)

1) Attach the mounting hardware. A surface-mounted incandescent light fixture attaches to a grounding bar that is first screwed to the nonmetallic housing box. You want to only loosely fasten the mounting bolts to the grounding bar until it’s time for the final tightening.

2) Make the connections. First, splice the black fixture wire to the circuit hot wire. See also How to Splice Electrical Wires. Next, connect the white fixture wire to the incoming neutral wire. Secure the grounding wire from the light fixture to the grounding screw on the grounding bar.

3) Secure the canopy. Carefully fold the wires, without pinching or crimping them, into the housing box, and then secure the canopy to the box. Most light fixtures have slots or holes for the mounting bolts to slip into. Once you have located these slots and slid the bolts through them, push the canopy into place and tighten the bolts.

4) The finishing touches. Screw in a lightbulb (or bulbs) into the socket(s), and then fit the globe into place, slipping the long center hickey through the hole in the globe and securing it snuggly with the threaded end piece. Switch the breaker back on to supply power to the light fixture, and then flip on the light switch.