| By :
Mark Etinger
If you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your home decor, think about getting a crystal chandelier. They're chic, classy and a great way to brighten up a room — literally! Crystal chandeliers are also fairly easy to install, so long as you know what you're doing. Take a look at the instructional guide below, and you'll have a crystal chandelier hanging in no time. First, gather all the tools you will or might need: -Wire nuts/connectors
-Collar nuts
-Escutcheon plate
-Threaded nipple
-Mounting strap
-Stud
-Hickey
-Utility knife
-Circuit tester
-Two pliers (to twist chain apart)
-Long-nose pliers
-Insulated screwdrivers
-Multipurpose tool Now that you have your tools, turn off the power to the circuit you'll be working on. You won't get anywhere if you're electrocuted before even starting. Obviously this is a project best done during the day, as you'll have lots of natural light, but it's wise to have a flashlight handy, or even a strap-on head light. If there are lights on other circuits in the room you might be able to work at night. Once you're sure there's no power running to your circuit (use a circuit tester), take down the old fixture. If it's a large fixture, enlist a helper to support its weight while you disconnect the wires. As you're removing the fixture, take note of how it was connected so you can connect the new one in the same fashion. Next, replace the junction box (the box surrounding the circuit connections). This step might be optional — if the current one is strong enough to support the next crystal chandelier, it need not be taken down. Once whichever junction box you use is in place, thread the hardware onto the mounting strap. There should already be a mounting strap, but if there isn't, use the one that came with the chandelier kit or get one at a hardware store. Now it's time to start wiring. Hopefully, you paid attention to the way the previous fixture was wired. This part can be as simple as matching colored wires, but it might be trickier, in which case you'll want to do anything you can to make it easier. Loop the wires through the chain's last link, then through the support and collar nuts, escutcheon plate, up through the lamp nipple and into the junction box. Connect the wires to the home wiring with wire nuts and splice the black hot wire from the junction box with your wire nuts. Then splice the white neutral wires. Connect the ground wires to the grounding screw in the junction box, and use the chandelier's instruction manual to finish the installation. Look at that! You are now the proud owner — and installer — of a crystal chandelier. Savor the moment! Take photos of your good work and post them all over Facebook! Pretty soon your friends will be asking when you can come over and install chandeliers for them.
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