How to remove a ceiling hook for a chandelier. How to hang a chandelier from the ceiling: different ways of fastening for different occasions. Removing the chandelier fixture
Having purchased a chandelier, many apartment owners, especially in old buildings, are faced with such a difficulty as a hook sticking out from under the ceiling, on which an old lamp was hung. And the new one involves fixing to the ceiling on a metal bracket.
Many immediately take such chandeliers back to the stores. But hopeless situations, as they say, do not happen. Luminaires that require suspension to the ceiling itself, as a rule, come with a special metal bracket. But it is the hook that prevents normal hanging. What to do with it and how to hang such a chandelier?
The easiest way is to cut this metal hook "at the root" - i.e. under the base. But many experts strongly do not recommend doing this. After all, it is possible that the next chandelier will be attached ( hang up) only on the hook. Therefore, it is important to leave this possibility here. True, later the hook itself can be mounted in the ceiling. But this is a rather tedious task. In this case, it is advisable to carefully bend the hook, and it will be possible to cover it with the help of a decorative baguette with a recessed niche.
Before you hang a new chandelier, you must understand that its decorative element - the bowl, must fit snugly against the ceiling. Do not leave gaps or other backlashes.
First you need to make markings on the ceiling, designate those places where the bar will be attached through the holes, on which the decorative element of the chandelier will be wound.
The bar must be attached to the ceiling in such a way that no obstacles are created for the subsequent connection of electrical wiring.
After marking is done, holes must be drilled in the ceiling in order to drive dowels into them. It is advisable to make holes using an impact drill, not a hammer drill. Many fear that plaster, or even entire layers, will crumble from the ceiling. It must be admitted that this happens, and happens often enough. Therefore, drilling holes is important very carefully. If the plaster crumbles at the place of hanging the chandelier, or in closely adjacent places, then this defect can be eliminated with the help of additional decorative accessories, the same baguette.
After the holes are made, it is necessary to deepen the dowels in them, and then attach the metal bar with screws. They must be complete with a chandelier.
After that, it is necessary to attach a decorative bowl to the screwed bar along with a chandelier. The bowl should be put on the screws that are fixed in the bar itself. Next, the screws must be tightened with nuts so that the chandelier is "tightly" suspended from the ceiling.
At the same time, do not forget that you need to connect the wiring to the chandelier. Many owners-repairers forget to do this, and the chandelier has to be removed. Therefore, it is important to initially make sure that everything is working properly before the turnkey chandelier is under the ceiling.
The question "How to hang a chandelier?" can be divided into two parts: connecting the chandelier to the mains and directly mounting the chandelier on the ceiling. Connecting a chandelier requires knowledge of the basics of electrics, but figuring it out is not very difficult.
To install a chandelier with your own hands, you will need the following tools:
- ladder or table;
- electric drill (perforator);
- pliers with insulated handles;
- screwdriver-indicator;
- wire cutters;
- Phillips screwdriver and with a thin sting;
- insulating tape;
- mounting block for clamping wires.
Modern chandeliers have two types of fixtures. The first is a loop that clings to a hook in the ceiling. The place of suspension in this case is closed with a decorative overlay - a cup.
The second option is mounting plate, which is fixed on the ceiling and to which the chandelier is then attached. Here, the decorative overlay is also an element of fastening.
We hang on a hook
A hanging hook is the easiest option for attaching a chandelier. First make a hole in the ceiling next to the wires coming out of it, with a diameter of at least 8 mm. To do this, use an impact drill or hammer drill.
The hook is recommended to be installed using anchor systems. There are different types of anchors.
If the chandelier is small, weighing 1-1.5 kg, you can use a regular hook with a screw thread, which is screwed into a plastic plug - dowel. For more heavy chandeliers expansion metal anchors are required, from 50 mm long and with a cross section of 10 mm.
When using plastic dowels, it is better to take corrugated ones, from 40 mm long. Smooth dowels do not hold well in the slab. After fixing the dowel, a hook is screwed into it, or an expansion anchor is installed. The hook should be insulated with two layers of electrical tape.
Next, the wires of the chandelier must be connected to the wires coming from the switch using a special block with clamping bolts - the terminal block. To tighten the bolts, you will need a slotted screwdriver with a narrow sting. This block is included with the chandelier. If it is not there, the wires are connected on twists and wrapped with insulating tape.
Then you need to move the decorative cup close to the ceiling, moving it along the tubular base of the chandelier, and fix it. A decorative overlay will hide the wiring leads and wire connections. The disadvantage of this type of fastening is that sometimes the height of the decorative cup is not enough, and an ugly gap remains between it and the ceiling. Before fixing the decorative cup, you need to check the quality of the chandelier connection.
In no case should you fix the hook on drywall sheets, as it may not support the weight of the chandelier. When installing a plasterboard ceiling or stretch ceiling you need to leave a hole in it for the output of the hook along with the wires.
If a chandelier without a hook
The process of attaching a chandelier with a metal bar is somewhat more complicated. In this case, the metal bar takes on the entire load. If a hook from an old chandelier remains in the ceiling, it should be removed.
The bar is applied to the ceiling in the right place and the points for drilling holes for the dowels are marked with a pencil. Then holes are drilled in the ceiling and dowels are fixed in them. Further, fixing bolts are inserted into the bar at a distance equal to the distance between the holes for fastening on the decorative box of the chandelier, and fixed with nuts. After that, the bar is placed on the ceiling and fastened with self-tapping screws.
The next stage of work is best done together, because it will not work alone. It is necessary to attach the decorative box to the bar so that the mounting bolts fall into the holes on the box, and before that, connect the wires of the chandelier and the switch.
One person should hold the chandelier and the other should connect the wires, since it is impossible to do this with one hand. After the connection of the chandelier is completed, and the bolts of the bar coincide with the holes of the box, it is pressed against the ceiling and fixed with decorative nuts. All connecting wiring is hidden under a decorative box.
When installing stretch ceilings, you need to prepare in advance the basis for fixing the mounting plate at the ceiling level. It might be simple wooden block required height. The bar is attached to the bar with ordinary self-tapping screws.
How to hang a chandelier on drywall: if the ceiling is made of plasterboard, metal dowels are used as fasteners for the plank, which can withstand a load of up to 15 kg, or butterfly-shaped dowels.
Wiring diagram
First of all, you need to turn off the electricity using the circuit breaker located in the electrical panel on landing. The absence of voltage is checked with an indicator screwdriver.
There should be three wires on the ceiling: one is “zero”, the other two are “phase”. The insulation is removed from the wires, the length of the bare tip should be approximately 3-4 cm. Separate the wires in different directions to avoid a short circuit.
Then you need to turn on the electricity again to determine which of the phase wires. To do this, touch each of the wires with an indicator screwdriver. If the wire is “phase”, then the indicator will light up, if the indicator is off, then it is “zero”. "Zero" is desirable to mark with electrical tape. If there is a voltmeter available, then it is better to use it, because working under voltage is still dangerous.
In modern houses, the wires are color-coded: the blue wire is “zero”, the brown one is “phase”, maybe even yellow is grounding. The chandelier should be accompanied by instructions with recommendations for its installation. If it indicates that the design of the lamp involves grounding, this must be taken into account.
Phase wires are output to the switch, "zero" goes to the mounting box.
If the switch is single-key, you first need to connect the wires in the chandelier itself. Blue from each light bulb is connected to other blue ones, brown to brown. The "zero" wire from the ceiling is connected to the "zero" wire from the chandelier. Phase wires from the ceiling and chandeliers are also connected to each other.
If there is no color marking, then you can randomly connect one wire from each bulb and similarly connect the remaining wires together. Lead one connection to the "neutral" wire on the ceiling, the other to the phase.
You should know that you can not twist copper and aluminum wires. The electron pair of these two metals causes the destruction of the contact. To connect such wires, a special block is used.
Connecting a chandelier to a double switch
With a two-key switch, you need to make sure that when one key is turned on, only part of the lamps light up, when the second key is turned on, the rest, and when both keys are turned on, all the lamps together.
If there are only two ceiling lamps, the connection of the chandelier to 3 wires is carried out in the same way: “zero” is connected to “zero”, both phases are connected to each other.
The phases of the wires of the chandelier, if they do not have markings, are determined as follows: the wires are plugged into the socket in pairs, while the third wire does not need to be touched. It is necessary to find such a position of the wires when one of them is constantly in the socket, and when one or the other of the two remaining ones is connected, then one or the other lamp lights up. Then the wire that is always in the outlet will be “zero”, the other two will be phase.
If there are several light bulbs, you need to divide them into two groups: which ones will turn on from the first switch key and which ones from the second. Then take one identical wire from each bulb (phase or "zero") and connect them together.
Divide the remaining wires into two parts depending on the designated groups and also connect them together - you get two twists. The twist containing the wiring from all the light bulbs is connected to the "zero" wire. Two other twists are separately connected to two phase wires.
For reliable connection of wires from the chandelier and wires coming out of the ceiling, it is better to use terminal blocks not on screws, but on clamps. They are suitable for both aluminum wires and copper wires.
To illuminate a hall or living room, such a lighting fixture like a chandelier. It has the ability to switch lighting from an economical mode, when one group of lamps is working, to a full-fledged glow, when all the lamps are on. This lighting device needs constant maintenance: it is necessary to sweep away dust, wash the shades, replace the internal wiring (for this, it is dismantled and temporary lighting is made instead). Often the chandelier is removed when the room is being renovated or the interior of the room is changing. Consider the issue of self-dismantling this lighting device.
Basics of self-dismantling
Most often, the need to remove the chandelier from the ceiling arises when repairs or general cleaning have begun in a house or apartment, many change this lighting fixture due to a change in interior. It can be removed in two ways: invite a familiar electrician or remove it yourself.
For independent dismantling of electrical lighting devices, you need to know the procedure and follow their safe execution, taking into account the established rules and requirements for work related to electricity.
Consider how you can dismantle the lighting device (chandelier) yourself from different ceiling coverings. Always in the first place, a complete or partial de-energization of the room is performed. Basics of work performance:
- We remove the voltage from the lighting device, this is achieved by turning off the machine in the panel, when the power supply in the apartment is divided into groups: lighting and sockets for different machines, depending on the rooms and possible loads. Only removing the voltage in the shield can protect you from accidental exposure to electrical voltage.
- It is necessary to prepare the necessary tools and devices: an indicator screwdriver that shows the phase, a stepladder or other device with which you can get to ceiling lamp, insulating material.
Dismantling the elements that make up the chandelier
All work begins with checking the absence of voltage on the chandelier, this can be done by turning on and off the switch responsible for supplying voltage to the lighting fixture. When starting to dismantle the lamp, you need to understand how to remove the chandelier, it all starts with its “disarmament”, in other words, with the removal of all attachments from the lighting device that effectively and spectacularly reflect the light in this source. These elements include different shapes ceiling lamps or glass "pendants".
Then we unscrew all the bulbs from the lamp sockets. We examine the place that closes the connection of wires from the chandelier and the switch. Connection diagram in the photo, usually the connections are closed with a decorative cap.
Removing the chandelier fixture
Considering the issue of dismantling the lighting device, it is necessary to dwell on its fastening. When the decorative cap falls down, you can see it. On the ceiling plate, the lighting fixture can be attached with a hook or strap. If the mount is in the form of a bar or a cross, then additional tools will be needed to remove the lighting device from the mount, these are wrenches for nuts of the right size.
We remove the insulating material from the wires, before that we make sure that there is no voltage - the switch in the room and the machine in the shield must be in the “off” position, we check again with a connection probe for the presence of a phase or its absence, only after that we break the wires, unwind them. When the chandelier is removed from the ceiling, it is necessary to mark the wires, for this we separate them to the sides so that they do not touch each other, and briefly supply power, remember which wires are phase (this is determined by the “probe” by turning on the switch for one and all groups of lamps), the remaining wire is zero. These steps are necessary for the subsequent installation of the lighting device.
How to dismantle a chandelier from a stretch ceiling?
The difference in the process of replacing overhead lighting in a room with a simple concrete slab and a false ceiling is in its design, this creates additional difficulties. How to change a chandelier on a stretch ceiling, a fairly strong coating that can save the owners from flooding, but at the same time sensitive to sharp objects? You need to do the following:
- remove the electrical voltage from the lighting device by de-energizing the group from the automatic power supply, which is located in the switchboard;
- using a stepladder, remove the protective decorative cap covering the mount from the chandelier, then stretch your hand into the hole formed and feel the fastening device: if it is a hook, then the lighting device can be easily removed from it, along with the wires. Then unwind the wires between the lighting fixture and the apartment wire;
- dismantling the lighting device from the stretch ceiling, experts recommend starting with the removal of all decorative ornaments chandeliers, then the cap must be lowered down (it closes the hole with the mount), we release the chandelier together with the wires from the ceiling mount of the cross, carefully pull the entire structure into the hole;
- work near the tension web must be done carefully so as not to damage it. When the lighting device is removed, it is necessary to disconnect the wires and insulate the bare wire.
Not all owners cozy apartments understand how to change a light bulb with their own hands spotlight on a stretch ceiling, and specialists are called for these actions. Actually, it's not such a complicated process. All you need is a ladder, for safety reasons you need to de-energize the lamp, put the switch in the “off” position. The process of replacing an incandescent lamp is simple: you need to unscrew the burned-out light source and screw in a new one of the same rating. If the lamp is halogen, you need to do the following: remove the decorative trim and the fixing ring, remove the old lamp, put in a new one, everything is assembled in the reverse order.
How to choose the right chandelier for a stretch ceiling?
In suspended stretch ceilings important element is a lighting device, it must be chosen correctly, you can replace the chandelier, observing the following criteria: the bowl of the lighting device must be selected without sharp protrusions, it is better to choose a non-metal chandelier base, the lampshades of the device should look down or to the side. When incandescent lamps are used in a lighting device on a ceiling with a stretched canvas, then the device must have a suspension of at least 20 centimeters from the canvas, this protects the coating from heating.
One of the good reasons for switching to LED light sources, which are installed in apartments with stretch ceilings, is that beautiful chandeliers do not meet the requirements of suspension, but LED lamp does not give a lot of heat, there is no risk of damage to the canvas.
Conclusion
Do-it-yourself dismantling of the lighting device from the ceiling requires compliance with the rules of electrical safety and safety precautions for working at height. Work on a ladder refers to work at height, it is desirable to perform it on a stable basis, if this is not possible, a partner is needed to carry out the work. You should always use a proven electric tool, do not leave the wires on the ceiling remaining after dismantling the chandelier without insulation. Often, for the period of repair, a light bulb with a cartridge is hung on them as a temporary lamp.
As a rule, the need to remove a chandelier arises when it is obsolete or out of order. Accordingly, it must be replaced. If you do not have special skills when working with electrical appliances, it is better to call in specialists trained to perform tasks such as installing, removing and disassembling lighting fixtures. Because if there are stretch ceilings made of fabric or PVC film, you can simply accidentally damage them, especially if the cutout for mounting the lamp is small. But when you are not satisfied with the price offered by a specialist for their services, or there is a desire to independently dismantle or replace the lamp, then below are some tips on how to do it correctly.
The basics of self-dismantling a chandelier
For different types chandeliers and lamps have their own nuances, how to remove the lighting fixture. But the main principle is the complete shutdown of electrical energy in order to protect yourself and prevent erroneous current supply. Experienced electricians make a break electrical network only on the switch, by turning it off. But in order to be completely confident in the absence of electricity, it is better to de-energize the entire house or apartment by turning off the switching devices in the input shield. Because during the installation of electrical wiring, less experienced workers could make a break in the switch on the neutral wire, and not, as expected, on the phase wire.
It's important to know! An integral part when performing work, such as dismantling or replacing chandeliers and lamps, are devices for checking the absence of voltage in the network:
- indicator screwdriver.
- Voltage indicator.
- Electrical tester (in the absence of the first two options).
You also need to understand that if you need to remove the shades in order to wash or change the light bulb, then you do not need to dismantle the chandelier itself. It will be enough to bring the switch to the off position, unscrew the broken light bulb and screw in a new one or remove the cover itself directly. If the luminaire has a hanging or ceiling mount, then on some it is worth unscrewing the bolts holding it (plafond), on others you only need to turn them counterclockwise, and on others you just need to pull the plafond towards you so that the bursting latches are bent. By the way, an LED lamp built into a stretch ceiling can be held on the same spacers.
In the case when repairs are being made and the chandelier needs to be removed, but lighting will be needed, they hang a cartridge on the hook, where the light bulb will simply be screwed in afterwards. To do this, remove all elements of the lamp from the ceiling in order to freely connect the wires to the contact terminals of the cartridge.
Should be remembered! On the base of the cartridge, you need to connect not a phase wire, but a zero one.
Stages of work
In order to safely replace the old lamp or remove it for the period of repair work, you need to follow a certain order, or rather, go through several stages of dismantling:
- Remove stress from a lamp or chandelier. Of course, you can only turn off the switch (provided that the phase wire on it is broken), but it is better to turn off the machines or unscrew the plugs in the electrical panel near the meter.
- Place a stepladder so that you can freely reach the ceiling. If there is no ladder, use a table, but only so that it stands confidently and does not stagger.
Ladder important assistant in the process
- Prepare electrical tape, a device for checking the absence of voltage. If necessary, pliers.
- It is advisable to remove as much as possible all glass elements (decorative ornaments, shades, etc.) so as not to break.
- Remove the chandelier from the hook or mounting plate. Before that, making sure that there is no voltage by checking with an indicator screwdriver or a voltage indicator. Disconnect wires.
- Insulate wires to avoid electric shock or short circuit.
Elements that make up the chandelier
All chandeliers have some differences in their design, depending on the manufacturer (Chinese, Russian, German) and size, but in general the scheme is the same:
- Mounting plate or ring.
- The frame is metal, plastic (directly the chandelier itself).
- Cartridge for screwing in a light bulb (the number can be from one to dozens, depending on design features lamp).
- Plafond.
- Wires for connecting to electrical wiring.
Wires should be disconnected carefully
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in the repair, maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask an expertAlmost all modern chandeliers are endowed with elements of decorative ornaments - glass, plastic, metal and others.
Removing the chandelier fixture
For high-quality repair of the ceiling, the entire surface is cleaned from the fasteners of the chandelier. If it is a hook concreted into a floor slab, then it must be cut off with a grinder or drilled with a drill. If the hook was screwed into the mounting spacers, then you just need to unscrew it. In the case when the mount is in the form of a bar, you will have to unscrew a few bolts and self-tapping screws. If the chandelier is a plate type, then it is attached to the bolts, which are hidden to the ceiling as much as possible. We need to find them and unlock them. The main thing is not to damage the insulation of the apartment wiring, unless, of course, it is planned to lay a new one.
There are also nuances, in case of replacing or removing the chandelier from the tension or false ceiling. Butterfly fasteners can be used, as a rule, they are disposable, so they can be carefully removed with pliers. If it is possible to resort to the help of another person, then it is better to do this so that the partner holds the lamp at the right time or submits the necessary detail.
- It is important to remember that before starting the dismantling process, it is necessary to de-energize the network by turning off the switching devices in the switchboard.
- When dismantling a chandelier from a suspended or stretch ceiling, it is necessary to do this very carefully so as not to damage the ceiling coating. Because rebuilding is not cheap. Choosing ceiling chandeliers with a fan
Everyone can skillfully and correctly hang a chandelier on their own, without being an electrician and without calling specialists. Of course, installing a chandelier under the ceiling is quite a serious task, but at the same time it does not need high level special training.
There are several different ways to mount a decorative lighting fixture - a chandelier - under the ceiling. Determines tactics, first of all, the total weight of the product. It is logical that a heavier chandelier requires a thorough, thoughtful fastening.
Consider the most effective, commonly used methods.
Chandelier mounting methods
Fixing a chandelier using a hook
A metal hook is the most simplified and reliable option. There are two ways to use various types hooks:
1. When the mass of the chandelier is less than 3.5-4.0 kg, you can safely use a threaded hook. The installation technology is simple - having drilled the desired (in diameter and depth) hole in the ceiling material, it is necessary to place a plastic dowel in the channel. Then it remains to carefully screw the hook to the maximum possible depth.
Attention! The hook holding the chandelier can only be attached to concrete or massive wooden base(beams, logs, beams, etc.). It is unacceptable to mount the main element in drywall, plastic panels or decorative overlays!
2. If the light fixture is heavier than 4.0kg, then the technology will be different. In this case, you need to use special anchor bolts(d>=10.0 mm2) with spacer hook. After drilling the desired channel, it is necessary to put an anchor in it and tighten it to the limit. Now, the lamp will be securely located under the ceiling.
Read also: Sealing seams in panel and wooden houses: types and features
To mask the mounting system, a decorative cup-shaped element (included in the chandelier kit) is used. This part freely moves along the main rod and can be fixed in its upper part. Therefore, if desired, it is quite easy to adjust the height of the chandelier.
Fixing the chandelier with a bracket or strip
The second method of fastening, which involves the use of a bar or bracket, is more complex, but available for independent execution.
In the chandelier set, if the product is of high quality, a metal bar (or bracket) intended for suspension is necessarily included. There are two screws in this element, which must be fixed with the corresponding nuts. Now, the created complex is fixed to the ceiling, in which channels are pre-drilled and PVC dowels are installed.
The chandelier is brought to the ceiling and, by inserting bolts into special holes, is fixed under the ceiling.
Advice! If the ceiling is wooden, then the bracket is fixed with wood screws of the desired length. And when the ceiling is a plasterboard construction, you need to fix the chandelier with metal screws to the supporting profile bar!
Simplified mounting option
When the purchased chandelier is small and light, you can do without auxiliary fixing mechanisms and mount the lighting fixture directly to the ceiling surface. At the base of such chandeliers there is a small metal plate with several holes for installation.
The installation technology is extremely simple. The locations of the screws are marked and channels are drilled at these points. They are placed in the holes of the PVC dowel and the lamp is fixed with at least 2 screws.
The process of placing and fixing a chandelier on the ceiling is full of various nuances, among which the most significant are:
Read also: Insulation of the facade of the house from the outside: types of insulation and installation features
1. Massive, elongated chandeliers are suitable for placement only on high ceilings, otherwise, in addition to aesthetic disharmony, there will be a danger of electric shock.
2. It is better to equip low ceilings with flat or small lamps that are close to the surface. Otherwise, distinguished guests will be in uncomfortable conditions. Also a large chandelier model in small room will cause constant psychological discomfort due to low overhang.
The method of connecting the chandelier to the network
The installation issues have been considered and now you can proceed to the most difficult stage - the creation electrical system with switches. Usually the chandelier kit is delivered ready-made, but sometimes you have to make an independent correction or completely redo the local wiring.
Consider the likely situations with switches:
Single key switches
There are no special incomprehensible moments here. From each plafond there is a pair of wires of the same color or different (this is not critical). One cord from all the shades must be brought into a single contact, and the others into a second combined twist. Now we bring one connection to the phase wire, and the second to the zero one, which together go from the switch.
Two-gang switch
In fact, such a relay is a combination of two single-key devices, which has three outputs (common and two separate).
First, let's deal with the wires, of which we will have 4: two two-wire wires from the ceiling lights, a three-wire wire from the switch and a double wire from the electrical panel.
The principle of connection is as follows:
- are combined into one twist, one conductor from each ceiling and neutral wire from the electrical panel;
- the phase conductor from the shield is connected to the common contact of the two-gang switch;
- the remaining wire from each ceiling is connected to the output of one of the keys;