Turning a Pull Chain Light Fixture into a Switch

The best way to convert pull chain lights to wall switches

Co-authored by Daniel Stoescu

Last Updated: March 21, 2023

Pull chain lights may have been popular back in the day, but they’re totally old news today. Wall switches are simply more convenient, letting you flick on a light before you even step into a room. So, how do you make a light fixture with a pull chain work with a wall switch? Follow our step-by-step guide to find out.

1

Decide where you want to place your switch.

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Go around your house and measure the height of other switches. 60" or 1.5m from the floor is common.

2

Always turn off the power to the fixture.

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If there are other people in the home, always tell them that you have turned off the power, or leave a note on the breaker/fuse box so someone doesn't accidentally turn it.^{[1]
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Daniel Stoescu
Master Electrician

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3

Measure the distance from your fixture to the location of your new switch.

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Always add an extra 12" or 30 centimeter (11.8 in) to your measurement - it's always better to have too much electrical wire than not enough.

4

Check your fixture with a power tester.

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Remove the black (or "hot") wire only. Leave the white (or "neutral") and any ground (green or bare) wires on the fixture.^{[3]
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5

Remove the plastic sheathing.

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6

Connect the wires.

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Always use screw-on wire connectors..never use electrical tape. Ensure that the connection is tight.^{[4]
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7

Mark the electrical cables.

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Mark on the plastic sheathing with a permanent marker so that anyone will know this is now a "hot" wire.^{[5]
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8

Connect your re-coded "hot" wire to the fixture.

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9

Pull all the wires through the back of the electrical box.

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Connect the ground wire to the electrical box itself (there should be a screw at the back or side of the box).

10

Re-code the white wire.

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11

Screw the black wire to the top screw on your switch.

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12

Screw the second "hot" wire (white) to the bottom screw.

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Do not attach the cover until you check that everything functions correctly

13

Turn the power back on.

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14

Test that your new switch works.

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15

Leave the light on.

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You can still use the chain, however this defeats the purpose of having a wall switch.

16

Attach a switch plate cover.

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Community Q&A

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Question

How can I add a pull cord to overhead lighting?

Community Answer

You will have to replace the existing fixture with one that includes a pull cord.

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Question

I replaced an old outlet from 2 prong to a 3 prong. I replaced the wires exactly haw it was on the old outlet, but my tester reads "hot/neutral reversed." How do I fix this?

Daverwaterloo

Community Answer

The new outlet may be in a different configuration from the old one. New outlets have a left side that has a wider slot than the right side. The wider (left) slot is the neutral (white), while the narrower (right) side is the hot wire (black). Generally the hot side has a brass screw and the neutral side has a silver screw. You'll need to reverse the wires on the back of the outlet.

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Question

The overhead light in my dining room does not turn on after adding new light bulbs. How do I diagnose where the problem is?

Daverwaterloo

Community Answer

Will it turn on if you remove and/or replace the new bulbs? If so, you just have a defective bulb. If not, there may be a short somewhere in the circuit. To diagnose this, remove the light switch and ensure all the connections are tight and not touching other wires or the electrical box. If the switch is okay, check the light fixture that all the wiring is attached securely and not touching other wires.

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Tips

If you are adding a switch to a finished wall, see Fish Wires Through Walls for directions.

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To attach a wire to a screw, bend the bare wire to the left and slip it over the screw. When you tighten the screw, it will pull the wire down.

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An electrical tester is a good addition to any toolbox. They are inexpensive and can be bought at any home improvement/hardware store. Attach one probe to each wire...if the tester glows..the line is "hot", if not, the power has been turned off.

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Warnings

Ensure that it is legal in your country/state to do your own electrical work. If you are at all unsure, get a licensed electrician to do any electrical work in your home.

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Always do any electrical work carefully and neatly. Double check all connections are tight.

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