Finishing 

How to hang a chandelier in a new building. How to connect a chandelier with your own hands: the rules and procedure for connecting a chandelier to a switch. How to locate wiring in the ceiling

The owners, wishing to equip the house with a new, more attractive source of light, enthusiastically choose chandeliers, sconces and lamps. If everything is simple with lamps and sconces, plugged into an outlet and works, then questions may arise with a chandelier. However, after the purchase is made, the following mandatory steps will be:

  • assembling the chandelier, how long this stage will last depends on the complexity of the chandelier design,
  • ceiling chandelier installation.

You can assemble a chandelier for relatively a short time, if you follow the instructions in the attached file and apply elementary tools. But how to connect the chandelier correctly, is that a question?

Connecting a ceiling chandelier is not difficult, but in order to do it correctly, you must have knowledge in the field of electrics. Most people do not know how to do this, since the laws of physics have been studied by them for a long time. It turns out that you will have to seek help from a person who knows how to connect a chandelier or a professional. Or get acquainted with the safety rules for installing a chandelier.

  1. First of all, getting started, you must turn off the power to the room in which the chandelier will be installed. (In other words, turn off the power that comes to the wires sticking out of the ceiling, for this it is not enough to turn the switch to the off position, experts recommend turning off the machines located on the shield).
  2. Prepare the wires for testing, for this they must be opened. This is done in order to prevent their contact. The wires must be signed in accordance with the accepted marking, the letter N indicates the neutral wire, and the Latin phase is L. Using an indicator screwdriver, touching the bare areas in turn, you can determine which of the wires is which type of power is supplied. When the LED lights up upon contact with the wire, this is a phase and should be noted, since voltage passes through it.
  3. After the wires have been sorted out, the power supply is turned off again and only after that proceed to installation work. For connecting wires, it is better to use terminal clamps,

they are much more efficient than traditional twisting, although it is perfectly acceptable to use it. Only in this case, be sure to protect the twisting point with protective caps.

It is not worth protecting the twist with insulating tape or PVC tape, it will dry out over time, which significantly reduces its characteristics.

There are several options for connecting a chandelier, on which it depends how exactly the chandelier will be connected.

  • From the number of wires that come out of the chandelier;
  • From the number of wires that stick out of the chandelier;
  • From the number of keys on the switch.

This article describes in detail the various schemes for connecting a chandelier, which will tell you how to connect a chandelier of your chosen design.

Option number 1 Two wires on the ceiling and two wires on the chandelier.

The easiest way to install a chandelier. It requires almost no effort. For this case, it is enough to connect two wires from the chandelier to the wires on the ceiling. Before making a connection, it is imperative to determine where the phase is and where is zero. In this case, the installation of the chandelier does not matter in what sequence the wires are connected.

a) A diagram of how to connect a chandelier with one bulb to a single-gang switch.

The diagram shows exactly how the chandelier is connected. The wire carrying a zero charge, indicated by blue, which comes from the switchboard must be connected to the neutral wire lighting device. The brown wire is a phase, it must be connected not only to the chandelier, but also to the switch.

b) A diagram of how to connect a chandelier with two or three bulbs to a single-gang switch.

Before connecting a chandelier, which has two or three light bulbs, to a switch with one key, you should connect all the zero wires coming from it, and after that with the one coming from the junction box. In a similar way, the wires with the phase should be combined with each other, and only after that with the one that comes from the switch.

Option number 2 Two wires on the chandelier and three wires on the ceiling.

In modern buildings, wiring is laid from a three-core cable, in which the wires are painted in different colors. Thus, the following picture is obtained, three wires fit to the place where the chandelier is attached. How to connect a chandelier in this case, because there are only two of them in it? First of all, using the indicator, you need to determine where which wire is on the ceiling. Usually two of them are a phase, and the third is a neutral conductor. The presence of two phase wires indicates that this chandelier can be connected to a two-gang switch. But since in this case a chandelier with two wires is considered, it is quite acceptable to use a single-gang switch. In this case, it is necessary to proceed as follows, de-energize the site and isolate one of the phase wires. And after that, the chandelier is mounted on the ceiling according to the previously described method.

Option number 3 Three or more wires on the chandelier and two wires on the ceiling

In the case when only two wires come out of the ceiling, there is only one option for mounting the chandelier, and it does not depend on how many wires stick out of it, all the bulbs on it will burn at the same time. The connection sequence is very simple, combine all the neutral wires together and then connect them to the wire of the same name on the ceiling. The same actions are done with phase wires.

Option number 4 Three or more wires on the chandelier and three wires on the ceiling.

For this connection method, it is supposed to use a switch with two keys. It is this approach that provides rational lighting in the working area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room, and combine the sequence and number of lamps on. In this case, the wires coming out of the ceiling are usually labeled as follows:

Phase wire L1

Phase wire L2

Neutral wire N

Since the color scheme of the connection is not always observed when laying electrical wiring, and also, depending on the type of cable used for wiring, it is imperative to check the purpose of each wire using an indicator screwdriver. If there is no indicator, then you can disassemble the switch and inspect the connection sequence. And determine what color wires go from the switch to the ceiling, which phase wires will go to the switch, and zero from the shield goes directly to the chandelier.

It should not be forgotten that all work with electrical wiring is carried out only with the power turned off. Connecting this type of chandelier to a two-key switch differs only in that it is necessary to first divide all the wires that come from the lamps into two groups. It is this connection method that allows you to turn on one group of lamps when you press one switch key, and when you press another, connect the rest.

Connection in this form makes it possible to connect to one key the inclusion of both one and several lamps.

This example demonstrates the connection of two lamps to one switch key, and three steel ones will be turned on with the help of the other.

And this example demonstrates the connection of three lamps for each switch key.

It is quite possible to connect a chandelier of 6 horns in such a way that one key turns on 5 lamps at once, and the second - one. If the chandelier you purchased has a larger number of horns, the connection is carried out according to the principle already described, it is enough to distribute the lamps into groups and connect them to a specific switch key.

Option number 5 Three or more wires on the chandelier and four on the ceiling.

If the electrical wiring was laid relatively recently, then it is quite possible that in this case a ground wire is provided. It performs a protective function. This wire is usually yellow-brown in color, it is customary to mark it as PE - which means grounding conductor. The remaining wires are the phases L1 and L2, and the wire carrying zero charge. If a ground wire is provided in the design of the chandelier, it must be connected to the wire of the same name that comes out of the ceiling. If there is no ground wire, then the one that comes out of the ceiling must simply be insulated.

How to connect several chandeliers to one switch?

This question arises when there are several sources of artificial lighting in the room. For example, this large halls where several chandeliers are located or a living room in which several groups of halogen or LED lamps are connected. Sometimes it also becomes necessary to connect chandeliers that illuminate different rooms on one switch.

There is a specific scheme for this type of connection. All chandeliers must be connected in parallel. That is, each of the chandeliers can be connected through separately located junction boxes, or in one it depends on the wiring distribution scheme in the room. This is the most common way to connect kitchen, toilet and bathroom lighting to a single switch. This is very convenient, as it allows you to turn on the lighting in the right room from the corridor.

How to connect a chandelier to two different switches?

In order to perform this type of connection, you will have to purchase special pass-through switches. They differ from conventional switches in their design features and the presence of wiring diagrams of three contacts. If you connect the contacts, as indicated in the diagram, this will allow you to control the lighting according to two switches at once.

The figure shows that there are three contacts in the pass-through switch:

  1. common, which gives an output for connecting to a chandelier or to a wire with a phase
  2. the other two switches of this type are interconnected with their help.

Due to the design features, such a connection must be thought out in advance, or you will have to lay an additional wire and make additional cosmetic repairs.

Halogen lamps - the advantages of their use and wiring diagrams.

It is no secret to anyone that using halogen lamps is much more profitable than incandescent lamps. Not only because of their efficiency in terms of electricity consumption, but also because of the breadth of the range on the market. Lighting from such lamps remains as bright as when using incandescent lamps, if not many times brighter. Halogen lamps are low voltage lamps of 24, 12, and 6 volts.

The only mandatory requirement when connecting such lamps is the installation of a special step-down transformer in order to convert 220 watts. in the requested lamp rating.

In order to connect several halogen lamps to one switch, they must first be connected in parallel with each other.

Transformers, thanks to their small sizes, easily fit in the false ceiling frame.

Depending on the planned ceiling design, the number of fixtures and transformers may vary. It must be remembered that each step-down transformer must be connected to the network separately. Laying a new electrical line. The wires to them will converge in one junction box.

Such transformers have features; they must be located at a distance of at least 20 cm from heat sources. Experts also recommend not to exceed the length of the wires coming out of them by more than 2-2.5 m. If they are broken, this can affect the degree of brightness of halogen lamps.

Chandelier with remote control - luxury or convenience?

The latest developments in the field of lighting are chandeliers with a lighting control panel, which includes all control elements.

Of course, the positive aspects of the chandelier, which is controlled through the remote control, are obvious, so it will allow you to turn off the light without getting up from the sofa or getting out from under the blanket, you do not have to be afraid of hitting corners and furniture.

The installation of such a chandelier does not require any specialized knowledge, since it is connected in exactly the same way as an ordinary chandelier, as you wish, using one of the methods described. Lighting allows you to control the lighting controller built into the chandelier. Still, you should not get rid of the wall switch, as the batteries can always run out in the remote control or it can be lost.

Why a chandelier?

When installing and arranging lighting of residential premises, the uniformity of lighting is always in the first place for the consumer. That is why LED strips and neon light tubes have become so popular today - their light is not concentrated at one point, does not hurt the eyes and eliminates the appearance of shaded areas.

But with all this, well-known to all of us chandeliers, located on the ceiling in the center of the room, have not lost their positions in any way. On the contrary: the variety of shapes and design designs of modern chandeliers is simply amazing. A chandelier can be an element of the interior, embodying the desire of the owners for chic and external gloss. A chandelier can logically complete the design of a hi-tech room, it can be brightly integrated into the interior of a child's room or create an atmosphere of comfort in the living room.

And, in the end, no one has yet canceled the need for general lighting of premises, but a more successful and beautiful solution this issue than a chandelier has not yet been invented.

However, the installation of chandeliers has a number of specific features, which we will try to talk about.

How to install a chandelier?

The most popular method of mounting a chandelier today remains hook. The hook for the chandelier is attached to the ceiling (real ceiling), for example, using an anchor or plastic dowels. Mount the hook directly on plasterboard ceiling unacceptable: it may not support the weight of a massive chandelier. The same applies to the stretch ceiling, in which a hole is made for the cable outlet and the end of the hook. The location of the hole is pre-reinforced with a glued plastic ring.

Chandeliers designed to be mounted on a hook, have in their composition a structural element, which can conditionally be called a "glass". The position of the glass on the central tube of the chandelier is adjustable in height so that the glass can hide the hole in the ceiling and the terminal connections of the cable cores. Instead of a tube, by the way, there can be a chain, a cable, and even the electric cord itself, if its insulation is reinforced, and the weight of the chandelier is not very large (typical for single-lamp chandeliers).

When both keys of the switch are on, there should be two "phases" and one "zero" that does not respond with the flickering of the indicator light. You should not forget only about the measures of elementary electrical safety and take this matter with all caution.

The tested cores must be marked, and then you can go to the wires coming from the chandelier. If you do not doubt them and, for example, the manufacturer even attached a circuit diagram, then you can, as they say, not bother. But if there are doubts, it is better to dispel them. To do this, in pairs and in turn, we connect the suspected wires to a two-core cord with a plug, which we plug into the outlet. Lamps, of course, must be in place.

Our task is to find two pairs that will light up two different series lamps, and which will have one common wire. With all certainty, this common wire is called zero, and the remaining two are called phase.

For a chandelier controlled by a single-gang switch, everything is much simpler. The phase and neutral conductors in it are easy to notice, and absolutely nothing changes from changing their places. The main thing is not to make a mistake with the zero protective conductor (if any) and put it on the chandelier body.

Some chandeliers, incorporating a large number of lamps, have only two terminals for connection, that is, they are formally designed to be turned on only with a single-gang switch. If the wire connections in such a chandelier are available for revision, then it can be converted into a two-gang switch. Then you need to disconnect the phase wires of one of the groups of lamps from the common line and bring them out separately.

To connect the wires of the chandelier and the lighting line, it is best to use. You can use screw clamps, such as ZVI, if only the flexible ends coming from the chandelier are pre-irradiated. If there is enough space for installation, then you can get by with ordinary ones. However, the same extra space is better used to save the length of the strands. Such a reserve certainly will not be superfluous.

A separate line can be mentioned chandeliers with compact halogen lamps, which may include an electronic step-down transformer. Such chandeliers do not need any terminal blocks - transformer terminals are enough for them. Moreover, some of these chandeliers have the ability to control a transformer with. And this means that even for stepwise switching on of the chandelier, a single-gang switch will be quite enough - after all, all control will take place wirelessly.

Alexander Molokov

Before starting work on connecting a chandelier, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with its device.

Designation of chandelier wires

Contacts for connecting to electrical wires on the chandelier are indicated by the following Latin letters:

  • L- phase,
  • N- neutral wire
  • RE- ground conductor yellow-green colors.

They began to apply marking on chandeliers quite recently, and in chandeliers that were released a long time ago, there may not be any markings. In this case, you will have to figure it out yourself.

About connecting a ground wire in a chandelier

In modern chandeliers with metal fittings, a ground wire is installed yellow-green colors. The ground wire is indicated in Latin letters RE. If the electrical wiring in the apartment is made with a ground wire (it must be yellow-green, but can be of any color), then it must also be connected to the terminal to which it is connected yellow-green chandelier wire.

In old houses, apartment wiring is usually made without a ground conductor. In old chandeliers or those with plastic fittings, there is also no grounding conductor. In such cases, the ground conductor is not connected; it will not affect the performance of the chandelier, since it performs only a protective function.

In the photographs, the wires coming out of the ceiling and chandeliers are depicted in white, and this is not accidental. There is no single international standard for color coding of wires in electrical network, and even more so in chandeliers. Yes, and in Russia, the color marking of electrical wires has changed since January 1, 2011. Only the ground wire PE is marked yellow-green in the specifications of all countries. color.

Attention! Before connecting the chandelier, to avoid damage electric shock, it is necessary to de-energize the wiring. To do this, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in the switchboard and check the reliability of the disconnection using the phase indicator.

Chandelier connection diagrams

Despite all the variety of models, all chandeliers, including LED chandeliers with a remote control, are connected according to one of the schemes discussed below. To connect, it is enough to connect the wires coming out of the ceiling correctly to the terminals of the terminal installed on the chandelier body. The work is simple and within the power of any home master, even without experience in electrics.

If 2 wires come out of the ceiling and chandelier

Connecting a single-horn chandelier, consisting of one light bulb, and a single-gang switch in electrical wiring is usually not difficult. It is enough to connect two wires coming out of the ceiling using any kind of terminal block with wires coming out of the base of the chandelier.

Although, according to the requirements of the PUE, the twisting of electrical wires is currently prohibited, but in a hopeless situation, given that the chandelier consumes low current, you can temporarily connect the chandelier by twisting, followed by insulation of the connection.


According to the requirements of the PUE, in order to increase operational safety, the phase wire in the electric cartridge must be connected to the central contact, and the switch must open the phase wire. It is advisable to follow this rule. But in practice, no one thinks about this, usually they connect the switch and the chandelier as they have to.

If 2 wires come out of the ceiling and multi-track chandelier

If the chandelier has several horns, but only two wires come out of it, then all the bulbs inside the chandelier are connected in parallel, and such a chandelier is connected according to the above diagram.

If 2 wires come out of the ceiling, 3 or more from the chandelier

Consider a more complex option for connecting a chandelier, the wires in it are connected to enable each light bulb to be turned on separately. For our case, all pairs of wires from cartridges, regardless of their number, must be connected in parallel. One option is to install an additional wire jumper (pink in the photo).


You can do without installing a jumper. It is enough to unscrew the screws at the first and third terminals, remove the wire coming from the left cartridge from the first terminal, and insert it into the third, along with the right wire coming from the right cartridge.

If 3 wires come out of the ceiling, and 2 wires come out of the chandelier

Usually three wires come out of the ceiling if installed two-gang switch. First of all, you need to deal with the wires coming out of the ceiling - find a common wire. This is easy to do with a phase indicator.

To search for a common wire, you need to turn on both keys on the switch and sequentially touch each wire with an indicator probe. Depending on which wire opens the switch, phase or zero, two options for the indicator behavior are possible.

  • When touching two wires, there is a glow, but not to the third. In this case, the wire on which there is no glow is common.
  • When touching one of the wires, there is a glow, while the other two are not. Then the wire on which there is a glow is common.

Without a phase indicator, it is also easy to figure out the connection. You need to connect any two wires from the ceiling to the chandelier and turn on both switches. If the light turns on, it means that the connection has turned out with a common wire and one of those coming from the switch. You can leave everything like that. If there is a desire to understand the wires to the end, you need to connect by brute force so that when you turn on both keys on the switch, the light does not light up. Thus, it will turn out to find the wires coming from the switch.


It remains to clamp the common wire in the terminal and any other coming from the ceiling with a pair of chandelier wires. If necessary, connect the chandelier so that the light turns on with any of the two switch keys, then put a jumper (pink in the photo) or clamp the wires that are connected by a jumper in the photo in one terminal. The jumper can be installed not in the terminal block, but in the switch.

If 3 wires come out of the ceiling, several wires come out of the chandelier

If it is necessary that not all the bulbs of a multi-track chandelier turn on at the same time, but in groups, then the chandelier must be connected according to the above diagram. A prerequisite is the presence of a two-gang switch. You need to connect a two- or three-arm chandelier according to the method described above. It is determined from the three common wires coming out of the ceiling. One wire from the pairs coming from each chandelier cartridge is connected to it.


The remaining two wires are connected to the remaining free conductors from the pairs coming from the chandelier cartridges. It will be much easier to cope with connecting a multi-track chandelier if you familiarize yourself with its device.

Wiring diagram for 2-3 chandeliers
from a single switch

In a large area, or if a false ceiling is installed, for good lighting it is necessary to install several chandeliers or spotlights mounted in the ceiling, which must be turned on simultaneously with one single-gang switch.

Sometimes it is necessary to connect the switch in such a way that it can turn on the light at the same time in two, three or more rooms. In this case, chandeliers or lamps are connected in parallel, like several cartridges in one chandelier, according to the following scheme.

Each chandelier in the diagram is connected to the switch through a separate junction box, but all connections can be made in one junction box, it all depends on the wiring diagram in the room. If there are many horns in each chandelier, then they are connected in parallel, as for the connection case discussed above, when two wires come out of the ceiling, and three or more come out of the chandelier.

Wiring diagram for three chandeliers
from one three key switch

If in one or more rooms it is necessary to turn on each chandelier separately from one three-gang switch, then the chandeliers should be connected according to the diagram below.

This option for connecting luminaires is often used when controlling luminaires installed in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. One three-gang switch is installed in the corridor, and the corresponding chandelier is turned on before entering the room.

Chandelier connection
to the block of switches Viko (Viko) with a socket

Sometimes an additional outlet is required next to the switch. If necessary, it is advisable to change the installed switch to a block consisting of switches and a socket, for example Viko (Viko), shown in the photo. Switches for a chandelier in the block can be from one key to four. So there is an opportunity to choose the right one. In the photo - a two-gang block with LED backlight and one socket.

You need to connect the switch block with a socket to the chandelier according to the diagram below. As you can see, the circuit is not much different from connecting a chandelier to an ordinary switch, with the exception of an additional wire going from the neutral wire to the left outlet of the outlet.

In the diagram, the wire connection is shown in accordance with the requirements of the PUE; in real wiring, zero and phase can be connected vice versa. If, for example, there was a two-key switch, but you need a single-key switch with a socket, then you can not lay an additional wire, but use a free one by switching it in the junction box to zero or phase, depending on which wire comes to the switch.

Adding or extending wires
when connecting a chandelier

Now, during the renovation of the apartment, they began to install suspended ceilings. Stretch ones are especially popular. They have a great appearance, practically do not wear out, come in any color with a glossy and matte surface, and are not afraid of water. Stretch ceilings are installed at a distance of 5-10 cm below the existing ceiling plane, so the length of the conductors to connect the fixtures becomes insufficient. It is required to increase their length.

The complexity of the task lies in the fact that it will be impossible to get to the place where the wires are spliced ​​to connect a chandelier or other fixtures after installing the ceiling without dismantling it. This means that the connection must be made in the most reliable way. Connecting wires in hard-to-reach places using a terminal block is not a reliable type of connection. The screws in the terminal block may loosen over time and need to be tightened.

In the site article “Connecting Wires Broken in the Wall”, in detail in the photographs, methods for connecting aluminum and copper wires to each other are considered, just suitable for the case of extending the wires for connecting a chandelier or other lamps. For a secure connection when building aluminum wires I recommend reading the article “How to connect aluminum wires” with copper. To extend the wires for connecting the chandelier to the false ceiling, one of the methods described in the article is suitable, on a thread or one-piece with a rivet.

Cross section of wire for connecting a chandelier

If six hundred-watt incandescent bulbs are installed in the chandelier, designed for a supply voltage of 220 V, then the current consumption will not exceed 3 A. This current can withstand a copper conductor with a cross section of 0.5 mm 2, and standard apartment wiring is usually made with wires with a cross section of at least 2.5 mm 2. So when connecting a chandelier with light bulbs for a voltage of 220 V, you don’t have to think about the cross section of the wire. When connecting a chandelier with LED lamps, you don’t have to worry about the cross section of the wire either.

When connecting a chandelier or lamps with halogen bulbs for a voltage of 12 V, the current consumption becomes much larger, and the wire cross section in the wiring section from the step-down transformer or adapter to the chandelier lamps must be calculated using the online calculator below and checked for compliance.

The current consumption of which is ten times less than that of incandescent lamps.

Hanging a chandelier with your own hands is not so difficult. A person with no experience in carrying out such procedures may first be frightened by the need to work with electricity. However, no serious knowledge is required to complete this task. To install a chandelier on the ceiling, you need to carry out only two operations: connect it to the electrical network and fix it.

Safety

Before starting any electrical installation work, you need to take care of safety. Mounting a chandelier involves contact with wires through which high voltage current flows, so this issue must be approached with all seriousness. Here are the main recommendations and guidelines:

  • all electrical installation work must be carried out with the power turned off (you can simply turn off circuit breaker in the shield);
  • after turning off the machine, it is worth making sure and checking the absence of light;
  • after checking the absence of voltage in the wires with an indicator screwdriver, you can safely proceed with the installation;
  • often a Chinese manufacturer in the manufacture of chandeliers resorts to the use of low-quality materials, so their choice should be treated more carefully.
Checking the presence of a phase with an indicator

How to determine the location of the wiring in the ceiling?

Before hanging the chandelier on concrete ceiling, you need to know the exact location of the wiring. If this is not done, when drilling holes for fastening the chandelier, it will be possible to easily drill wires. The search process must be carried out while current is flowing in the wires. Therefore, this procedure can be divided into the following steps:

  1. Power outage.
  2. Installing a temporary bulb holder.
  3. Electricity supply.
  4. Turn on temporary light.

To determine the location of live wires, there are many devices from different price categories. This device must be driven perpendicular to the line along which the wiring is supposed to run. In the place of detection of the phase, it is necessary to put a mark, and then continue to move the indicator. The next label is placed at the place where the phase disappears.

For control, these steps should be repeated in the opposite direction. In the interval between the resulting marks and the wiring is laid. Now you can safely drill holes for fasteners and hang the chandelier.


Ways to fix the chandelier to the ceiling

If everything became clear with the wiring, now the question arises: what are the ways of fixing the chandelier? Today, the three most common technologies are most often practiced, allowing you to quickly and easily hang a ceiling chandelier. Relatively light products can be fixed on hooks. In cases with heavier lighting fixtures, the use of anchor bolts is provided. In addition, there are chandeliers attached to the bar (bracket). Another way is to mount directly to the concrete ceiling.

How to hang a chandelier on a hook?

The easiest way to mount a chandelier to the ceiling is a hanging hook. To fix it in the ceiling, it is necessary to drill a hole with a diameter of about 8 mm. If the weight of the chandelier does not exceed one and a half kilograms, you can use a regular threaded hook, which is screwed into a dowel inserted into the hole. For heavier products, expansion anchors with a diameter of at least 10 mm should be used.

If you plan to fix the hook in the dowel, it is recommended to choose a corrugated one. Such fasteners are better fixed in the ceiling. The screwed hook should be wrapped with two layers of insulating tape.

After these manipulations, it is necessary to connect the wires from the chandelier to the mains. This can be done both with the help of ordinary twisting, and by resorting to the use of terminal blocks, which are most often included in the package of most lighting fixtures.

At the next stage, you should attach the chandelier to the hook, and then move the special decorative trim as close as possible to the ceiling surface. This bowl will hide all wire connections. This completes the installation of the chandelier. The main disadvantage of such a mount is the gap between the ceiling and the lining. It can be either a couple of millimeters or 1-2 cm.

It is important to understand that mounting a chandelier on a plasterboard ceiling in this case is fraught with unpleasant situations. If light products can still hold out, then drywall will not withstand heavy lighting fixtures. The hook must be attached to the frame, so its installation should be planned during the construction of the ceiling.


How to hang a chandelier with a plank?

There is a way to fix the chandelier without a hook. This procedure is a little more complicated, but quite doable.

The kit should come with a special mount for the chandelier to the ceiling. This fastener is called a bracket. This bar for the chandelier must be attached to the ceiling, and then put marks for drilling holes for the dowels. In the bracket itself, you need to fix a couple of screws. In this case, the distance between them should be equal to the distance between the holes on the decorative cover.

After fixing the bracket, connect the wires. You can hang a chandelier of this type only with an assistant, since it will be very difficult for one to do this. One should hold it, and the second should deal with the connection to the mains.


At the next stage, it is necessary to get the screws fixed in the bracket into the holes decorative overlay then tighten the nuts. Once the lamp is installed and performance checked, the procedure for attaching the ceiling chandelier can be considered complete.

Fixing ceiling lights directly to the ceiling

Often, such fasteners are used for small chandeliers and lamps that are light in weight. On the reverse side of such products there are always several holes designed for fixing to the surface. If the base is made of wood, you can fix ceiling lamp straight to the screws. If you want to hang the lamp on a concrete ceiling, you first need to drill holes for the dowels, and then fix it.


Installation under a single-gang switch

If everyone can hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling, then connecting to the mains is sometimes difficult. Most chandeliers installed today have two conductors. According to the standard marking, the blue or white-blue wire is zero, and the white or brown wire is phase.

If your house hasn't been rewired for a long time, there will be two aluminum conductors in the ceiling. As a rule, they are not marked, however, you can determine where is zero and where is the phase using an indicator screwdriver. If the wiring is relatively new, there will be three wires in the ceiling: zero, phase and ground. We do not need the third one, so it can be insulated and bent to the side.

If the chandelier has two or more shades, the wires coming from them must be connected together. Zero must be connected to zero, and phase to phase. After that, zero from the mains is connected to the connection of zeros from the chandelier, the same with the phase. Next, you can already mount the chandelier to the ceiling.


When hanging lighting fixtures, you need to understand that it is not recommended to connect aluminum and copper wires directly. Over time, such a contact will begin to oxidize, and the connection itself will lose strength, as a result of which the twist will begin to overheat. At best, the chandelier will fail, at worst, the wiring. In such situations, chandeliers can only be hung by connecting wires through terminal blocks.

Installation under a two-gang switch

If you want to install a chandelier under a two-key switch (that is, one key turns on only a part of the bulbs, and two keys together - all the bulbs at the same time), the principle changes a little. In this case, all the zeros of the chandelier are connected together and connected to the zero of the mains, and the phases are divided into groups.

In the first group, it is necessary to combine all the phase conductors of the lamps, which should light up from the first switch, in the second - from the second. Next, the first group is connected to the phase coming from the first key, the second - to the phase from the second key. The installation of the chandelier can be considered complete after it is attached.


How to check the strength of the mount?

After completing all the procedures, be sure to check. Small flaws can escape your sight, so you should immediately visually determine the quality of the work. The wires must be completely hidden under the decorative cover.

You can determine the reliability of fastening by slightly loosening the lamp. Well, the main indicator is a performance check. If, after turning on all the keys of the switch, the bulbs lit up, and the wiring did not sparkle, then you installed the chandelier on the ceiling correctly!

The classic version of the device for lighting rooms is a chandelier. It makes it possible to distribute the light flux as evenly as possible. When installing a chandelier with one lamp, there are no significant difficulties, but with a larger number of lamps, certain design features should be taken into account.

Required tool

Chandelier - interior decoration

Before you start connecting the chandelier, you should prepare the tool necessary to complete this work. With such an organization, you will not have to be distracted by his search.

An indicator screwdriver should always be at hand. With its help determine the phase wire.

Carrying out electrical work and fixing the chandelier is not possible without a set of screwdrivers with different head shapes.

A multimeter is needed to check the correct connection of the electrical circuit elements.

Pliers are used to prepare wires and their installation.

Using a terminal block will simplify the process of laying out the wires when they are connected.

In addition to these tools, you need a knife, a marking marker and a stepladder. Before connecting the lighting device, carefully study the instructions attached to it.

We deal with the wires of the chandelier

If you have instructions, connecting the chandelier is greatly simplified. This document contains a complete amount of information regarding the purpose of each wire, and describes how to connect them, as well as an electrical diagram. Wires are labeled as follows:

  • white or brown - phase;
  • blue - zero;
  • yellow-green - grounding.

Chandelier wires

Checking the presence of a phase with an indicator

In the simplest version, the phase indicator looks like a transparent screwdriver. It contains a current-limiting resistor and an indicator, which is a light bulb. The device is equipped with two contacts. One of them is a probe made like a screwdriver, the other is a contact on the case. The probe is designed to determine the presence of voltage in the circuit, and touch the contact with your hand. The light signal indicates the presence of voltage.

The simplest indicators may have a poor-quality assembly or a poorly distinguishable indicator glow. In most cases, the design of this device does not allow it to be used as a screwdriver, since the case does not have sufficient strength. A weak indicator light may cause electric shock. The main advantages of such devices are ease of use and affordable cost. In general, the device copes with its function.

Indicator

When choosing it, you need to pay attention to appearance and operating voltage range. As a rule, the mains voltage is 220 V, so this value must be included in the range indicated on the case. In the case when the case does not inspire confidence and there is no information about the permissible operating voltages, it is better not to purchase such an indicator.

Professional level indicators are equipped with two poles and additionally, in addition to light, sound alarms. One of the contacts is made in the form of a probe with reliable insulation. The second is a probe several bigger size, in the circuit of which the signaling is included.

The voltage test is carried out by touching one probe to zero, and the other to the wire that is being tested. The reliability and durability of this device are at a good level. However, to check, you need to know with certainty where the zero or ground goes. Otherwise, you will have to check all the wires in pairs. For use in household this is inconvenient, so the device is most often used in a production environment by professionals.

Checking the presence of a phase with a multimeter

The multimeter is a small measuring instrument that is designed to perform various measurements and tests on electrical circuits.

instrument multimeter

Probes are included with the device. One end is equipped with a plug, necessary for connecting to the multimeter socket located on the front panel. The other end is equipped with a special holder that has a bare contact - a probe. It is he who is connected to the circuit under test. When using the device, you should remember the rule that electricians around the world adhere to: the probe is marked in red for connecting to the positive pole, black to the negative.

Before measuring the voltage in the circuit, set the device settings. In our case, this is alternating current and the measurement limit is above 250 V. Next, the probes are connected in parallel to the circuit, and the desired value is displayed on the device display. When determining the neutral wire, the multimeter is reconfigured accordingly.

Installation of chandeliers of various designs: step by step instructions

Chandelier with one lamp

To install a chandelier in a place where this lighting device did not exist before, markup is first performed. For this purpose, the center of the ceiling is determined, and the point is marked with a marker. When installed in false ceiling a hole is made for the wires, in stretch ceilings- restrictive rings are mounted and holes are cut out.

If the ceiling is made using a design approach and is a complex structure, then it is necessary to consider a mounting system option. To hang a massive chandelier, you will need to install an additional beam or metal chain.

The wiring goes from the mounting point of the lighting fixture and goes down the wall to the junction box, to which the power wires from the switch are connected.

Important: The junction box must be installed with a distance from the ceiling of at least 150 mm. In this case, there must be a margin of length of the wires located in the box, at least 100 mm.

The connection of wires in the junction box is carried out in accordance with the electrical circuit of the lighting device. After connecting them to each other, careful insulation with electrical tape is required, the wires are laid in such a way that they do not intersect. At the end, the box is closed with a lid, which is securely fixed.

Most often, modern chandeliers come with a mount, which is a bracket. This design greatly simplifies installation. The bracket is applied near the exit of the wires and mark this position. If fasteners are supplied with the chandelier, then the diameter of the drill must correspond to its diameter. It is not allowed to match the holes for the dowel and wires.

In progress

When laying the wiring, it is necessary to create some margin of length so that there are no difficulties in accessing the wires in case of dismantling the chandelier.

Before installation, the wires are stripped and connected using a terminal block in accordance with the electrical diagram. If the terminal block is not supplied with the lighting device, then the wires are connected on a twist. In this case, the length of the cleaned surface is 20 mm, and the wires are connected in pairs by twisting. In conclusion, the structure is covered with insulating tape.

If the chandelier has a metal case, then it is equipped with a special screw, which is designed for a grounding device. The ground wire coming from the junction box is stripped and twisted into a ring shape. This end is securely fixed with the specified screw.

After completing the connection and insulation of the wires, proceed to the installation of the chandelier. Before doing this, you need to make sure that the location of the wires does not match the fasteners.

Two or three lamp chandelier

The presence of two or three lamps at the chandelier does not significantly affect the installation procedure of the device.

The difference from a chandelier with one lamp lies in the number of wires that supply power. When connecting the simplest version of the chandelier, two power wires are connected and ground is connected. When connecting a lighting fixture equipped with two or three lamps, three wires are used for power and one for grounding. Switching of wires is carried out according to wiring diagram. To do this, they bring one wire from each cartridge to one point and connect it to zero.

When connecting a two-lamp chandelier, unused wires are connected to phase wires. In a three-lamp wire coming from the third cartridge, it is connected in parallel with the phase of the second or third cartridge. The connection method in this case is the same as when installing a chandelier with one lamp.

For the operation of such a chandelier, a wiring consisting of three wires leads to it. Turning on one of the keys will close part of the circuit and one lamp will light up, turning on the other will provide two lamps. Pressing both keys at the same time will turn on all the lamps.

Chandelier with four or five lights

An increase in the number of lamps in a chandelier does not have a significant effect on the technology for connecting the device. The process is completely similar to that described in the previous cases, except for the need to group the phase wires. Lamps are grouped at their own discretion, but there is a limit on the number of wires supplying power and the number of keys on the switch.


Connecting a chandelier with five lamps has its own characteristics

We connect the switch

Connecting the most simple option chandeliers with one lamp to a switch with one key is not too difficult. If the number of lamps is two or more, then the number of switch keys can be two or three.

In the case when there is ready-made wiring, and the number of lamp groups corresponds to the number of switch keys, it is replaced according to the connection diagram.


Connection according to the diagram

When installing this device on a new wiring, you should take into account the specifics of its design. Switches with two and three keys have a terminal that is common. It serves for switching with the supply wire coming from the distribution box. The remaining terminals, depending on the location of the keys and the selected order of grouping the lamps, are connected to the wires of the cartridges passing through the box.

Important: The switch must open the circuit by breaking the phase. This is a safety condition when replacing a burned-out lamp.

Measures with insufficient wire length

The chandelier is not always connected in a new building, so the situation is not ruled out when the available wire length is insufficient for connection. In this case, it is necessary to extend the wiring wires or the chandelier itself.

Experts recommend using a terminal block to connect pieces of wiring. This device is a plate made of plastic, on which there are conductive planes. On both sides there are screw clamps that serve to connect wires.

Important: When using this device, it must be freely accessible. This requirement is due to the fact that the connection weakens over time and worsens the contact of the conductors. As a result, the connection is heated, which can lead to a fire. If it is possible to replace the wire segments with a solid one, then it is recommended to do this.