Plan the position, connection and bulb choice for your new pendant, ceiling light or wall sconce. This guide provides general preparation and care notes. Use the instructions and rating labels for your exact fixture and selected option for assembly, mounting and electrical connection.
For hardwired lighting, arrange installation by a qualified, licensed electrician. If the model-specific instructions or essential ratings are missing, contact GetSwitches before installation. General guidance cannot supply a missing wiring diagram or confirm a product's electrical approval. See the Electrical Safety Foundation's advice on electrical work.
Before installation
- Check the product name and selected size, shade, mounting style and connection option against your order.
- Unpack carefully and inspect the shade, fittings, cord and plug, where supplied. Keep all parts and instructions together. Set aside any damaged fixture for review before use.
- Confirm the fixture's electrical ratings, bulb requirements and suitability for the intended location. Share the exact model and instructions with your installer.
Plan the position and dimensions
Use the Dimensions section for your selected design. Shade diameter, body height, arm projection, canopy or backplate size and cord length describe different parts of a fixture. Body height is not necessarily the total installed drop, and a stated cord length does not by itself confirm an adjustable range.
Check clearance around doors, cabinets and walking routes, and allow access for bulb changes. Your installer should confirm suitable mounting support and the permitted installed position. Adjust or shorten suspension parts only as the exact fixture instructions allow.
Hardwired pendants, ceiling lights and sconces
A hardwired fixture connects to the building's electrical wiring. Your electrician should confirm the supply, mounting support, connection enclosure and any local installation requirements against the fixture instructions.
Before electrical work begins, the electrician must isolate the circuit at the electrical panel and verify that it is de-energized. Turning off the wall switch alone is insufficient. Electrical connections and any required grounding must follow the exact model's instructions. The ESFI preparation guidance explains these precautions.
Keep installation hardware with its matching fixture. A ceiling canopy, visible cord or wall backplate in a photograph does not establish whether a particular option is hardwired or plug-in.
Confirmed plug-in options
Choose a plug-in version only when that connection is stated for your selected option. Confirm its electrical ratings as well as its plug type; a country label alone does not establish full compatibility. Keep the supplied cord and plug intact, and follow the fixture's assembly and mounting instructions.
Route the cord away from foot traffic, heat, water and places where furniture can pinch it. Keep it clear of rugs. The plug should fit the intended outlet securely without modification. Disconnect by holding the plug, and unplug before servicing. For more guidance, see the CPSC Home Electrical Safety Checklist.
Choose the correct bulb
Check the Product specifications for your selected light: the range includes different bases, and bulb inclusion varies. Match the exact base, required voltage, permitted bulb type, maximum actual wattage and available space inside the shade. Ask us to confirm any missing requirement before selecting a bulb.
Stay within the fixture's marked wattage limit. A bulb's brightness-equivalent wattage is not its actual power use; compare lumens for brightness. An LED used in a fully enclosed fixture must be suitable for that application. See guidance from the U.S. Fire Administration, ENERGY STAR on brightness and the Department of Energy on bulb selection.
Using a dimmer with a replaceable-bulb light
A replaceable-bulb fitting does not need a built-in dimmer for dimming to be possible. For a standard mains-powered lamp-holder fixture, use a bulb marked dimmable and a compatible dimmer, following the fixture's installation instructions. A supplied LED bulb is not necessarily dimmable and may need replacing.
A hardwired version needs a control suitable for its circuit; a plug-in version needs an appropriate plug-in dimming control. Check the exact bulb and dimmer combination, including the permitted load and dimming method. See Lutron's bulb and dimmer compatibility guidance and Philips' explanation of dimmable LED bulbs.
Where a driver or transformer is fitted, it must also support the dimming method. Confirm the operating voltage and driver details for low-voltage G4 systems; a bulb base alone does not establish compatibility. Follow any explicit non-dimming restriction on the actual fixture, driver or supplied instructions. Ask us to confirm missing model-specific details before selecting a control.
Choose a suitable location
Use the fixture only in a location covered by its own rating and instructions. Bathroom, outdoor and moisture-exposed positions require specific suitability checks. A room photograph or a decorative material is not evidence of a damp- or wet-location rating. Ask your electrician to confirm the intended position if the rating is absent or unclear. UL's luminaire marking guide explains the distinction between dry, damp and wet locations.
Bulb changes and everyday care
Turn the light off and let it cool before handling a bulb or shade. Unplug a plug-in model before work; have a hardwired circuit isolated before servicing. Follow the model's instructions for removing shades or changing bulbs, and keep the fitting supported while handling delicate parts.
For routine dusting, use a soft, dry cloth and avoid abrasive cleaners or spraying liquid onto the fixture. Do not assume a brass-colored, plated, painted, stone, wood or ceramic surface can take the same polish. Confirm any finish-specific treatment first.
Stop using the light if you notice damaged wiring or a plug, scorching, a burning smell or unusual overheating. Contact GetSwitches and a qualified electrician as appropriate before using it again.
Need instructions for your light?
Contact GetSwitches with the product name, selected option and order number, if available. Include a photo of the fixture's label and the parts or instruction page you need help identifying. We can check the available model-specific information before you proceed.
Ask a lighting question, or explore Decorative Lighting and Wall Sconces.
Planning switches as well? Use the separate Switches & Outlets Installation Guide for those products.