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» How to hang a chandelier with your own hands: types of fasteners and tools for installation. How to hang a chandelier with your own hands: mounting methods, options for connecting to the network, principles of dismantling Ceiling hook for a chandelier

How to hang a chandelier with your own hands: types of fasteners and tools for installation. How to hang a chandelier with your own hands: mounting methods, options for connecting to the network, principles of dismantling Ceiling hook for a chandelier

How to hang a chandelier from the ceiling with your own hands? It would seem, what a question. Slide the top cap of the chandelier down, hang it on the hook, connect the wires, push the cap on - that’s all. But even in this simplest case, difficulties may arise. Which? Let's figure it out.

How are chandeliers hung?

There are four ways to hang chandeliers:

  • Ceiling hook- the oldest and most reliable. Requires a solid ceiling and special fastening in it.
  • Standard mounting plate (bracket) - due to the distribution of the load over several fastening points with the light weight of the chandelier, it is quite reliable when fastened with dowel nails into plastic sleeves.
  • A cross mounting strip works similar to a straight mounting strip, but has more attachment points. Used for chandeliers adjacent to the ceiling.
  • The I-beam mounting platform is designed for mounting heavy chandeliers at several points.

All these mounting methods do not allow the chandelier to be pulled close to the ceiling in low rooms. The mounting strips are curved to allow wire exit. Further in this article we will describe a modification of the mounting strip, which allows you to press the chandelier close to the ceiling.

Installation of standard chandelier mounts is simple: using self-tapping screws in sleeve-clips. The diameter of the screws can be determined by the mounting holes in mounting plate; screw length – 40-60 mm. For low ceilings, it is preferable to use chandeliers without a rod.

Much more attention should be paid to safety precautions when installing chandeliers: when working at a height, even a slight electric shock can lead to a fall and serious injury. Various non-standard situations related to the suspension and installation of chandeliers will also be considered: suspended ceiling with a chandelier, how to hang a chandelier on drywall.

Phase indicator and wire phasing

First of all, you need to check the phasing of the wires for the chandelier. The neutral wire (neutral) is common, and the phase wires are connected to the lamp sections through a switch.

The phase/zero of the wiring is determined by a special device - a phase indicator. It can be purchased at any electrical goods store. The indicator is inexpensive. Phase indicators come with a neon lamp and a quenching resistor and electronic ones.

The indicator looks like a screwdriver. When using it, the device is lightly clamped between the index and middle fingers of the right hand in the place intended for this; it is either highlighted in color or has a notch and is separated from the sting by a safety cuff. TOUCHING THE INDICATOR TIP WHILE OPERATING IS DANGEROUS TO LIFE!

When checking phasing, the thumb touches a special metal terminal at the end of the device handle, or a button in an electronic indicator, and the tip of the indicator touches the wire being tested. If it is phase, the light flashes or the corresponding symbol appears on the display. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE WIRE WITH THE OTHER HAND EVEN BY THE INSULATION! The indicator can be used with ONLY ONE - THE RIGHT - HAND!

Before checking, turn out/turn off BOTH plugs. Then they expose the ends of the wires protruding from the ceiling for the chandelier, move the ends apart, turn on the plugs, and turn on the switch. Place a stool on a rubber mat, and from it, right hand, the indicator finds a phase wire or two phase wires if the chandelier switch is double. Then turn off the switch without touching the plugs, and check the phasing again. Now the indicator should not light up when you touch any of the wires.

If a phase remains somewhere, the switch must be switched into a phase break, and the neutral wire, if the switch is unipolar, must be connected directly. This work is not difficult, and there is no need to pick at the wall. But, if you are not an electrician, then you need to invite a specialist to do it. No jokes with electricity are in vain.

Search for wiring

Before drilling holes in the ceiling for fasteners, you need to determine where the wiring is located so as not to interrupt it when drilling. To be reliable, the wiring search must be done under load, i.e. under current. Load the wiring as follows:

  1. Turn off the traffic jams and the chandelier switch.
  2. Wires protruding from the ceiling are temporarily extended to the floor; joints are insulated with electrical tape.
  3. Instead of chandelier sections, sockets for incandescent lamps are also temporarily connected.
  4. Screw light bulbs into the sockets of at least 60 W, and better - 100-150 W.
  5. Includes plugs and switch; You can start looking for wiring.

It is best to search for wiring electronic indicator; The neon indicator only works in direct contact with live parts. Eat special devices- wiring finders, but they are more expensive, and the accuracy is no more than two thicknesses of plaster. If the wiring is also hidden in grooves, then the error will be about 5 cm, which is not enough. The indicator gives an accuracy of 1-2 cm at any depth.

The indicator is led, placing a finger on the button, along the ceiling perpendicular to the intended direction of the wiring. When the phase icon appears on the display, make a mark with a pencil and move on. If the icon disappears, make a second mark.

Then they pass the same place in the opposite direction; you will get two pairs of marks. The wiring lies in the middle between the internal ones. Then they move 15-20 cm along the wiring and repeat the search until the end of the working area.

Installation of the chandelier on standard mounts

Installation of a chandelier on standard mounts comes down to routing the power wires to the sections of light bulbs. When checking the phasing of the wiring, the neutral wire must be immediately marked somehow, at least by bending it close to the ceiling with the tip of the indicator. Then the plugs are turned out/turned off and the wires are inserted into the chandelier.

In modern electrical appliances, the neutral wire is always yellow with a longitudinal green stripe, and all wires are pre-wired into a connector - a terminal block. The neutral wire of the wiring is connected first: insert it into the neutral terminal and tighten the screw. Then the phase wires are connected. Pull the cap into place - the work is finished.

What if the wiring in the room consists of two wires? Or a grandfather’s chandelier, or an antique one, and you can’t see where the phase is and where the zero is?

In the first case, a small piece of wire of the same cross-section (see figure) is added to the phase wire (THE PLUGS - TURNED OFF!) and both sections of the light bulbs are switched on to one phase. The entire chandelier will be turned on with one switch.


Chandelier dial

If the wires in the chandelier are not marked, and there is no terminal block, then the chandelier needs to be ringed. This is done with a regular tester. CALLING A CHANDELIER A CONTROL BULB FROM A 220 V NETWORK IS DANGEROUS TO LIFE!

To check the ringing, we screw in the IDENTICAL sockets into all chandelier sockets, i.e. same power and brand, incandescent lamps; better low-power ones, 15-25 W. Economy bulbs are no good; dialing them won't do anything.

The chandelier diagram is shown in the figure. From it, a person familiar with electrical engineering or at least not forgetting Ohm’s law from school can see that if the resistance of one light bulb is equal to R, then between zero and ФI there will be R; between zero and FII - 0.5R, and between phases - 1.5R. To ring three wires in pairs, six measurements are needed.

"Special" chandeliers

IN Lately Chandeliers have appeared on sale, equipped with a remote control for adjusting the light, a fan, an air ionizer, or even an air conditioner (more precisely, its evaporation unit). When purchasing such products, you must adhere to the following rules:

  • Immediately see how it connects. If, in addition to the usual terminal block for household wiring, there are some strange ends sticking out there, ask for instructions and read them.
  • If the instructions do not clear how to hang such a chandelier yourself, ask whether installation is included in the price of the product, and what the seller’s guarantees are.
  • All of a sudden a store works on the “sell and forget” principle, it is better to look for the same thing elsewhere.

Chandeliers with additional functions– the products are quite specific; There are few companies or craftsmen involved in their installation, and “special” chandeliers are not cheap.

Emergency situations

How to properly hang a chandelier on the ceiling if there is no standard mount, or it is impossible to use it? To do this, you will have to stock up on tools for working on concrete, stone, wood, drywall, and work.

Low ceiling

The standard option is a chandelier-shade and fastening with a cross bar. What to do if the room is low, but you still don’t want to install a lampshade? In this case, you can gain 10-15 cm by hanging a chandelier with a rod on the ceiling without a hook.

To do this, the standard mounting strip is straightened, cut so that it is hidden under the cap, and new holes are drilled in it for self-tapping screws. Next, the chandelier needs to be slightly modified:

  1. The shades and, if possible, all fragile parts are removed from the chandelier. It is better, if the design allows, to remove the rod immediately.
  2. The chandelier wires are removed from the terminal block.
  3. In the rod, immediately behind the thread, three holes of 4-5 mm are drilled in a row along the rod. You just need to make sure that they all end up under the hood.
  4. Three pieces of fishing line are passed into the holes of the removed rod. Their ends are attached to the ends of the chandelier wires and tightly wrapped with narrow tape.
  5. Place the rod in place, carefully sliding it over the wires and pulling up the pieces of fishing line until the ends of the wires come out of the holes. If one gets caught, it is corrected with a wire hook or tweezers.
  6. If the rod is not removable, then pieces of fishing line are inserted into the holes one by one, starting from the bottom, and the wires are also brought out into them.
  7. The wires are reinserted into the terminal block.

The purpose of this modification is to bring the wires out to the side so that they are not pressed against the ceiling and crushed by the edge of the rod. Attention: if the rod is fixed or shaped, the cap must remain on it. Otherwise, he won’t be able to get dressed later because of the wires sticking out to the side.

Next, a mounting strip is installed on the rod between two standard nuts, and the chandelier is attached to the ceiling with self-tapping screws. Most likely, nuts will not be needed: in most chandeliers, the strip is attached to the rod by flaring.

Connect the wires. It may turn out that the terminal block now does not fit in the cap - no problem, it is removed completely and the wires are connected by soldering; joints are insulated with electrical tape. It is not recommended to connect the wires by twisting: later there will be problems with the flashing chandelier.

Now we mount the chandelier to the ceiling using self-tapping screws. We do not wrap the screws tightly into the sleeves, otherwise the chandelier will become askew.

Option for the weak, but dense ceilings: laminate, MDF, plywood. Instead of a mounting strip, we make a circle with a diameter 5 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the cap. In the center there is a hole for the rod; in a circle - 4-6 holes for self-tapping screws. You will also need to make a hole for the wires.

If you need a hook

Attaching a chandelier to a concrete ceiling on a strip or I-beam does not raise any questions. What if the chandelier you like has a hook, but you don’t have one at home? With a little work, you can install a very reliable hook yourself:

  • If a hook-screw is used, then drill a hole in the ceiling with a diameter 10 mm larger than the diameter of the screw, and a depth along the thread length + 10 mm.
  • Lubricate the hook thread with a thin layer of grease.
  • We tightly screw two copper wires with a diameter of 0.8 - 1.2 mm onto the screw threads. At the beginning and end of the thread, leave a 10 mm mustache and spread it 90 degrees. When viewed from the end of the screw, the whiskers should diverge perpendicularly in four directions.
  • We spray the hole inside with a spray bottle, or with a stick we put a generously moistened cloth into it, hold it for 1-2 minutes and take it out.
  • Prepare 50-100 g of alabaster or gypsum mortar; This is convenient to do with a disposable plastic cup. When mixed with water, the solution heats up. Mix until creamy consistency.
  • Using a stick (not a spatula) as quickly as possible (alabaster and plaster harden quickly), we pour the solution into the hole until it is full.
  • Just as quickly, into the still liquid solution, we push the hook with the wire wound around the thread; the wire mustache will bend.
  • We remove the squeezed out solution and wait for it to harden in the hole. The solution must not only harden, but also cool to room temperature. This requires at least 2 hours, but it is better to wait a day. Now the chandelier can be hung.

If the hook has a support platform for fastening with self-tapping screws, we make the sockets for them in the same way, but use thinner wire - 0.4-0.6 mm. And you will have to mix a separate portion of the solution for each nest - it very quickly hardens to a mushy state.

Such nests serve for centuries without drying out like plastic. When you turn the hook in/out 2-3 times, the nest does not become loose. If necessary, it can be easily cleared of filling with a narrow chisel and remade. When repairing a plaster-alabaster nest, you can plaster it, and then dig a hole in the plaster for the hook.

Chandelier in a suspended ceiling

Installing a chandelier on a suspended ceiling is the most difficult case. First of all: a chandelier with incandescent lamps and a suspended ceiling are incompatible. Even from a three-arm chandelier with 40 W lamps, spots will appear on the ceiling in a month, and within 3 months it will begin to creep. Economy bulbs in chandeliers recessed into the ceiling quickly burn out due to poor heat exchange; The only option here is LED lamps.

Then, installing a chandelier in an existing suspended ceiling is impossible: it will have to be removed and a new one installed. It is useless to try to cut holes in an already stretched ceiling - the film or fabric will immediately unravel.

And finally, before calling a ceiling craftsman, you need to prepare the chandelier mount. Standard mount chandeliers are not designed for installation in suspended ceilings, therefore, if the chandelier is hung on a hook, it must be installed in the ceiling in advance.

To attach to planks or I-beams on the base ceiling, you need to attach a cushion made of waterproof BS plywood or MDF, at least 16 mm thick, to the brackets, as shown in the figure. A wooden or ordinary plywood cushion in the inter-ceiling space will soon dry out, and this will end in an accident.


Based on the installed pillow, the ceiling makers will take measurements and make holes in the panel, framed with grommets. Through them, the chandelier will be attached to the pillow with long fasteners, with a gap to the “game” of the ceiling. The wide holes are additionally supported by “spider” supports, but this is a subject for another discussion.

If you plan to recess the chandelier into a suspended ceiling, then it should hang in place during measurement. But still, a chandelier in a suspended ceiling is not the best option according to expenses. Only due to the uneven distribution of the load due to the presence of holes, such a ceiling is more likely to sag and lose its appearance than a solid one.

Chandelier on a plasterboard ceiling

Attaching a chandelier to a plasterboard ceiling is also not easy, but it is still easier than in a room in suspended ceiling. There are three possible cases here:

  • The chandelier weighs up to 3 kg and is attached to a hook. In this case, you need a special butterfly hook. It consists of a specially designed plastic clip and a screw hook. A hole is drilled in the drywall under the butterfly clip, and the hook is screwed into the clip one or two turns. Then the clip is inserted all the way into the hole and the hook is turned until it stops. The inside of the butterfly unfolds into petals, which secure the hook.
  • Chandelier – up to 7 kg weight. In this case, only mounting on slats (cantilever) is permissible. A butterfly dowel is used for each attachment point; simply - a mole. In design, it is similar to the clip of a butterfly hook, and when a self-tapping screw is screwed into it, it opens to the sides inside the inter-ceiling space in the same way.
  • Heavy chandelier. To hang it on a hook you will need one collet pin with a diameter of at least 12 mm; for mounting on a strip - at least two 8-10 mm each. To install a collet pin in the base ceiling, holes are drilled through the plasterboard along the diameter of the pin sleeve and the depth of its length. The pin is screwed a little into the sleeve, inserted through the hole in the drywall into the base ceiling until it stops, and again the pin is screwed in until it stops. The collet diverges and wedges itself in the base ceiling, and a threaded end remains on the outside, onto which you can screw a hook with a threaded socket, or several ends - on them you can put a pillow under the chandelier bracket.

One of the last stages of apartment renovation is the installation and connection of lighting sources. Despite the popularity of plasterboard and tension analogues, the classic in the form of a painted ceiling will always remain popular. When installed, the height of the rooms remains unchanged. Whereas plasterboard and tension, due to the frame, eat up precious centimeters. And if these options involve installing a hidden guide for lighting, then what to do with classic version? How to hang a chandelier on concrete ceiling? Let's take a closer look.

Mounting methods

There are three methods for fixing chandeliers to:

  • Using a hook. This is one of the popular methods that allows you to mount fairly large lamps, including on a leg.
  • On a hanging bracket. This method makes it possible to install lamps designed for low ceilings. These lamps are not massive, have a small height, and are pressed close to the ceiling.
  • On the cross bar. This method designed for heavy structures.

The question “how to hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling” largely depends on the chosen model of the lighting source.

and electrical wiring

Concrete structures are canvases with hollow channels.

The cable for lighting is laid in these holes. In new buildings, three-wire grounding wires are provided. This feature does not make it possible to implement the installation option with a two-key switch, since it is, of course, possible to attach the chandelier to a concrete ceiling, but you will need to use a four-core cable. It is best to contact a professional electrician for this process. Or abandon the idea of ​​a two-key switch.

Lighting selection

The abundance of lighting fixtures sometimes makes it difficult to choose a lighting source. Moreover, the market is flooded with many low-quality Chinese products. When choosing, you should consider a number of nuances:

  • Design. Most often, lighting is chosen specifically for it. This could be a set of a ceiling lamp and sconce, or just a chandelier.
  • How many buttons are you planning to connect from? If at the installation site there are only 2 wires on the ceiling, then a 2-key connection should not be considered. And accordingly, it is better not to purchase multi-lane lamps. Otherwise, large electricity bills will come in the future. Or you may need to install the appropriate wiring.
  • Ceiling height. Massive chandeliers will look out of place in low rooms, and, conversely, in high ceilings small lamp will get lost.
  • Dimensions of the room. If the room is large, it is better to provide two lighting sources. When zoning, both identical and different models can be used.

Taking these features into account, you can choose the right type of lighting. in this case it will not be difficult, and it will fit ergonomically into the design.

Features of modern lamps

Nowadays, lighting amazes with its variety and options.

There are models with built-in fans, various modes via the remote control, use more lamps with 12 W consumption. All these products may have additional connection blocks in their design. In such cases, installation instructions are requested from the seller. And if you are not sure that you can connect it yourself, it is better to call an electrician who knows exactly how to hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling.

Preparation and safety

There are several important points at this stage of work:

  • It is better to work with electricity during daylight hours. This will make the job easier. There will be no need for additional lighting in the form of flashlights, and therefore no assistant.
  • Prepare the tool. This is: a drill or a hammer drill with the right kind drills/drills, indicator screwdriver, regular screwdriver and wrench for assembling the chandelier, fastener, electrical tape, pliers.
  • Before installation, turn off the electricity in the panel.
  • Remove old lighting, if any.
  • Separate the ends of the wires. Connect electricity. Determine phase and zero using an indicator screwdriver. When it comes into contact with the bare end and presses a button on the tool, the screwdriver lights up - phase, no - zero. Insulate the ends.
  • Determine the location of the wiring in the ceiling space. Floor slabs have hollow channels that are used for laying cables. For this work, a special electronic detector is used. Experienced owners always draw up or request a wiring diagram during electrical installation. In the future, this allows you to avoid many problems even during simple operations (such as “driving a nail into a wall”).
  • Since hanging a chandelier on a concrete ceiling is, by and large, quite simple, but the process itself is unsafe, you should not forget about disconnecting the electricity from the panel at the time of dismantling, installing and connecting the chandelier. This will avoid the risk of electric shock.

Chandelier assembly

Depending on the complexity of the design, you may need instructions for assembling the lighting fixture.

The process can be complicated when you need to hang a chandelier on a two-key connection system. This installation allows you to further regulate the degree of illumination in the room by turning on all the lamps or part of them.

To do this, select a model with this connection capability or slightly upgrade the existing option if:

  • The lighting device has a two-wire wire coming out for connecting to the network - it can be replaced with a three-wire wire (phase, phase, zero).
  • The lamp has a three-core cable, but one of the wires is designed for grounding (it is yellow with a green stripe). If the house is old, then grounding is usually not provided for chandeliers. Therefore, this wiring can be used to connect to the second phase.

If you need to hang a chandelier on two-gang switch, then one group of horns is connected to the first phase, the second to the other.

Having assembled and prepared the lighting device, proceed to installing the fastening element. Let's consider all types.

Hook fastener

Previously, this type of mount was used for lamps. In such cases, after dismantling the old lighting, a new chandelier should be hung on the existing fasteners. If this type of fixation is not provided, then you should first purchase it. The market today allows you to choose best option for any occasions. Here are a number of products:

  • Hook with petals. This type is suitable if the hole is in a void in the slab. When installing it, the petals open and securely fix the hook.
  • Ceiling A drill corresponding to the diameter of the anchor is selected, a hole is made, the fasteners are inserted, and the element is tightened.
  • Folding spring dowel with a ring, a bar, and a hook. A hole is drilled according to the diameter of the element, fasteners are inserted, and screwed. In this case, they sometimes use building mixture plaster for greater reliability. The hole is filled with the mixture and then the dowel is installed. Time is given to harden.
  • Steel screw with ring, L-shaped hook with plastic dowel. Mounted according to the previous option.

Since hanging a ceiling chandelier, as we have already mentioned, can be done quite quickly, but the process itself is associated with the risk of receiving an electric shock, it is better to first insulate the wires coming out of the ceiling.

Hanging bracket fastener

The fixing bar and fasteners for it are included with the lamp.

But it is better to buy more powerful dowels. It will be more reliable option, especially if you are not particularly confident that you know exactly how to hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling. The hole for each hole is first marked with a pencil. It is drilled, dowels are inserted, a fixation bar is applied and secured with self-tapping screws. This fastening method can also use mortar for stronger fastening. It is important to screw the bolts onto it to secure the chandelier before fixing the strip. The cross strip is mounted in the same way.

Final stage

After installing the fastening element, you can begin to consider the question of “how to attach a chandelier to a concrete ceiling.” For this:

  • The electricity in the panel is turned off.
  • The insulation is removed from the wires of the ceiling cable.
  • The connection is made by terminal connection or by twisting and electrical tape.
  • The chandelier is fixed to a fastening element.

There are a number of features for each type of chandelier.

For models with hook fixation, the lamp is hung on it and the wires are connected. And then they close it with a special decorative cap. Lighting with mounting on a bracket: the mounting cover from the lamp is fixed, the wires are connected, the lamp is attached to the cover. After installation, you should check the correct connection by turning on the keys one by one. If no short circuit occurs, it means you managed to hang the chandelier correctly with your own hands.

Copper and aluminum cable

In old houses you can still find a modern lamps equipped copper wires to connect. In such cases, the connection is made only using special terminals.

Otherwise, the installation will not meet the standards. fire safety. And this, ultimately, can lead to dire consequences. So, we looked at how to properly hang a chandelier from a concrete ceiling with your own hands. The difficulty of installation lies only in the discrepancy between the number of cores of the ceiling cable and the chandelier wire. These problems can be solved if you have confidence in your abilities. But since working with electricity is associated with health hazards, it is better to trust a professional.

Hanging a chandelier on the ceiling is considered perhaps the simplest task, until it turns out that there is a hook sticking out of the ceiling, and the newly purchased beauty must be attached to a bar. It must be said right away that it is unlikely that it will be possible to solve the problem “in an amicable way.” The only exception to this rule is the case when the lamp is not heavy, and the hook is firmly concreted into the ceiling. In this case, the plank is put on a hook, and the hook is bent towards the ceiling, making room for a decorative bowl, and pressing the plank to the ceiling. The reliability of such fastening must be assessed locally, but it has a right to exist. In other cases, get ready for more serious work.

Attaching a chandelier to concrete floors

When attached to concrete floors, the hook to which it was planned to attach the chandelier may prevent the decorative trim from fitting tightly to the ceiling. The simplest thing is to bend it to the ceiling. But here you need to pay attention to the method of attaching the suspension. If it is walled with alabaster, then when you try to bend the hook, you risk getting a large hole in its place, which will prevent the installation of the plank on the ceiling. You can try to bite the hook with wire cutters and carefully break it off, or cut it off with a hacksaw.

If the alabaster has already crumbled, you will have to lay it again. Before laying, you should make sure that the length of the remaining wires is sufficient to connect the lamp. If the wires are too short, you need to extend them in advance and reliably insulate them. In this case, the junction should not get inside the mass of alabaster.

Attaching to a plasterboard ceiling

When sheathing with plasterboard, the place and method of installing the lamps is determined in advance, but even here the situation can be corrected.

  • If the lamps are light, they can be attached directly to plasterboard sheet using self-tapping screws and butterfly dowels.
  • Heavier lamps are attached to the base of the ceiling. Instead of self-tapping screws, anchor bolts are used if the distance from the ceiling to the sheathing allows. It is important here not to overtighten the bolts that hold the fastening strip, since there are no embeds under the drywall. First you need to tighten the anchor with a tubular wrench to wedge the anchor, and then unscrew them and attach the strip, which can simply lie on the heads of the bolts.
  • If the distance between the sheathing and the base of the ceiling is large, the bolts in the anchor fastenings are replaced with studs, which are screwed into the anchor using two nuts. The length is cut locally, since it is impossible to determine exactly how much stud the anchor will “tighten.” With this type of fastening, you can do without a fastening strip altogether by choosing the distance between the studs equal to the distance between the holes in the decorative bowl.

A chandelier is both a lighting fixture and an important decorative element, so many of them are quite heavy and complex design. Installation of the lamp becomes important stage repair, because even the safety of the room’s occupants will depend on the reliability of its fastening. To understand how to attach a chandelier to the ceiling correctly and with minimal costs, you need to know what kinds of lamps for rooms there are and how the methods of installing them differ.

Skipping the details of the decorative differences between chandeliers, let’s focus on what is important for the installation process: classification by type of fasteners. Based on this feature, there are two main types of devices:

  • ceiling mounted with a hook;
  • cantilever, which are mounted on brackets or special strips.

Mounting the chandelier on a hook and on a bar (bracket)

Heavier models belong specifically to the first category, since only a hook can reliably hold massive structures. The same models, which are lighter in weight, are conveniently mounted on different types strips that can be attached to suspended ceiling profiles.

Types of fastenings

How are the different fastenings structurally arranged? Most often the hook is already built into the ceiling, however, if it is not there or it is unreliable, you can make it yourself. There are several types of structures that are used for such purposes, one of which is the collet pin. It consists of a collet, which is practically used as a dowel, and a pin, replacing a self-tapping screw, onto which the hook clings.

Types of collet pins

You can use another option: a metal anchor or a self-tapping hook. When a chandelier is attached to a plasterboard ceiling in this way, the design may also include a chain. There is also a type of hook that is used for hanging light fixtures from plasterboard ceilings and is called “butterfly” for its drop-down design, which prevents the fastener from falling out of the hole in the profile.

Ceiling hook for chandelier

As for the mounting strips, they are attached using dowels and screws. Long screws can also be used. Cantilever chandelier models are often mounted using a butterfly dowel, which opens when secured with a self-tapping screw and can be either metal or plastic.

Dowel "butterfly"

Stages of installing a chandelier on a hook

When thinking about how to attach a chandelier to the ceiling with an already installed hook, first of all check its strength: hang a load of the same weight as the lamp you have chosen, or pull it strongly. An unreliable hook that falls out or becomes loose must be replaced. It is important to remember that fasteners for heavy chandeliers are mounted only on the main ceiling, since no type hanging plasterboard will not withstand such a load. To install the collet, a hole is drilled with a hammer drill into which the fastener is inserted. A pin is screwed into the collet, on which it is hung anchor hook, or it screws directly into the collet.

Mounting the collet on the ceiling

A hole in the drywall is also needed to drive a metal anchor into concrete base or screwing a self-tapping hook into wooden base. To overcome the distance separating the base ceiling from the suspended ceiling, a chain is used: it is hung on a hook and the chandelier itself is attached to it.

As for light fixtures that are mounted on plasterboard ceiling profiles, fastening is carried out as follows: a butterfly hook is inserted into the hole in the plasterboard, which corresponds to the hole in the ceiling frame profile, which automatically opens and locks.

The principle of "disclosure" and acceptance T-shape also applies to butterfly dowels on which console lamps are mounted. At least two of these dowels are required. They are inserted into holes in the ceiling and profile and secured with a self-tapping screw, after which they are automatically fixed.

Butterfly hook installation

Mounting panel installation

Such fasteners are mounted on a plasterboard ceiling, which is not designed for heavy loads. Therefore, in order not to damage it, you need to strengthen the part of the coating where the lamp will hang. Even at the stage of installing the frame, you should decide how to attach the chandelier to the ceiling and use one of the strengthening options. For example, you can install two parallel profiles (at the same distance from each other as the holes in the plank) or build a square or rectangle from them (again, in accordance with the dimensions of the chandelier fasteners).

First, you need to correctly mark the locations for the holes in the ceiling: they must coincide with the locations for the screws on the plank. Dowels are inserted into the ceiling holes, to which the plank is screwed. In addition, there may be a hook in the ceiling that you do not need, but you should not dismantle it: if you change the chandelier, it may still be useful to you. The lamp itself is attached to the bar using screws.

Attaching the chandelier strip

There is also a very simple option that can be used for light chandeliers of small sizes. It consists of attaching the strip to the profiles with long self-tapping screws. For heavier structures, as already mentioned, it is possible to mount only on the main ceiling, concrete or wood.

So, how to hang a chandelier from the ceiling? First you need to evaluate the lamp itself: its weight, type of mounting, size. Moreover, this must be done before installing the suspended ceiling, so that it is possible, if necessary, to install the necessary reinforcing structures.

Then the necessary ones are produced preparatory work, the type of fastening material is determined and installation is carried out sequentially. When the fasteners are installed, you can connect the lamp to the electrical network.

Hanging a chandelier with your own hands is not that difficult. A person who has no experience in carrying out such procedures may at first be intimidated 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 perform only two operations: connect it to the electrical network and secure it.

Safety precautions

Before starting any electrical work, you need to take care of safety. Attaching a chandelier involves contact with wires through which current flows. high voltage Therefore, this issue must be approached with complete seriousness. Here are the basic 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, you should be on the safe side and check that there is no light;
  • Having checked the absence of voltage in the wires with an indicator screwdriver, you can safely begin installation;
  • Often, a Chinese manufacturer resorts to using low-quality materials when making chandeliers, so their choice should be treated more carefully.
Checking the presence of a phase with an indicator

How to determine the location of wiring in the ceiling?

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

  1. Power outage.
  2. Installing a temporary socket with a light bulb.
  3. Electricity supply.
  4. Turning on the temporary light.

To determine the location of live wires, there are many devices from different price categories. This device must be installed perpendicular to the line along which the wiring is supposed to run. You must place a mark where the phase is detected, and then continue moving the indicator. The next mark is placed at the point where the phase disappears.

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


Methods for attaching a chandelier to the ceiling

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

How to hang a chandelier on a hook?

The simplest way to attach a chandelier to the ceiling is a hanging hook. To fix it in the ceiling, you need 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 hook with a thread, which is screwed into the 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 secure the hook in a 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, you need to connect the wires from the chandelier to the electrical network. This can be done either using regular twisting or by resorting to the use of terminal blocks, which are most often included with most lighting devices.

The next step is to 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 this type of fastening 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 installing a chandelier on a plasterboard ceiling in this case fraught with unpleasant situations. If light products can still hold out, then heavy ones lighting drywall won't hold up. 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 strip?

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

The kit should include a special mount for the chandelier to the ceiling. This fastener is called a bracket. This chandelier strip must be attached to the ceiling, and then marks for drilling holes for dowels. You need to fix a couple of screws in the bracket itself. 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. Hanging a chandelier of this type can only be done with an assistant, as it will be very difficult to do it alone. One should hold it, and the second should connect it to the power supply.


At the next stage, you need to get the screws fixed in the bracket into the holes decorative overlay, then tighten the nuts. Once the lamp has been installed and functionality has been verified, the mounting procedure ceiling chandelier can be considered completed.

Mounting ceiling lights directly to the ceiling

Often, such fasteners are used for small chandeliers and light-weight lamps. On back side Such products always have several holes designed for fixation to the surface. If the base is made of wood, it can be fixed 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-key switch

While anyone can hang a chandelier on a concrete ceiling, connecting to the electrical network can sometimes be difficult. Most chandeliers installed nowadays have two conductors. According to standard markings, the blue or white-blue wire is zero, and the white or brown wire is phase.

If the wiring in your house has not been changed for a long time, there will be two in the ceiling aluminum conductor. As a rule, they are not marked, but you can determine where the zero is and where the phase is using an indicator screwdriver. If the wiring is relatively new, there will be three wires in the ceiling: neutral, phase and ground. We don't need the third one, so we can insulate it and bend it to the side.

If the chandelier has two or more shades, the wires coming from them must be connected to each other. Zero must be connected to zero, and phase to phase. After this, the neutral from the electrical network is connected to the connection of the neutrals from the chandelier, the same with the phase. Next, you can attach the chandelier to the ceiling.


When hanging lighting fixtures, you need to understand that directly connecting aluminum and copper wires is not recommended. Over time, such 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 will fail. In such situations, chandeliers can only be hung when connecting the wires using terminal blocks.

Installation under a two-key switch

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

In the first group it is necessary to combine all the phase conductors of the lamps that 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 once it is attached.


How to check the strength of the fastening?

After completing all procedures, you should definitely check. Small flaws may escape your attention, 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 the fastening by slightly loosening the lamp. Well, the main indicator is a performance check. If, after turning on all the switch keys, the light bulbs light up and the wiring does not sparkle, then you installed the chandelier on the ceiling correctly!