How To Add A Pull Switch To A Wall Light

Prep for installing toggle switch.

How to add a pull switch to a wall light.

Determine where the pull switch will fit inside the socket and drill a hole large enough for the nut attachment of the switch to fit through. Unscrew the two screws that hold the switch in the box and pull the switch and the wiring out of the box as far as the wiring will allow. I have bought some wall lights that dont have a internal pull cord on them as the lights are currently wired from the ceiling rose with a live feed coming in. Place the cover plate over the switch and secure it with the holding screws.

All that to say that this is the way that one can macgyver any wall sconce to have a switch. Take note of which wire causes the tester to light up. If you are adding a switch to a finished wall see fish wires through walls for directions. When you tighten the screw it will pull the wire down.

To attach a wire to a screw bend the bare wire to the left and slip it over the screw. Mark this wire black. First make sure the toggle switch fits between the plate and wall. An electrical tester is a good addition to any toolbox.

Restore power and operate the light with the new switch. This is the hot wire and the one you ll connect to the hot side of the new double switch. Place the light switch inside the wall box and tighten the mounting screws with a phillips screwdriver. To wire the ceiling fixture to the new wall switch first connect the copper grounding wire to the fixture.

Then splice the fixture s black lead into the new black wire. Tighten those screws with a slotted screwdriver. Using a drill press make the hole for the switch in each plate. Pass the chain through the hole and tighten the switch to the socket with the nut provided.

After removing the black wire to the fixture s lead splice it into the new white wire.