How to Hang a Light Using a Hickey & Crossbar

Turn off the breaker in your home's breaker box that supplies power to the light fixture.

Position a ladder under the light fixture to access the fixture. Remove the screws securing the old light fixture with a screwdriver, and remove the wire nuts on the wires. Pay attention to how the wires are connected. Disconnect the wires attached to the old fixture to remove it.

Place a 3/8 IP lock nut over the nipple protruding from the ceiling, and thread the large end of a hickey over the nipple. The hickey will reduce the size of the socket.

Insert a 1/4 IP nipple into the smaller end of the hickey, and thread a 1/4 IP lock nut on the end of the nipple. Tighten the lock nut by hand, so that it rests on the hickey and secures the 1/4 IP nipple.

Turn the crossbar to face the raised side toward the ceiling. Insert the end of the 1/4 IP nipple into the hole in the center of the crossbar, and push the crossbar up toward the ceiling. Mount the crossbar onto the outlet box in the ceiling by inserting 1/2-inch mounting screws into the slotted holes on each end and tightening the mounting screws with a screwdriver. Place a 1/4 IP lock nut over the end of the nipple and turn it clockwise with your fingers until it rests against the crossbar. Tighten with a pair of pliers.

Attach the wires in the outlet box to the wires on the new light fixture in the same manner as connected to the old fixture. Cover the ends of the wires with wire nuts. Lift the light's canopy up and secure it to the nipple with a screw collar loop. If the nipple prevents the canopy from resting against the ceiling, remove the screw collar loop, and adjust the nipple in the hickey as needed.

Turn on the breaker to restore power to the fixture.