"You have bought a new lamp and now want to finally put it into operation, but you don't know exactly how it works? Then this blog post will definitely help you, because we explain how you can make your lamp light up in just a few steps - and you certainly don't have to be a craftsman to do it!"
Step 1: Prepare your tools.
First of all, you should get the right tools and have them ready so you don't have to search for them while you're fitting the lamp. You need a sturdy ladder so that you can easily reach the power outlet if it is on the ceiling, for example. A phase tester is also useful for testing whether there is actually no more current flowing through the cable. And what is really indispensable is a suitable screwdriver , a lamp or Wago terminal for connecting the cables and, of course, the lamp with the light bulb. You may also have to drill to attach the lamp, so you will need a drill , possibly even an impact drill for harder surfaces, as well as dowels and screws that fit the hole size. If you don't have something at home, you can get it at any hardware store.
Tip: Get help. Having another person to hold the ladder is always helpful.
Step 2: Turn off the power.
The most important step when connecting lamps, which you should never forget, is to turn off the power. The safest way to do this is to switch off the entire main circuit in the fuse box. However, if you have to drill and your device still needs power, you can also just unscrew the fuse that supplies the cables to be connected with power. You can only move on to the next step in installing the lamps when there is no longer any electricity flowing and you are protected from a dangerous electric shock .
Tip: Check the current flow with the phase tester (also called a voltmeter). To do this, hold it directly on the cable to be checked and then press the button at the end: If current is still flowing, the lamp on the phase tester will light up red.
Step 3: Attach the mounting bracket.
Depending on the light, it may have an additional mounting bracket to make it easier for you to connect the lamp. This is often the case with ceiling lights, in which case this bracket must first be screwed directly onto the ceiling or onto the distribution box . Older houses in particular often do not have such distribution boxes, but instead simply have a hole in the ceiling from which the cables for connecting the light protrude, which then makes direct ceiling mounting necessary - this is exactly a case in which you have to drill to attach the lamp. If your newly purchased lighting does not come with an extra mounting bracket, you can simply skip this step.
Tip: If you are mounting directly on the wall or ceiling, check the condition of the ceiling/wall beforehand. Depending on the situation, you may need different dowels or, for example, a hammer drill for hard concrete. Also, always check with your landlord beforehand whether drilling is permitted or not.
Step 4: Attach luster or Wago terminals.
If a Wago or lamp terminal is not already attached to your ceiling cables, you now need to attach them yourself - don't worry, you don't need to be a handyman for this either! Simply loosen the screws on the terminal until the cables fit through and then tighten them again. This will help you later when connecting the cables from the lamp to those from the ceiling.
Tip: Never unscrew the small screws too much, otherwise they will fall out and disappear quickly due to their size.
Step 5: Connect wires together.
This step is probably one of the most important, because only if you connect the cables correctly when connecting the lamp will the light be supplied with power and ultimately light up. You will certainly have noticed that three or at least two wires are hanging out of your power outlet: One is the protective conductor (PE), the so-called earthing in green-yellow or, rarely, yellow-red , which is not always present in old buildings, so only lamps with protective insulation may be installed there. Then there is the phase conductor (L), usually brown or black , which is responsible for the flow of current to the lamp, and last but not least the neutral conductor (N) in grey or blue , which then conducts the current again. If there are more than three wires, these are usually additional phases that do not need to be connected.
All other cables must now be connected to the color-matched ones using the previously attached Wago or lamp terminal. First, plug the protective conductor into the terminal, then the neutral conductor and finally the phase conductor. Tighten the small screws again and you're done. When dismantling, the exact opposite order applies.
Tip: When connecting cables, just remember: color must match color or like match like. So black to black, blue to blue, etc.
Step 6: Hang the lamp.
Finally, you have to mount the light by screwing it onto the mounting bracket - the exact way to attach the light is usually described in the instructions. Then screw the light bulb into the lamp socket if it is not already permanently installed and you are finished with the lamp installation. Don't forget to turn the power back on and test the light straight away.
Tip: If there is a cable cover, try to hide the wires in it while pushing it up towards the ceiling.
If you still have questions about lamp installation, you can find more helpful videos and tips in our FAQs or you can simply contact our customer service directly or have our own Skapetzte installation service come - we are always happy to help you.