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Question @ Removing Fluorescent Light Fixture

14 years ago

Our kitchen has a fluorescent fixture like the one in the link below. I would like to replace it, but having never taken down a fluorescent fixture before I don't know what I'll find if I take it down--will there be a giant hole or does it attach to a normal-size opening in the ceiling that would be covered by a regular light fixture's ceiling plate?

Here is a link that might be useful: Fluorescent Fixture

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Comments (5)

2ajsmama
14 years ago
Should be a standard round light junction box, maybe a squared-off ceiling fan box if someone had replaced a ceiling fan with this fixture earlier. Either way, no problem unless you're putting in track lighting and need the screw holes in a certain orientation.
colorblind1961
14 years ago
Leafy - I recently removed my fluorescent light in my kitchen, and wanted to replace it with a pendant light to go over the center of my island. In, my case, not only was the junction box way off center of my island, it was way too small to accomodate my new fixture and also there were several larger holes in the ceiling as well. I ended up calling an electrician and a drywall contractor.
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Okay, I finally got if off. Just kept fiddling around with it and figured if I happened to completely break it, I'd call an electrician and have them install one that is easier to manage! Those 2 antennae-like structures on the one side there are some type of spring-loaded apparatus that is very difficult to manipulate unless a person is very aware of them and how they work. At this point, I am fortunate that this fixture is in a back room that is used as my personal office space...so I'm just gonna leave that cover off...rather look at the bare apparatus than to try to put it back on and then have to live in fear of not being able to successfully remove it again, LOL. Now I still have to go to the store and find a new bulb :)
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dekeoboe
14 years ago
We had more than just a standard junction box hole when we removed one. We had a big hole that needed to be patched and then the ceiling needed to be painted. It was a real pain because trying to match the ceiling paint proved near impossible.
2ajsmama
14 years ago
Oh yeah, you don't have any idea of *where* the box is, it might not be where you want it, plus who knows what the big fixture is hiding?

But that wasn't the original ? - is this the only change you're planning on making, or are you doing a remodel? Maybe you should leave it if you think you can just saqwp out the light and not do anything else b/c guaranteed you're going to have to repaint. For sure the ceiling will be different color underneath.
leafy02
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all--you confirmed my fear that by removing the light fixture I might be opening up a whole can of worms. I'm not doing a remodel, just trying to get rid of things I don't care for.

We moved into this house last fall and it feels like I'm in a slump as far as attacking the things that aren't my style, so I'm trying to pick some of the easier things to work on. I was humming along pretty well for a while, and then pfffft. I haven't decided what kind of fixture to replace the fluorescent with yet, either.

Both our cameras are on the blink right now, but once one of them is working I'll post a photo of the very odd light arrangement in the kitchen, and ask for advice. In addition to that fluorescent fixture, there is a weird kind of spotlight hung just a few feet from the fluorescent box that shines light on ...drumroll please....the front of a cabinet, for no known reason. The mysteries of this 1969 split foyer run deep!

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