I have been itching to replace the old, rusted light fixture on the front porch with a new, modern one. I believe many of you might be in the same boat if you own an old property or home. So, here is a quick tutorial on how to update or replace an outdoor light fixture!

Here are the tools & material you need:
New Light fixture: Choose the fixture you want to best fit your wall. I got this fixture from amazon. Its modern style and also, I was hoping that birds wont build a nest on top of it due its shape. 😛 Lets see.
A Voltage tester – Its always a good idea to check the power before you start on this electrical project.
Screwdriver– You can use a regular screw driver. But my personal favorite is this rechargeable screwdriver. I use it all the time in my home to install power sockets, hanging hardware etc. It is a must-have in any household.
Wire stripper/cutter: If the wire is not stripped long enough to connect, then you might need to use this.
Wire connectors and mounting bracket: Usually, most of the new light fixtures come with these.
Optional: A ladder and outdoor grade caulk
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How to update or replace an outdoor light fixture?
Turn off Main Power:
First and the most important step is to turn off the power to the light fixture you want to replace. Turning off just the light switch is not enough. Find the switch at the breaker box and turn it off. If your breaker box switches are not labeled, then turn off one by one and have someone stand near the light to see if the light goes off. Just to be double sure, use a voltage tester to check that the power is completely off to your light fixture. If the tester shows green, then you are good to go. If the tester beeps long with red light, then there is still power. Make sure to turn off.
Uninstall existing light fixture:
Remove the light bulb. Next, find the screw on the light fixture and unscrew it. Slowly pull the light off and expose the electrical. Undo the wire connectors by turning the wire nuts counterclockwise to separate the light fixture from the wall. Tip: Take a picture of the connections before you undo the connectors. This will help you connect the new ones easily.
Go ahead and clean the junctions box if you see any dust or cob web. As you can see, mine was too dirty.
Attach the mounting bracket:
You can use the same mounting bracket or use a new one that came along with the fixture. Make sure the screws align and install the brackets. Use this tool instead of screw driver to make this job easier.
Connect the wires:
Identify the wires in the new fixture. Usually, black is power, white is neutral and green or naked wire is ground. Connect the black to black , white to white and ground to ground. Sometime, ground is wrapped around a green grounding screw and tightened. Twist the wires together, use wire connector and turn clockwise to keep them in place. Make sure to pull and check that they are not loose. Another option is to use these quick connectors. No need to twist and turn. Just insert and lock.
Attach the Light fixture:
Now tuck in all the wires inside the junction box and install the screws that came along with the fixture. Make sure to mount the light fixture level and straight.
TEST:
Install the light bulb. You can use dusk to dawn LED bulbs that turn automatically turn on or off during night and day. Now, go ahead and turn on the power at breaker box and turn on the light switch.
If the light fixture does not turn on, then turn off the power right away and check the connectivity of the wires. They can be either loose or might have wrongly connected. Remove fixture and check wires before turning the power back on again.
If you have attached a mounting plate to fit your siding or wall, then it is advisable to add caulk / sealer to avoid water or insects getting inside the seams and gaps. Ours was installed directly on an existing mounting plate on the siding, so we did not add any caulk.
I love the modern style fixture we selected. Glad this upgrade turned out soo good for our facade. I hope this tutorial helps for your exterior light upgrade.