FIXTURE INSTALL
Pendant, chandelier, ceiling, vanity, exterior, and dimmable LED fixture installs. Mounting support confirmed, wired for the load, code-compliant.
Keil Electric installs light fixtures across San Diego County and the Austin metro. Pendant lights, chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, vanity lights, exterior wall packs, and complex dimming-controlled installs. We confirm the mounting support, the existing wiring, the control plan, and any code requirements before installing.
Same scope on either side. Pick the shop that covers your area and we will route you to the right crew.
Standard ceiling boxes are rated for fixtures up to 50 lbs. Chandeliers, large pendants, and statement fixtures often exceed that. We install fan-rated or heavy-fixture boxes (with through-stud bracing or attic-side blocking) where the load requires it. The fixture warranty depends on correct mounting.
Each fixture install starts with confirming the wiring at the box: hot, neutral, ground, switch leg, and any dimmer or smart control. We verify polarity, terminate to the fixture per manufacturer instructions, and confirm the dimmer or smart switch is compatible with the fixture.
LED fixtures dim differently than incandescent. The dimmer has to be rated for LED loads, and the LED driver has to be compatible with the dimmer type (forward-phase, reverse-phase, 0-10V). We confirm compatibility on the site walk so you do not end up with flicker, buzz, or partial dimming range.
Exterior light installs require weather-resistant boxes, gaskets, sealant, and fixtures rated for damp or wet locations as appropriate. Photocell controls, motion sensors, and dusk-to-dawn timers can be added during the install.
We confirm fixture weight, mounting requirements, wiring at the box, and dimmer compatibility.
Fixture list, mounting changes if needed, dimmer changes, and cost. Fixed-price quote.
Box upgrade if needed, fixture mounted per manufacturer instructions, dimmer or smart switch installed.
Each fixture tested through full dimming range and switch operation. Documented in the customer file.
Not every job requires a permit. When the local AHJ requires one, we pull it, schedule the inspection, and stay with the job until it passes. No paperwork on you.
Written warranty: 5-year on outlets, fixtures, and EV chargers; 10-year on wire and breakers; lifetime on panelboxes and surge protection. Parts and labor. Transfers with the home.
Heavy fixtures (chandeliers, large pendants) require a fan-rated or fixture-rated box. A standard ceiling box is not designed to support more than 50 lbs. We confirm support before installing.
Real work from our San Diego and Austin shops. Same standards, same warranty, every job.
For light fixture installation, here's the honest comparison. We'd tell you the same thing if we weren't trying to win the job.
Most light fixture installation calls start when the homeowner is planning ahead: a renovation, an addition, an EV charger, a generator, a panel upgrade, or any project where the existing electrical needs to be sized correctly for the new load. The earlier we walk the property, the cleaner the project sequencing. Bringing us in before the drywall closes saves rework. Bringing us in before the contract is signed with the GC saves scope confusion. We are happy to walk a property at the planning stage even if the install is still months out.
A walk of the property with attention to the panel (age, capacity, available breaker space), conduit accessibility, attic / crawlspace conditions, and the load picture (current loads + planned future loads). For installs that touch the service drop, we factor utility coordination from the start. The estimate we leave with is fixed for the scope as walked. Change orders only happen for genuinely new findings during the work, you hear about them before we proceed.
Light fixture installation is straightforward when the fixture is a like-for-like swap and the box can support the new fixture. The work gets more complex when the fixture is heavier than the box rating, the dimmer is incompatible with the LED driver, or the existing wiring lacks a neutral conductor (for smart switches). We get all three of those calls regularly and the diagnostic happens before the install, not after.
Cost depends on fixture count, mounting changes (especially for heavy fixtures), and dimmer or smart switch upgrades. Standard ceiling fixture installs are quick. Chandelier installs with mounting upgrades take longer. We quote per fixture.
Probably not if the chandelier is over 50 lbs. Standard ceiling boxes are not rated for that weight. We install a fan-rated or heavy-fixture box during the chandelier install.
Dimmer-LED incompatibility. The dimmer is sending a phase-cut signal that the LED driver is not designed for, which causes buzz, flicker, or limited range. The fix is matching a dimmer rated for the LED type.
Yes. Adding a new fixture in a ceiling without an existing box requires running cable, installing a new fixture box, and routing the switch leg. We do this regularly during remodels.
Yes. Old fixture removal and disposal is included in our install scope unless you want to keep the existing fixture.
A licensed electrician confirms the box capacity, mounting support, and dimmer compatibility, then writes the install in fixed-price terms.
