Before You Start
Installing a Moroccan pendant light is the same process as installing any hardwired ceiling fixture. If you have ever swapped out a light fixture, you can do this. If you have not, read through the full guide first and decide whether to DIY or hire an electrician.
Every E Kenoz pendant ships with UL-listed wiring and a standard US hardwire connection. UL-listed means the wiring has been independently tested and certified to meet US electrical safety standards. You are not wiring something exotic — this is standard residential electrical work.
What Is in the Box
- The fixture — handcrafted brass pendant with pre-attached wiring
- Ceiling canopy — the decorative plate that covers the junction box on the ceiling
- Mounting bracket — secures to the junction box; the canopy attaches to this
- Chain or cord — adjustable length for hanging height
- Wire nuts — for connecting the fixture wires to your home wires
- Mounting screws — for attaching the bracket to the junction box
Tools You Need
- Non-contact voltage tester — essential safety tool, about $15 at any hardware store
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flat head screwdriver (some mounting brackets use flat head screws)
- Wire strippers — in case you need to trim wire ends
- Step ladder — tall enough to work comfortably at ceiling height
- A helper — someone to hold the fixture while you connect the wires (optional but very helpful for heavier pendants)
Step-by-Step Installation
Step 1: Turn Off Power
Go to your electrical panel and turn off the breaker that controls the ceiling fixture you are replacing. Do not just flip the wall switch off — turn off the breaker.
Go back to the fixture location and use your non-contact voltage tester to confirm the power is off. Hold the tester near the wires in the junction box. If it beeps or lights up, the power is still on. Go back to the panel and find the correct breaker.
Do not skip this step. Ever.
Step 2: Remove the Old Fixture
Remove the screws or nuts holding the old fixture's canopy to the ceiling. Lower the canopy to expose the junction box and wire connections. Untwist the wire nuts connecting the old fixture's wires to the house wires. Set the old fixture aside.
You should now see three wires coming out of the junction box in the ceiling:
- Black wire (hot / line)
- White wire (neutral)
- Green or bare copper wire (ground)
If your home has older wiring, the colors may differ. If you see only two wires with no ground, or wires that are not the standard colors, hire an electrician.
Step 3: Install the Mounting Bracket
Attach the new mounting bracket (included with your pendant) to the junction box using the provided screws. The bracket has a standard pattern that fits most US junction boxes. Tighten securely — this bracket supports the full weight of the fixture.
Step 4: Connect the Wires
This is the core of the installation. Match colors:
- Black to black — fixture hot wire to house hot wire. Twist the stripped ends together clockwise, then screw on a wire nut. Tug gently to confirm it is secure.
- White to white — fixture neutral to house neutral. Same process.
- Green to green (or bare copper) — fixture ground to house ground. If your junction box has a green grounding screw and no green wire, connect the fixture's green wire to that screw.
Tuck all connected wires neatly into the junction box. No bare wire should be exposed outside the wire nuts.
Step 5: Attach the Canopy and Hang the Fixture
Slide the canopy up against the ceiling to cover the junction box and wire connections. Secure it to the mounting bracket using the provided screws or locking mechanism. The canopy should sit flush against the ceiling with no gaps.
If your pendant uses a chain, the chain should already be connected to the fixture and threaded through the canopy. Adjust the chain length now (see chain adjustment section below).
Step 6: Install the Bulb and Test
Install your bulb — standard E26 base, the most common size in the US. We recommend a warm white LED (2700K) at 40W–60W equivalent for the best shadow pattern effect.
Go back to the electrical panel and turn the breaker on. Flip the wall switch. The pendant should light up immediately. If it does not, turn the breaker off again and check your wire connections.
How to Adjust Chain Length
Most of our pendants ship with more chain than you need, which lets you hang the fixture at whatever height works for your ceiling. To shorten:
- Determine how much chain to remove. Measure the distance from the ceiling to where you want the bottom of the pendant, then subtract the fixture height.
- Open one chain link at the desired point using pliers. Remove the excess links.
- Reconnect the chain by closing the link with pliers.
- Thread the electrical cord back through the chain if it was woven through (most of our fixtures have the cord running through the center of the chain).
Save the extra chain links. If you move the pendant to a room with higher ceilings later, you can add them back.
When to Hire an Electrician
DIY installation works when you are replacing an existing ceiling fixture with a new one in the same location. Hire a licensed electrician if:
- There is no existing junction box where you want the pendant. An electrician needs to run wire through the ceiling and install a box.
- You are converting from recessed lighting to a pendant. This requires a recessed-to-pendant conversion kit or junction box modification.
- You are installing multiple pendants where there was one fixture. Each pendant needs its own junction box and may need additional wiring from the switch.
- The fixture weighs more than 15 pounds. Heavy fixtures may need a fan-rated junction box, which is reinforced to support more weight.
- Your home has aluminum wiring (common in homes built 1965–1972). Aluminum-to-copper connections require special connectors.
- You are not comfortable working with electrical wiring. There is no shame in this. A licensed electrician will install a pendant in under an hour.
Dimmer Switch Compatibility
Our pendants work with dimmer switches, and we recommend them — being able to dim Moroccan pendant lights for dinner or movie night is one of the best features of the shadow pattern effect.
If using LED bulbs (which we recommend), you need an LED-compatible dimmer switch. Standard incandescent dimmers will cause LED bulbs to flicker, buzz, or not dim smoothly. Lutron Caseta and Leviton both make reliable LED dimmers available at any hardware store.
If using incandescent or Edison bulbs, any standard dimmer switch will work.
Replacing a standard switch with a dimmer is a separate project but a simple one — it uses the same junction box behind the switch plate.
Safety Notes
- All E Kenoz fixtures include UL-listed wiring certified for US electrical standards.
- Always turn off the breaker — not just the wall switch — before working on any electrical fixture.
- Always verify power is off with a non-contact voltage tester before touching any wires.
- If anything looks unusual inside the junction box (burned wires, melted insulation, strange colors), stop and call an electrician.
- Do not install ceiling fixtures on a circuit that is already overloaded. If the breaker trips frequently, have an electrician assess the circuit capacity.
Ready to Install?
Browse our collection of handcrafted Moroccan pendant lights. Every fixture ships with UL-listed wiring, a ceiling canopy, mounting bracket, and all the hardware you need for standard US installation.
For help choosing the right size and style before you buy, see our pendant light buying guide. For kitchen-specific advice, see our kitchen island lighting guide.
