How to Wire & Install a Single Port Ceiling Pendant

When you want to customize your home’s light fixtures, learning how to install a single-port pendant light could be the key. With the simple construction of Color Cord Company’s single hanging pendant lights and a clear, step-by-step guide from Instructables, you’ll be ready to go in no time.

Assemble the materials below and follow along with the guide to learn how to install a pendant ceiling light.

• DIY Cloth Covered Wire
• Basic Socket
• Cord Grip
• Ceiling Canopy
• Socket Cover (optional)
• Color Cord 3000 (optional)
• Screw Driver
• Masking Tape
• Wrench/Pliers 
• Wire Stripper

Start your installation of a single hanging pendant light by cutting and stripping the cloth covered wire. Use a wire stripping tool to expose several inches of internal wires to ensure you have enough material to wire the pendant light into the canopy mounting. You can throw away the excess cloth covering. Then use your tool to remove the material covering each individual wire in the bundle.

The next step in how to install a single-port pendant light is following the diagrams included with the cord grip to attach the parts together and thread the wires through the hole. The cord grip and socket should both be resting on the cloth covered portion of the wire, revealing the exposed wiring within the socket hub.

After feeding the conductor wires through the cord grip and socket cover, attach the green grounding wire to the correct insert on the socket cap. Use a screwdriver to tighten the ground set.

After attaching the ground wire, release the terminal screws from the terminal plate. Now, attach the white wire to the silver screw hole and the black wire to the gold screw whole. Tighten down the screws just like you did for the green wire to create a secure fit.

Once all the wires are attached, slide the socket body on top of the socket cap. It will lock into place, as the sockets are self-locking. Please complete all wiring before attaching the two parts because you won’t be able to separate the two after they’ve been twisted together.

With the socket body and cap locked in place, slide the socket cover over this single part. Move the cord grip down to meet the socket cover and thread it into place. You will need to use pliers or a wrench to ensure these two pieces are tight and secure.

Safety Reminder: Before you actually start the technical portion of our guide on installing your single-port pendant light, turn off the light switch and the breaker.

Strip the other end of your cloth-covered wire and twine the three bundles together. Thread them through the canopy base until your cord is the appropriate length. You may have to trim a bit of the cord until you achieve the height you desire. Be sure to tie a knot in the cord after threading it through the base to keep the cord from sliding through the canopy.

At this point in our guide on how to install a single-port pendant light, use the provided screws to attach the canopy mounting plate to the ceiling in the appropriate spot. Twist the corresponding wires from the cord to the junction box (black with black, white with white, and green with the bare ground wire). We use wire nuts to secure each couple in place and wrap them with electrical tape for extra security.

Also, the mounting plate might look a little different than the thin rectangle mount shown in several of the GIFs; it may look more like the circular mounting plate, namely this Universal Rotating Canopy Mount.

With your fixture wired, at this point in our guide on how to install a pendant ceiling light, you can push the whole mess up into the junction box and attach the ceiling canopy to the mounting plate with screws.

You’ve made it all the way through and you now know how to install a single-port pendant light! Flip the breaker and switch on your new light.