- 1). Turn off the circuit breaker that provides power to your under-cabinet lighting. Decide where you want to locate the switch for the under-cabinet fixtures.
- 2). Measure the height and width of the electrical box that will contain your new light switch. Using the drywall saw, cut a hole the same size in the wall where you want the switch located.
- 3). Remove the cover from the light fixture to access the internal wiring. Run a fish tape from light fixture to the hole you cut for the electrical box.
- 4). Attach the two-conductor electrical cable to one end of the fish tape. Wind the fish tape up to pull the wiring through the wall. Cut the wiring with your wire cutters to leave about 6 inches extra by the under-cabinet light and 6 inches at the hole where the new electrical box will be installed.
- 5). Push the electrical cable into the new electrical box. Insert the box into the wall. Turn the box screws clockwise to slide the tabs up inside the wall. This will secure the box to the drywall.
- 6). Strip the electrical cable at both ends to expose the individual wires inside. Place your wire stripper over the cable 2 inches from the end. Squeeze the wire stripper and pull it toward the end of the cable to remove the insulation. Strip the individual black and white wire at both ends to remove 1/2 inch of insulation, using the same method.
- 7). Make the electrical connections in the light fixture. You will be modifying the hot (black) wire connections and leaving the neutral wires alone. Disconnect the black wires in the fixture. Twist the bare end of the black wire from your circuit breaker panel to the bare end of the black wire that runs to your new electrical box. Screw on a wire nut. Twist the end of the black wire from the light fixture to the end of the white wire that runs to your new electrical box. Screw on a wire nut. Wrap black tape around this white wire to signify that it is being used as a hot wire and not a neutral wire. Twist the green or copper ground wires together and screw a wire nut over the ends.
- 8). Connect your light switch to the wiring in the electrical box. Use needle-nose pliers to make a loop in the exposed part of the black wire. Slide it under one of the switch's gold-colored (hot) screw terminals. Tighten the screw with a screwdriver. Connect the white wire to the other gold screw in the same way. Wrap black electrical tape around the white wire to show it's a hot wire. Connect the ground wire to the green screw on the light switch in the same manner.
- 9). Mount the light switch to the electrical box with the provided screws. Tighten it all the way down. Install the light switch cover with the provided screws.
- 10
Turn the power back on to the under-cabinet light. Test your new light switch by turning it to the "On" position.
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