How to Extend Electricity for Side-by-Side Chandeliers

Test the wiring in the cable leading from the hole in the ceiling for the first chandelier to the main electrical box with a voltage tester. If this is an entirely new circuit not wired into the main box yet, skip this step.

Feed a 12/2 electrical cable between the holes in the ceiling where the chandeliers are being installed. The 12 indicates the gauge of the wire, and the 2 means that there are two insulated wires (plus a bare copper ground wire) in the cable.

Remove the knockout holes from the electrical boxes that will be placed in the ceiling and contain the wiring for the chandeliers.

Slide both electrical cables in the first hole in the ceiling through the knockout holes on the electrical box. Insert the box into the hole in the ceiling and screw it to the ceiling joist.

Install the electrical box into the second hole using the same method. There is only one electrical cable in the second hole.

Cut a piece of 12/2 cable about 4 inches long and take the black and white wires out of the cable.

Connect the wiring for the first chandelier by attaching the black wire from the chandelier, the black wire from the cable leading to the electrical box and one end of the 4-inch black wire with plastic connector caps. Connect the white wires the same way. Connect the copper ground wires from the two cables with a plastic connector cap. Attach the loose ends of the short white and black wires to the screws on the chandelier following the wiring instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Slide the wiring into the electrical box and attach the first chandelier to the ceiling.

Connect the black and white wires in the second hole to the correct points on the chandelier and wrap the grounding wire from the cable around the ground screw in the electrical box. Tighten the grounding screw.

Slide the wiring into the electrical box and attach the second chandelier to the ceiling.