How to Replace a '70s Kitchen Fluorescent Light Box

Find the breaker panel and turn off the breaker that controls the room where you plan to replace the light fixture. The light fixture should not power on if you turn off the correct breaker. Test the light by turning it on before you begin to remove the old fixture.

Remove the cover from the fluorescent light fixture and then remove the fluorescent light bulbs or bulbs from the fixture.

Find the terminal cover and remove the screw that holds it in place. In most cases, the cover mounts near the center of the light fixture.

Pull the wires out of the ceiling or wall and disconnect them from the wires connected to the ballast in the light fixture. The wires will likely have wire nuts or caps attached to them. Turn the wire nuts counterclockwise and then pull the wires apart. Discard the old wire nuts.

Remove the screw on the housing of the fixture that holds the green ground wire in place. Remove the ground wire from the screw and then secure the screw back into the fixture.

Remove the screws that secure the light fixture to the wall or ceiling and set the old light fixture aside. Place the new light fixture against the wall or ceiling and then secure it into place with the screws supplied with the new fixture.

Secure the green wire extending from the ceiling to the green screw located in the housing. This is the ground wire.

Secure the black wires together with a wire nut and then secure the white wires together with a wire nut. Shove the wires back into the ceiling.

Place the terminal cover over the hole in the light fixture where you shoved the wires into the ceiling or wall and then secure it to the fixture with the screws supplied with the new fixture.

Place the fluorescent bulbs into the new fixture and then install the light fixture cover.