[tryingtolearn15]

Mom rec.d new light for Christmas...a chandelier with five bulbs from lowes in antique finish. I went to put it in for her after removing existing light and found what is seen in my attached pics. House was built in 30s. I have a few questions...1) Do i need a junction box to just attach to those strips which I guess is there to attach those old ceiling tiles to? Or do I need to cut a bigger hole? 2) looking at the old wires coming between the two wood boards...how would I attach those to the new fixtures black and white wire...no slack is avail other than what is seen in pic. Thank You for any help...

 

[tryingtolearn15]

Pic #1

 

[griz]

no pics....

 

[oh'mike]

Picture did not post---try again---you need 2 or 3 posts in order to put up a picture.

 

[oh'mike]

Picture posted---good news---

You have a problem---Is the house knob and tube wiring?

 

[tryingtolearn15]

no pics....

Is the pic not under my post? Thanks

 

[griz]

Is the pic not under my post? Thanks

Yea, now it is....

Connect black to black & white to white, mount fixture and get brownie points from Mom....

 

[tryingtolearn15]

Do I attach a metal junction box directly to the wood strips.seen in pic which I guess is where the tiles are attached? Will that hold a medium weight chandelier?

 

[Oso954]

Yes, you need a junction box. The bigger problem is you have 2blacks and 2whites spliced to the single conductors. Those splices are supposed to be inside the junction box.

I would try a saddle box.

 

[Jim Port]

Was a plaster ceiling removed and tiled over?

 

[jeffnc]

Like Oso said, I'd try a saddle box. But you have a bigger problem than that. Those connections aren't going to work (yes, electricity will flow through them, but it's not to code.)

What's above that ceiling? If it's an attic, I'd go up there and tie in a new section of Romex cable to the old wiring, inside an electrical box in the attic, and extend that down through the ceiling. Then you'll have plenty of good cable to work with in your new electrical box. And of course all connections should be made with pigtails, not just twisted together and taped over. Then all your connections will be inside boxes according to code and you'll have plenty of wire to work with (I'd recommend leaving about 8" of free cable inside the box.)