Bathroom vanity light fell off wall. How do I fix it?


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Old 12-15-19, 01:30 PM
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Bathroom vanity light fell off wall. How do I fix it?

So one of our bathroom vanity lighting fixtures just fell off the wall last night and after doing some research online I am little concerned with what I found.

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/2GaVn4sm.jpg" width="320" height="240"/>
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/rZfzllqm.jpg" width="320" height="240"/>
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/ib7kfMnm.jpg" width="320" height="240"/>


Just some questions:

Shouldn't there be a wire attached to the green grounding screw?
It looks like the person didn't actually attach the mounting plate to the junction box and just threw some screws on the outside in the drywall which is why the fixture fell off. This is also why you don't see the plate in the bottom two pictures as it's still attached to the fixture.

Just how bad is this and should I check the other vanity fixture to see if it has the same issues?
 
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Old 12-15-19, 01:37 PM
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A ground wire can be added to the grounded wires to create a pigtail, then attach that pigtail to the green screw. You will likely need a larger wire nut that will handle 3 wires. Then screw the mounting plate to the box using longer machine screws. Possibly they stripped the threads with a short screw.
 
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Old 12-15-19, 01:42 PM
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You have the fixture bare ground wire going directly to the incoming ground wire. That is all that is needed and is fine. The green screw on the fixture plate is only if you don't have an incoming ground wire and you need to get the ground from the box.

Now you'll need to mount the fixture plate to the box.
 
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Old 12-15-19, 02:13 PM
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Is there typically a standard screw size for this?
 
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Old 12-16-19, 05:53 AM
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Hi, 8/32 X 3/4” machine screws should be fine to mount the plate to the box, ground wire looks fine.
Geo
 
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Old 12-17-19, 06:42 PM
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So we have a problem which might explain why the previous owner just attached the mounting plate to the wall using drywall screws instead of attached it appropriately.

Basically the place were you would mount the bracket to the box is in the exact same location were the fixture mounts on the bracket. and there doesn't appear to be any other place to mount the bracket to the box. After watching some videos online it looks like I might need to replace the box??

If that's the case, what box should l look at getting?

Thank you for the help!

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/leVXJeBm.jpg" width="320" height="240"/>
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/bHOD2Slm.jpg" width="320" height="240"/>
 
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Old 12-17-19, 06:53 PM
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So you cant put one screw in the box and one screw in the stud (slightly off center)? If not, get an old work box. It will have wings that will suck up to the drywall.
 
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Old 12-17-19, 07:11 PM
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The backing of the fixture is not very wide so attaching the bracket to the stud would expose the box.

So after all that, I think I have to make a trip to Home Depot/Lowes to get some new fixtures.
 
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Old 12-17-19, 07:19 PM
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You might be able to just get a different mounting plate. The kind that has 2 wings and is adjustable.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Portfolio-S...-Mount/3659580
 
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Old 12-17-19, 07:44 PM
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See if you can turn the base on the fixture.
Instead of the mounting studs being at 3pm and 9pm...... see if you can move them to 4pm and 10pm.
 
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Old 12-18-19, 04:21 AM
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Hi, if the holes in the fixture line up with the box then either get long 8/32 screws of matching color or longer screws, cut the heads off , screw them into the box and use acorn nuts to secure the fixture. Ditch the plate.
Similar to this. https://www.amazon.com/Hillman-Group.../dp/B00O3GTP4E


https://www.homedepot.com/p/8-32-x-1...2087/204276652

Geo
 
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Old 12-18-19, 06:02 AM
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The following should do the job, if you can find one.
Alighting store is probably your bets bet.

The problem with Geochurchi's fix is that if the box holes are not perfectly horizontal you would not notice it on the box but it would be noticeable with the long fixture you have.
 

Last edited by XSleeper; 12-18-19 at 07:38 AM. Reason: Removed link to another diy site.
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Old 12-23-19, 09:16 AM
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Just an update on this. So I am not very smart and I think one of you suggested this earlier, but one of our family friends stopped by and pointed out the most obvious solution...just move the bracket slightly in one direction and take advantage of the the other mounting holes. After fixing this, we went ahead and fixed the other fixture as it was mounted improperly as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
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Old 12-23-19, 10:01 AM
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Good job. Thanks for letting us know how you made out.
 
 

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