How to Wire a 12-volt Light in a Hen House

Putting a 12-volt light in a hen house will help you see in the dark without having to use a flashlight. The extra illumination will help you see on a dark, cloudy day or check on the chickens at night, in case you hear a ruckus and have to figure out what's going on.

Things You'll Need

  • UL stranded wire Inline on and off switch 12-volt battery 12-volt lightbulb Knife or wire stripper Wood staples and staple gun (optional) Hammer (optional) Phillips-head screwdriver Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the amount of wire you will need, using a tape measure. You will need enough to run from the spot where you want to mount the light to the batter--plus about 6 inches extra to have a little slack and to make the connections to the battery terminals, the switch and the light terminals.

    • 2

      Screw the light fixture to the wall or roof of the hen house. Drill pilot holes so the screws are easier to put in.

    • 3

      Place the battery in the desired position. If you are using a 12-volt car battery, you might want to put it on a shelf in the hen house or enclose it in a box so the chickens don't accidentally touch the battery terminals. The shock they could receive could be fatal.

    • 4

      Using a knife or wire stripper, remove about 1/2 inch of insulation from both the positive and negative wires of some 10- to 12-gauge UL stranded wire. (One is red and one black.) Wire the two wires to the lamp, putting one on each of the terminals where they attach. Screw them down tightly.

    • 5

      Decide where you want the switch to be located. When you use an inline switch, you'll have to unscrew the switch to connect the wires. Cut the red (positive) wire using a knife, scissors or wire cutter. Strip the insulation from about 1/2 inch of the wire ends to attach the wire to the switch. Attach the wires and replace the cover on the switch.

    • 6

      Use wire fasteners or staples to secure the wires to the ceiling and/or walls, about every 2 feet. If you don't have a staple gun, you can use a hammer to attach the staples or fasteners. Be careful not to pierce the wires. If you do, you can remove the fastener and wrap several rounds of electrical tape around the wire to keep it safe.

    • 7

      Attach the red wire to the positive battery terminal and the black wire to the negative terminal after you have stripped about 1/2 inch of insulation off both the positive and negative wires. Test the switch to make sure the bulb illuminates.