When to light Menorah on Friday

On Erev Shabbos Chanukah, we daven Minchah early, followed by the menorah lighting, and only then do we light the Shabbos candles. If a person does not have a minyan with which to daven Minchah early, he should light the menorah first and then go to shul for Minchah. The menorah lighting must take place before shkiah, sunset (eighteen minutes after candle-lighting time), and can only take place after plag haminchah. We try to complete the preparations for Shabbos early so that the entire family can be present at the menorah lighting. It is important to ascertain that there is enough oil in the menorah for it to burn until a half-hour after nightfall. If a person did not put enough oil, and realized after lighting the menorah, but before shkiah, the halachah is as follows: If he has not accepted Shabbos yet, he can add more oil himself. If he already accepted Shabbos, he should ask someone else who has not accepted Shabbos to add the oil. (One must first extinguish the menorah, then add the extra oil and relight). Likewise, in case the candles were extinguished before shkiah, if he has not accepted Shabbos yet, he can relight them himself, and if he has, he should ask someone who did not accept Shabbos yet to relight them on his behalf.

https://halacha2go.com?number=185

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.