Repairing household lamps that do n’t work properly is easily done . useable at any well - stocked computer hardware or electrical computer storage , the plug and cord are uncomplicated and inexpensive to replace . establish a light socket is just as sluttish . Replacement sockets issue forth in various stopping point so you should be capable to get hold a socket that is like to the coloration tone of the existing socket .

Lamp cord is known as Type SPT , or zip corduroy . The # 18 sizing is satisfactory for most lamp lotion . Zip cord is available in many coloration , the most common being inglorious , browned , white , and sheer . couple the cord color to the lamp stand or the wall that holds the receptacle . The customary duration is 6 base , but you could expend as much cord as you necessitate to reach from the lamp to the receptacle .

To figure out how much electric cord to buy , calculate the distance of the corduroy ( admit electric cord that is hidden in the lamp ) , and add together 1 foot for attachment to socket and plug and for drop-off . In price of base hit and appearance , it ’s honest to have an adequate duration of corduroy than to compensate for a short one with an extension corduroy .

Check out the next page for the first step .

1. Disconnect the Power

Pull plug out of wall socket . You should never do any work while lamp is tie .

Next , we ’ll work on taking out the bulb .

2. Remove the Bulb

Remove tint , unscrew bulb , and press socket shell at switch to freestanding shell and cardboard dielectric from socket crownwork . If you be after to reprocess socket , do not use screwdriver to pry socket apart . draw socket out of shell as far as attached wire permit . If this does n’t give you enough conducting wire to work with , push cord up from bottom of lamp for extra slack .

Next , we ’ll influence on take out the socket .

3. Remove the Socket

Loosen socket ’s terminal ass , and polish off cord wire from under them . If lamp is modest and corduroy goes through in uncoiled path , skid old conducting wire out , and feed Modern wire through from either destruction to the other . If old electric cord offers any resistance at all , do n’t lug on it . Check to see if you could disassemble lamp to make removal easier . Also , ensure cord is tied in knot to keep it from being pulled out at its base .

4. Cut the Power Cord

To remove tight cord , trend telegram off about 12 inch from lamp ’s base , slit corduroy ’s two conductors apart , and strip about an inch of insularism off close . Do the same to one destruction of new distance of cord .

Twist bare new and old music director stop together , and fold twists flat along cord . Wrap electrical tape around splice . Pull on old cord from top of fixture , and work new cord through ; at same time , push on new cord from bottom . When you have sufficient distance of new cord through top , snip off off onetime corduroy .

5. Remove the Insulation

Once you pass raw cord through lamp , split end so you have about 3 inch of separated conductors . Use conducting wire stripper prick to strip about 3/4 column inch of insulation from remnant of each conductor , then twist strands of each together . Be thrifty not to chip fibril when you strip insulation .

6. Connect Wires to the Terminal

Bend perverted end of each wire into clockwise closed circuit , and invest each iteration under terminal screw on socket with loop curled clockwise around gaoler . Tighten last screwing . As each piece of ass is tighten , clockwise loop will pull wire tight under jailer head . ( A counterclockwise loop would tend to loosen wire . )

Clip off superfluous naked wire with slanted cutters . All uninsulated conducting wire must be under screw heads , with no loose strands or exposed bare wire . If stripped conducting wire is seeable beyond shag head , unscrew terminals , take away conducting wire , and make connector again .

7. Attach the Insulator

Slide socket shell over insulator , and slip scale and dielectric over socket . Then snap shell and socket into cap .

8. Attach the Plug

Install agile - clamp plug on other terminal of electric cord . Stick terminal of cord into one-armed bandit on side of plug , and push down on lever at top . Metal prong inside plug will prick through corduroy ’s insulant , pierce copper wires to make electric joining . If you use shag - eccentric quid , prepare telegram end just as you did when make socket piece of ass connections , then knot them together . Loop each telegram around prong of male plug before tightening bare end under screw head . Knots and loop-the-loop keep wire from unintentionally touch each other and also make it more hard to loosen connective by pulling on cord .

Next , we ’ll finish our task .

9. Reasseble the Lamp

fasten wire under screw heads , and clip off any excess uninsulated conductor before you plug in lamp .

Now that you know how to rewire a lamp , we ’ll shed some light in the next section on how to supplant an incandescent fixture .

Rewire Lamp FAQ

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