How to Repair Lamps
Repairing a lamp is simple if you prepare carefully and use proper tools. The most common repair is replacing a defective switch in the lamp socket. It occurs often in table lamps because a switch wears out mechanically and electrically as you use it. Another possible failure is a defective lamp cord. For example, you might damage the cord or plug accidentally while moving furniture. A cord loses electrical continuity if either of its wires break. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Lamp socket
- Lamp cord
- Screwdriver, flat-blade, medium
- Screwdriver, flat-blade, small
- Continuity tester
Instructions
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Troubleshoot the lamp carefully to be certain it needs repair. If the lamp will not light even after replacing its bulb, test the outlet by plugging a different lamp into it. If the lamp lights, the original lamp is defective. Inspect its power cord for physical wear or damage. Replace the cord if you can see any damage. If you see no external damage, plug the defective lamp into any outlet and wiggle its cord to see whether it flickers on. If it does, the cord is defective. If the lamp never flickers when you wiggle its cord, it's likely that the socket is defective.
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Unplug the lamp. Remove the lampshade and any associated hardware. Remove the bulb and store it safely to guard against breaking it. Carefully pull the socket barrel (including its switch) from its crimped base. If necessary, use a small flat-blade screwdriver to pry the crimping loose. Be careful not to damage the crimped base; you can reuse it. Make a note of which wire is under the silver-color screw and mark it with a small piece of tape.
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Loosen the screws and remove the two wires from the old socket. Place the "neutral" wire around the silver-color screw, and the other wire around the brass screw. Carefully push the new socket barrel into the original crimped base. Make sure it is mechanically stable, and that you cannot wiggle it easily. Replace the bulb and the lampshade.
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Test the lamp. If it does not work, replace the cord. Connect the cord to the socket according to the instructions above. For safety, maintain correct polarity in the switch and wires.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are not sure which wire is "neutral," you can use a continuity tester to see which wire connects to the "neutral" (wide) blade on the plug.
If you need to replace the lamp cord, you can cut the plug from the old cord, tie the old cord to the new, and then use the old cord to pull the new through the lamp.
Unplug the lamp before disassembling it. Never work on a live circuit.
While reassembling the socket, make sure that no wires, or strands of wires, touch the socket's metal barrel or base.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
