How to Wire a Pull Switch Lamp

Rewiring a lamp is a good way to save some money and keep from throwing extra waste in a landfill. Additionally, it lets you keep a lamp you like instead of trying to find a new one to fit your décor. In only a few minutes and with a few simple tools, you'll have your lamp working just like new again.

Things You'll Need

• Lamp cord
• Pull switch
• Screwdriver
• Wire cutters
• Wire strippers
• Electrical tape

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Instructions

Preliminary Steps

1. Unplug the lamp from the wall and remove the shade and bale.

2. Remove the decorative cover from the socket. It may be tight so you may need to use a little force.

3. Pull the socket out from the base and unscrew the wires.

Replacing the Socket

1. Untie the knot in the cord. Loosen the set screw and pull off the socket base.

2. Disassemble the new pull switch. Thread the lamp cord through the base of the new switch.

3. Slide the base onto the stem and tighten the set screw. Re-tie the knot in the cord.

4. Attach the wires to the socket by looping the exposed wire clockwise around the screw, then tighten the screw.

5. Slide the decorative cover back on followed by the bale and the lampshade.

Replacing the Wire

1. Clip the plug end of the wire with wire cutters. Tape the cut end of the original cord to the plug-free end of the new cord.

2. Gently pull the new cord up through the lamp by the old cord. Once the new cord is through the socket base, remove the tape and old cord.

3. Separate the wires of the new cord far enough to tie an overhand knot and leave enough wire at the end to attach the cord to the socket.

4. Attach the wires to the socket by looping the exposed wire clockwise around the screw then tighten the screw.

5. Slide the decorative cover back on followed by the bale and the lampshade.

Tips & Warnings

• Lamp cord has one neutral wire and one hot wire. The hot wire is the one attached to the narrower blade of the plug. The insulation of one of the wires will be marked, check the plug end to see if the hot side is marked or not. That will tell you which wire to attach to the hot side of the socket.

• If the wire has pulled out or you are making a new lamp you can use picture hanging wire fed from the socket end to pull the lamp cord through.

• If your cord kit does not have exposed wires at the end, use your wire strippers to expose 1/2 inch of the wire.

• If you don't get the polarity right, the threaded part of the socket will always be hot and could cause electrical shocks.

References

• rd.com: How to Wire a Light Socket
• hope.edu: Making a light by wiring a socket and plug.