How to Change a Lamp Switch to 3 Settings
For added flexibility with interior lighting schemes, many homeowners prefer the convenience of three-way switches in their table lamps. If you have decided to upgrade one of your lighting fixtures, you won't have to replace the entire lamp socket, just the socket interior. Three-way lamp socket interiors are fairly inexpensive. Upgrading your lamp will require only a few minutes, and you will only need one tool for the job. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Three-way lamp socket interior
- Three-way incandescent light bulb
- Slotted screwdriver
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Instructions
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1
Unplug the lamp from the wall outlet. Carefully remove the harp finial, shade, lamp harp and light bulb. Set the old bulb aside. You will be replacing it with a three-way bulb once the new socket interior is installed.
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2
Squeeze the lamp socket shroud where the word "Press" is stamped into the metal. Wiggle the shroud to free it from the socket base and slip it up over the existing socket interior.
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3
Remove the black and white lamp cord wires from the contact screws on the socket interior. Loosen the screws with the slotted screwdriver until you can unwind the wires. You do not need to remove the screws completely.
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4
Unscrew the contact screws on the new three-way socket interior. Loosen them to the point where you can slip the black and white wires back onto their shanks. Wind the end of the black wire around the brass screw and the end of the white wire around the white metal screw. Tighten the contact screws to secure the wires.
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Grasp the socket shroud at the "Press" locations and slip it back down over the new three-way socket interior. Press it down until it locks into the crimping along the edge of the socket base.
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Install the new three-way light bulb into the three-way socket. Reattach the harp, shade and harp finial.
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Plug the lamp into an existing wall outlet. Turn on the lamp, making sure all three of the lamp wattages illuminate properly.
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