Instructions for Rewiring Lamps

Don't throw it out, rewire it.

Never throw out a lamp until you are sure you cannot repair it. Knowing how to rewire lamps will allow you to turn landfill into treasure. Lamps consist of a cord and a socket, all the rest is decoration. The electricity travels from the wall outlet, through the cord and into the socket. Do not repair sections of the cord by splicing the wires together. Not only is this unsightly but the cord could unravel and become a safety hazard.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips or slotted screwdriver
• Prewired lamp cord
• Glue

Instructions

1. Remove the lamp shade, lamp harp and the light bulb from the lamp.

2. Remove the bottom of the lamp by peeling it from the lamp base. Most manufacturers cover their lamp bottoms with either felt or heavy paper.

3. Pull the socket cover from the socket base to expose the inner socket/switch and wiring. Loosen the silver and brass screws on the sides of the inner socket. Remove the wires from beneath the screws and set the interior socket aside.

4. Pull the old lamp cord from the lamp. Grasp the cord at the base and pull it from the lamp and out through the base.

5. Thread a new lamp cord through the opening in the base and up through the body of the lamp. Use a pre-stripped lamp cord with a prewired plug. Using a prewired lamp cord is as cost-efficient as building your own.

6. Wire the new cord to the inner socket/switch. Lamp cord is made of two wires, one smooth and one ribbed. Wrap the smooth wire around the brass screw on the socket switch and the ribbed wire around the silver screw. Tighten both screws to hold the wires to the socket/switch.

7. Push the socket cover back over the socket. Put the lamp harp and the shade back on the lamp and replace the light bulb. Replace the bottom of the lamp base by gluing the paper or felt back on.

References

• Reader's Digest: How to Repair a Table Lamp
• Reader's Digest: How to Wire a Light Socket
• "Wiring 1-2-3"; Steve Cory; 2005