How to Rewire a Pole Lamp

Pole lamps can be easily rewired with a few simple tools in under an hour.

Interior lighting is essential to any home decor, but older lamps are especially susceptible to deteriorating wires and plugs. Generally speaking, light circuits are relatively simple, so most household lamps and lights have similar wiring. Rewiring pole lamps and other household lights can be done at home with few tools and very little expense.

Things You'll Need

• Pole lamp
• Replacement wire and plug
• Wire stripper
• Wire cutters
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Unplug the light from the wall outlet. Unscrew the lamp shade and light bulb from the lamp pole and set them aside.

2. Squeeze and pull the bulb socket from the pole. You may need to use a flat-head screwdriver to pry it out, there is usually no glue keeping these sockets in place.

3. Loosen the screw at the base of the socket to completely remove it from the pole. There are several levels to a socket, one of which secures it to the top of the lamp pole.

4. Loosen the two screws on either side of the socket. These screws hold the negative and positive wire to the socket to lend electricity to the light bulb.

5. Remove the base of the lamp. Loosen the grommet that leads the cord through the metal of the lamp base.

6. Pull the wire through the lamp pole out through the bottom. Once the wire is removed, you can send the replacement cable back through the hole to replace the old one. Tighten the grommet around the new cable.

7. Pull the new wire through the top of the pole and slip it through the socket base and socket. Divide the negative and positive wires about 3 inches from the end by slipping the tip of a pocket knife between them and cutting through the plastic insulation. Use wire strippers to strip each wire about from 1/4 inch to the end.

8. Tie an underwriter's knot to prevent the wires from slipping from the connector screws. Wrap the exposed wire around the connector screws at the base of the socket. Screw them tightly to secure the wires.

9. Return the socket and socket base back onto the pole. Secure the socket base with the pole screw and press the socket back into the base. Replace the light bulb and lamp shade and check your wiring by plugging the cord back into the wall outlet and flipping on the switch.

Tips & Warnings

• Never work on a lamp or any electrical device while it is plugged in.

References

• Creative Homeowner: Replacing a Lamp or Appliance Cord
• The Family Handyman: How to Repair a Table Lamp

Resources

• Hope College: Underwriter's Knot