How to Rewire a lamp

When a lamp stops working, most people will just toss it in the trash and buy a new one. This is probably because most people are too intimidated by the wires to attempt fixing it. However, it is fairly easy to re-wire a lamp and the following article explains how.

Before you begin you will need:

• Lamp cord
  
• New lamp socket
  
• Pressure lamp cord plug
  
• Wire strippers
  
• Electrical tape
  
• A Screwdriver
  

1. First make sure that the lamp is not plugged in and then move it to a table where you can work on it.
   
2. Remove the shade, light bulb and arm and look for an area that says “press here.” Some lamps will have an inscription that says “press here,” if it does, gently press down with your thumb and the cover should lift off. If it does not say “press here,” rock it back and forth and it should just pop out.
   
3. After removing the cover, pull the switch up and using the wire strippers, cut the wire. You do not have to be precise because you are going to remove the cord and switch completely. Then pull the cord out of the lamp and toss it and the switch in the garbage.
   
4. Measure the length of cord, taking into consideration the height of the lamp. Put the cord through the hole located in the bottom of the lamp and pull it until it comes out of the top.
   
5. Once you have the wire through the lamp, tie a knot in the cord where it exits the lamp. This will be inside the lamp and is done so that the cord cannot be accidentally pulled from the socket.
   
6. Separate the wires that are at the top of the lamp about two inches. To do this, simply pull them in opposite directions. Using the wire strippers, remove about a half inch of the insulation from each wire.
   
7. Use a screwdriver to loosen the two terminal screws located on the new socket. Wrap one wire around each screw and then tighten it down. Make sure that the wires to not touch each other or hang out from under the screw. Then wrap electrical tape around each of the terminals.
   
8. Place the socket back inside and slide the sheath back over it to hold it in place. It should snap in once it is completely in place.
   
9. Cut the opposite end of the cord at a diagonal angle using wire strippers.
   
10. Slide the lamp's cord into the slot located on the pressure plug and then secure the connection by closing the arm on the plug.
    
11. Place a new lightbulb in the lamp and put the arm and shade back on.