How to Fix a Lamp

How To Fix A Lamp

Lamps have a terribly bad habit to go faulty and many people just replace them after the break down, but they fail to understand that just with a handful of parts and about 30-40 minutes. The most common problem with lamps these days is a faulty socket or a switch inside that socket, later is the issue with faulty or loose wiring. This article will help you figure out the fault with your lamp and then help you fix it.

Required Instruments or Parts:

You will need an extra lamp cord, a lamp socket, a continuity tester, lamp socket assembly and electrical tape, wire cutters and a standard screwdriver.

Identify the Fault:

Many times it is just a faulty wall socket or a bad bulb; this can be easily fixed by trying a different wall socket or replacing the bulb.

Safely unplug the lamp and check the plug and chord for any visible damage. If it is a damaged plug then you will need learn to fix an electric plug as it cannot be explained in brief and it they come is different types. If it is a faulty cord then see, ‘Rewiring a Lamp.’

If there is no visible damage then safely remove the lamp shape and the bulb. Now you have to remove the harp and disengage the clips that hold the two pieces together.

Using a continuity tester check both the plug prongs. If the testing light does not light up for each test, replace the chord.

Now, using a continuity tester indentify the faulty socket. Now to identify a faulty socket you have to understand that the test light should only go on when the switch is in one position and not in the other. If it is a three way switch it has three On positions and one Off position.

Replacing the Lamp Socket.

Follow this to replace the lamp socket assembly. Loosen all the screws in the socket base and then twist off the socket base and the harp holder from the nipple. Now remove the socket base and fix the harp holder to the new base.

Follow this to replace the lamp socket. Keep the socket base and harp on the lamp untouched and install the ne socket. Then wire the socket using the existing cord if the cord is not faulty. Or you can also use a new one as explained below.

Rewiring any Lamp:

Loosen the terminal screws, disconnect the wires and untie the knot, this must be done after taking the socket apart. If there is a cover remove it.

Now you will have to use the old cord to pull the new one through the lamp. Split around 1” from both the wires and twist them around.

Now to install the plug tie a knot in the chord inside the hole in the lamp and simply feed the cord out through a hole in the base. Tie a knot at the end of the new cord keeping in mind that you leave just enough wire after the knot so that you can wrap around the socket terminals.

Just twist the loose wire and cut around half an inch of wire so that it is exposed.

Now, simply wrap the neutral wire, which is white in color clockwise around the silver screw and tighten it. Later, do the same with the hot wire which is black in color but with the brass screw.

Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Minimalistic Design