How To Repair Switch On Lamp Cord

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Lamps are a stylish fashion to bring soft light into a room, just it can exist frustrating when your lamp switch stops working. Instead of throwing your lamp away, attempt installing a new low-cal switch yourself! Information technology'due south an like shooting fish in a barrel project that even a beginner can tackle, and you can replace the switch whether it's located on the lamp itself or on the cord. All you lot need are a few unproblematic tools and y'all'll be out of the dark in no time!

1
Purchase a new socket switch from a hardware shop. Your new switch can be whatever type yous prefer, regardless of the existing switch. For case, if your lamp has a pull chain simply you lot desire to install a 3-way turn knob, all yous have to do is buy a 3-fashion turn switch and a light bulb with ii effulgence levels.^[1]
- You tin can even supersede a socket switch with a cord switch. Just purchase a new socket assembly without a switch and follow the instructions for replacing a cord switch.
- You tin purchase a new socket switch from most hardware stores, and they unremarkably cost around $two-$5 USD.
2

Unplug the lamp before you lot brainstorm repairs. Never take chances when y'all're working with electricity. Double-check to be sure that the lamp is unplugged earlier you commencement to take it apart.

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3

Remove the shade, bulb, and the wire that holds the shade in place. At this indicate, the socket at the top of the lamp should be exposed. On almost lamps, this is where the switch is located.^[ii]
4
Clasp and pull the socket shell to remove information technology from the lamp. The socket shell is the actual assembly where the switch is located and the light bulb screws in. On about lamps, you can squeeze the socket vanquish and pull upwards to remove it.^[3]
- If the socket shell is difficult to remove, use a screwdriver to pry it loose.
five
Locate the wires attached to the socket vanquish. In that location should be two wires fastened to the switch. one is hot and the other is neutral. The hot wire is usually attached to a brass spiral, and the neutral wire is usually attached to a silver screw.^[4]
- The neutral wire is usually marked in some way. It may exist a different colour, or the insulation may exist printed, stamped, or have indentations. Make sure to annotation this now, since you'll need to know which wire is neutral when you hook up your new switch.
- If y'all can't identify the neutral wire, look at the plug. The neutral wire is attached to the wider plug blade on a polarized plug. If your plug blades are the same size, you should replace the plug while you lot're replacing the socket.^[5]
half-dozen

Utilise wire cutters to cut the wires leading to the existing switch. Cut through the wires as close to the switch as possible to ensure you have plenty of wire to work with.^[6]
7
Cut off the ends of the wire and strip away ⁱ⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) of insulation. Wire cutters can also be used to strip insulation from wires. Use the wire cutters to make a notch in the insulation effectually the wires, then clamp down on the insulation with the strippers and carefully pull the insulation abroad.^[7]
- If you see whatever strands of wire when you pull abroad the insulation, information technology means yous cut as well deep. Cut off that section and start once again.
8
String the ii wires through your socket and attach them to the screws. Use your fingers to wrap the wire tightly around the screw. Be certain to connect the neutral wire to the argent screw and the hot wire to the brass screw.
- Although sockets will be slightly dissimilar depending on the manufacturer, the wires should thread easily through the socket. Make sure the socket is right-side-upward and wait for wire channels to help you know where to guide the wire.^[eight]
9

Place the new socket shell into the lamp and printing down. You lot should hear the new socket shell snap into place. If there is a screw on the stalk of the lamp, tighten it now to hold the socket in identify.^[9]
10
Supplant the light bulb and lampshade and plug in the lamp. If you lot've done everything right, you should be able to utilize your new switch to turn on your lamp!^[10]
- If the lamp doesn't come up on, check the connection in your switch and endeavour over again. If this doesn't aid, you may need to supplant the plug.
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one
Look for press on the lamp cord to determine the size switch you lot demand. Look for press which says either SPT-1 or SPT-2. The printing is pocket-size, so you might have to await advisedly.^[xi]
- The difference between SPT-1 and SPT-two involves the thickness of the lamp string.
2

Examine your new switch to meet which wires you have to cut. Some switches merely crave you to connect the hot wire. If this is the case, there will exist a channel along one side of the switch for the neutral wire.
3
Remove the existing cord switch. You may be able to open up the casing of the existing switch and remove the wires without cut them, but if non, use wire cutters to cut as close to the switch as yous can.^[12]
- Try to avoid cutting the neutral wire. If y'all have to cut it in order to remove the old switch, strip the insulation and connect the cutting ends of the neutral wire together. If you like, add a plastic connector to protect the wire at the location where you want your new switch to be.
- If yous are adding a cord switch when in that location wasn't one before, use a minor knife to carefully carve up the cord where you want your new switch to get, so cut through the hot wire. If your switch requires you to adhere the neutral wire, cut through that also.
4

Strip nearly ^one⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) of insulation off of the wires. Use your wire cutters to brand a notch in the wire insulation, then gently pull to remove it. Merely have off every bit much insulation equally you demand to attach the wires to the screws in the switch.^[13]
5

Match the hot and neutral wires to the appropriate screws. If you only have one screw, information technology's for the hot wire. If you lot have to connect both the hot and neutral wires, the hot wire goes to the brass screw, and the neutral wire goes to the silver screw.
six
Insert the stripped wires into the screw terminals. Employ your fingers to wrap the wires around the screws securely, and brand sure in that location is enough insulation on the wires and so that no live wires will be exposed when yous close the switch.^[fourteen]
- There should exist no visible wires showing when the switch is assembled. All you should run across is insulated string.
- If the exposed wires are besides long, utilize the wire cutters to snip off a small portion and reattach the wires to the screws.
7

Close the comprehend on the switch and snap or screw information technology close. Brand certain that the cover closes securely and there are no bare wires showing effectually the switch.^[xv]
8
Plug in your lamp and endeavour out your new switch. If you're confident that the switch feels similar information technology's deeply connected and in that location are no alive wires showing, it'due south fourth dimension to test out your lamp! If you lot hooked everything up right, you should be able to plug in the lamp and turn it correct on.
- If the lamp doesn't turn on, double-check your wiring and try over again.
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Add together New Question

Question

Can you prepare a lamp switch?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Reply

You can definitely replace a socket switch if it isn't working anymore. Make sure the lamp is unplugged and remove the shade and bulb. The socket crush is the bodily assembly where the switch is located and the light bulb screws in. On virtually lamps, yous can clasp the socket trounce and pull upwardly to remove it. If it's hard to remove, apply a screwdriver to pry it loose. At that place should be 2 wires attached to the switch. 1 is hot and the other is neutral. The hot wire is unremarkably attached to a brass screw, and the neutral wire is usually attached to a argent screw. Cut through the wires every bit close to the switch every bit possible to ensure you accept plenty of wire to piece of work with. Then, cutting off the ends of the wire and strip abroad 1⁄2 inch (i.3 cm) of insulation with a pair of wire cutters. And then, utilise your fingers to wrap the 2 wires tightly effectually the screw and and so push the new socket into the lamp. Y'all can then supersede the light bulb, plug in the lamp, and test it out.
Question

How exercise you a lamp cord switch?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

It'south really non too difficult. If you're replacing the switch with a new i, you lot may not demand to cut all of the wires. Some switches only require you to connect the hot wire. If this is the case, at that place will be a aqueduct along one side of the switch for the neutral wire. Yous may even be able to open the casing of the existing switch and remove the wires without cutting them, but if not, utilise wire cutters to cut equally close to the switch as you can. Try to avert cutting the neutral wire. If you lot have to cut information technology in order to remove the sometime switch, strip the insulation and connect the cut ends of the neutral wire together. You can also add a plastic connector to protect the wire at the location where you want your new switch to be.
Question

How do I know what switch to utilise for my lamp?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If yous're trying to replace your lamp's switch, you definitely want to choose one that is compatible. Luckily, information technology's relatively like shooting fish in a barrel to effigy out which switch you demand to get. If your lamp uses a socket switch, it's fifty-fifty easier. Your new switch tin be whatever type you prefer, regardless of the existing switch. For instance, if your lamp has a pull chain only you want to install a iii-fashion turn knob, all yous accept to do is buy a 3-fashion plow switch and a light bulb with ii effulgence levels. For a cord switch, look for printing on the lamp string to determine the size switch you need. Look for printing which says either SPT-1 or SPT-2. The press is small, so you might have to look carefully, but it'll tell you exactly which switch you need to use.

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Try irresolute the bulb and plugging the lamp into a unlike outlet before you take it autonomously.

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Always use circumspection when working when electricity.

Things Yous'll Demand

Replacement switch
Screwdriver
Wire stripper/cutter
Small knife (if installing a new string switch)

About This Article

Article Summary X

To replace your lamp switch, unplug the lamp and remove the light bulb and lamp shade. Squeeze the socket vanquish to remove it from the lamp base, and so cutting the wires attached to the former switch. Advisedly strip about 1/2 an inch of insulation off of the wires, and so reconnect the wires to the new switch. Identify the new socket shell into the lamp and snap it into place. Plug in your lamp and you're done! If yous want to know how to replace a cord switch, keep reading!

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