Electrical 101

How to Rewire a Lamp

Whether a lamp cord is damaged or the switch does not work, there are a few options for wiring your lamp or replacing the socket assembly. You can take it to a lamp store, find someone who specializes in this, or do it yourself. Lamp kits and lamp replacement parts are available at home improvement stores.

Cord size (diameter) may need to be the same size or smaller. Check the size of the holes they are traveling through. Lamp cords mostly supply power to a single light bulb, so the cord does not have to be very big in diameter.

When buying a cord for a lamp, make sure it is labeled as a “lamp cord.”

Things to Consider Before Rewiring a Lamp

Is the bottom of the lamp covered by felt? If you install a full lamp kit, this felt will need to be removed, then replaced after the kit is installed.
Cord color: Gold, silver, white, and brown are the most common colors.
Cord size: 1/8 by 1/4 inch is normal. If the old cord and the hole it goes through is very small, the new cord may not fit.
Do you want a bigger or smaller shade and harp?
Type of switch: Push button, 1-way twist, or 3-way twist.
Socket wattage: Don’t exceed the wattage rating of the socket.

3-way Lamp Switch

Decide whether you want to use 3-way bulbs in your lamp. Smaller bedside lamps usually have a regular bulb, larger table lamps may use 3-way bulbs (3-way bulbs are bigger and may not fit in a small lamp). Choosing a 3-way socket for a large lamp allows you to use either type of bulb.