Rewiring an Adjustable Desk Lamp Step-by-Step

If you have an adjustable desk lamp that isn’t working, chances are that it simply needs some rewiring to become fully functional again. If you like antiques, then knowing how to rewire lamps is a useful skill as well.

If the wiring needs to extend through a flexible/adjustable portion of the lamp, then the repair may be difficult, because of the difficulty of access to the interior of a flexible area. However, if the wires need only to be slid through a hollow pipe, then this is a simple task.

Step One - Identify the Source of the Electrical Problem

If your problem is in the cord extending from the lamp to the plug, then your repair is much simpler. If you can see old, frayed, cut or broken areas on the adjustable desk lamp’s cord, then it is possible you need only fix the cord.

If you see no problems with the cord, then the wiring in the lamp may need to be replaced. If the lamp is old and it has paper rather than rubber insulation on the wires then rewiring the entire lamp is the best idea.

Step Two – Purchase Replacement Cord

If you are replacing the entire wiring, then you’ll need a longer cord. You can buy a cord with a premolded plug already on the cord, or just the wire and a separate plug you can install later.

Step Three – Remove the Lamp Base

Remove the base, which may be felt, cardboard, or metal or a combination of these three. This gives you access to the wiring. If there are connections in the base of the lamp and only the plug and cord extending from the lamp need to be replaced, then disconnect the plug wire at the base and replace the plug and cord.

To rewire the entire lamp, proceed through the next steps.

Step Four – Remove the Socket

Loosen the set screw usually found at the base of the socket. Twist or pull gently to remove the socket from the base. You may need to remove an outer cover in order to access the wires. Tie a knot in the wires to keep them in place for the time being.

Step Five – Pull New Wiring Through the Lamp

Thread the new cord through any holes in the base of the lamp so that the new cord will be in place when you pull it through.

Using electrical tape, attach the new wires to the old wires in the base of the lamp.

Pulling the wires from the socket area, pull gently on the wires until you have pulled the new wires through the lamp and into the socket area.

Step Six – Reinstall Socket and Lamp Base

Split the new wires 2 inches down. Strip ½ inch of the insulation from the ends of both sides of the wire. Reattach the socket to the wiring and replace in the lamp.

In the base of the adjustable desk lamp, tie an underwriters knot in the cord. If there is no connection in the base of the lamp, simply replace the base of the lamp.