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Intro: |
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| Most lampshades are attached by a lamp harp--metal bands that curve up from beneath the socket to join above the bulb. To remove the shade, you might have to unscrew a cap that holds it onto the top of the harp. If the lamp harp is getting in your way, you can remove it by pulling up the small sheaths that bind the metal bands with the harp's base, then squeezing the bands toward each other. They should pop out of the harp's base easily. Some sockets are connected to the lamp by a threaded metal rod (called a nipple) that screws into the socket cap. Unscrew the cap from the nipple after you've separated it from the shell. If the socket has a turn knob or push button, you can use it to pull the insert out of the shell. |
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If your lamp is broken and you've ruled out the obvious (like a dead bulb or wall outlet), it's time for a little surgery. Here's how to remove and check the old electrical socket: Unplug the cord (never tinker with anything plugged in), remove the bulb, and take off the lampshade.
You should now have a clear view of the electrical socket, made up of the socket hole, into which the bulb screws, the tube-like shell surrounding the socket hole, and the cap at the end opposite the hole, through which the cord enters. There are two main types of sockets: plastic and metal. To open either one, first loosen the tiny screw (turn counterclockwise) on the side of the cap, beside the entry hole for the cord. This screw holds the cord in place. If the socket is metal, work your screwdriver between the cap and its shell. With a little tugging, these two pieces should separate fairly easily. If the socket is plastic, unscrew the cap from the shell.
Once the cap is separated (although it'll still be somewhat attached, since the cord still threads through it), you'll see the electrical insert within the shell. It should slide out if you tug gently on it while pulling the shell the other way. The insert is where the electrical wires connect with the socket via two terminals--two screws attached to opposite sides of the insert.
When the insert is out, check the wire connections. About 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) from its end, the cord should split in two, with the plastic or rubber stripped away about half an inch (1.25 centimeters) from each of these ends, exposing two bundles of copper wire. Each bundle should be wrapped clockwise underneath a terminal screw's head. If either of the bundles has burned edges or is loose from the screw, your socket may not be broken. See Step 2 for how to split and strip the wire.
If the connections look solid, the socket is probably dead. Loosen the two terminal screws and remove the wire bundles. If the ends of the split cord are tied in a knot (called an Underwriters' knot, used to secure the cord in a socket or plug), undo the knot and pull the unattached cord through the cap. Keep the cap and socket so you can compare to make sure the replacement matches its size. If the cord looks sturdy, without any cracks or frayed areas, you can reuse it with the new socket. If it doesn't, leave it in the lamp--you can use it later to thread the new cord through the lamp's interior.
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Dismantle the lamp
