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Intro: |
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| If the cord length is more than 10 feet (3 meters), or will be supporting a heavy lampshade (more than 1 pound, or .45 kilograms), buy heavy-duty lamp cord for added safety. If the shade or fixture is particularly heavy (more than 3 pounds, or 1.3 kilograms), attach a length of chain from the lamp to the ceiling hook, then weave the lamp cord through the chain. Once you buy the cord, make sure it's the right length by running it from the power source to where the lamp will hang. Never string your cord near anything that could cut, jostle, or otherwise damage the cord, such as a ceiling fan or a heating duct. Never use staples or nails to secure your cord. These can damage the cord and create a safety hazard. |
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Once you have the basics of wiring down, you can experiment with a host of new lighting possibilities--the first of which is the hanging lamp. Decide on placement. With a power source, enough lamp cord, and a secure hanging spot, you can put your hanging lamp anywhere you like. However, since you don't want too much unsightly cord, try to keep its placement near either a wall outlet or a ceiling light fixture (with a standard bulb socket)--either will work as a power source. To figure out how much cord you'll need, measure the distance from the power source to the ceiling hanging point, and add it to the distance from the ceiling point to the lamp. Gather your materials. Buy the correct length of cord and a two-prong plug attachment. For the socket, you have a variety of choices: You can buy ones with on-off switches connected to the socket, such as a turn knob, a push button, or a pull chain; or you can get a keyless socket, which has no switch (these work well if your power source is a ceiling socket with its own wall-mounted light switch). Finally, you'll need screw hooks to hang the lamp from the ceiling, a lampshade that can attach to the cord, and a lightbulb. Note: If your power source is a ceiling- or wall-mounted light fixture, you'll need a plug body adapter, which you can find at a hardware store. This inexpensive device screws into a standard lightbulb socket, but has a prong receptacle on it that converts the socket into an outlet. Wire the socket, cord, and plug. Follow the procedures outlined in Step 2 and Step 3 for preparing and wiring the cord, socket, and plug. Before you start, however, check to see at what point the lampshade will need to be attached to the cord. You can attach some models after the wiring is completed, while with others, you'll need to thread the cord through the shade before attaching the socket. Whatever the case, never rest the shade directly on the socket. Once the wiring is complete, test the lamp before you hang it. Hang the lamp. Secure your hook screws to ceiling joists to ensure a safe suspension, and hang the cord so it's out of the way, flush with the wall or ceiling. Wrap the cord around the screws so the lamp's weight won't pull on the plug in the outlet. Plug it in to the outlet or adapter, turn it on, and enjoy your new light source.
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Create a hanging lamp (optional)
