How To Replace A Lamp Socket

You just changed your lamp light bulb, but it still flickers or doesn't work. Maybe the problem is the lamp socket. Having this problem is more common than you think, and also as easy to fix as replacing the light bulb. How to replace a lamp socket is a standard home repair that will make you feel like you can repair anything once you learn it.

Replace A Lamp Socket - Do It Yourself

Here are the steps on how to replace a lamp socket. Doing it yourself can help you save money rather than paying on an electrician or buying a new lamp.

Step 1: Your Safety Should Always Come First.
Since you are dealing with electricity, make sure that you have unplugged the lamp first before starting.

Step 2: Disassemble the Lamp
Remove the lampshade then unscrew the bulb. If there is more than one light bulb on the lamp, make sure to remove it all. Also, make sure that to remember where the parts should go so you'll be able to assemble it back.

Step 3: Snap off the socket shell from the socket shell cap.
Check if there's the word "Press" stamped at the cylindrical cover around the socket. You can usually find it near the bottom edge, and once you see it press the shell at those points and pull it up to remove. 

Step 4: Pull up the socket shell
Pull up the socket shell to expose its base and reveal the cardboard insulating sleeve exposing the screw terminals where two wires are attached.

Step 5: Check the screws
Loose screws may be the reason why the lamp is not working. Therefore always check the screws and tighten them with a screwdriver. Reassemble the lamp to see if it works. If the lamp still doesn't work, take it apart again and proceed to the next steps.

Step 6: Unscrew the wires.
A standard lamp cord has two wires:
"Hot" wire - This brings the electricity to the socket.
"Neutral" wire - This brings the electricity back to the household circuit.

Before removing the wires, take note or mark them to remember which wire goes where for the new socket. Unscrew the wire using a screwdriver. Pull the cord after unscrewing the wire. You can use a multimeter or multitester to check if the wire can still be used. There's No need to buy a new cord if it still works.

Step 7: Loosen the screws on the new socket.
Unscrew the socket cap set and loosen the screw on the new socket.

Step 8: Expose the wires
Trim the wires at its end with about 5/8 of an inch and remove the plastic coat to expose the wires underneath. Doing this will make it easier to reattach the new wires to the terminals and the new socket.

Step 9: Screw the wire to the new socket
Screw the wire that leads to the new socket. Make sure to tighten the screws before placing back the new socket shell over the socket. Push down the cover until it snaps.

Step 10: Reassemble the lamp.
Check if all screws are tightened and reassemble the lamp.

Step 11: Plug the lamp.
After reassembling the lamp, plug it back.

Conclusion

Learning how to replace a lamp socket is cheap and easy. It's worth the shot to try and check if this will make your lamp working again.