Lamp Rewiring: It's Easier Than You Think!

lamp rewiring A 3 Arm Floor Lamp with a center Socket has 13 wires (including the incoming cord, the socket at the top, the 3 side arm sockets and the 3-way switch) that all come together in one main cluster. Knowing how they all connect can mean the difference between success and disaster.

However, this rewiring project is not nearly as complicated as it might seem, as long as you follow 4 simple steps. 

Before you begin however, be sure to remove all of the old sockets, switches and cords. Then, insert the new lamp cord up through the base of the lamp until it comes out into the bottom of the cluster. (the opening at the top where all of the cords come together.) Then, run the new black and white cords for each of the 3 side arm sockets through the tubing. At this point, screw on the three  3"  outer sockets and connect the wires to them, being sure to connect the black wires to the Gold terminal points on the sockets and the white cords onto the silver terminal points. Cut about 3 or 4 inches more of the black and white cord and connect it to the gold (hot) and silver (neutral) screws on the center socket.  You can now replace the new 3 way, 2 circuit rotary switch in the opening where the old one was. After having done this, you're only 4 steps away from connecting all of your wires and completing your project.

First, connect the blue wire from the 3-way switch to the black (hot) wires from any 2 of the side arm sockets.

Next, connect the red wire from the 3-way switch to the black (hot) wire of the remaining side arm socket.

Third, Connect the black (hot) wire from the 3-way switch to the hot (smooth, not ribbed)  wire of the incoming lamp cord and the black (hot) wire from the main center socket. 

Finally, connect all remaining wires which will include the ribbed side (neutral) wire of the incoming lamp cord, all of the white (neutral) cords from the 3 side arm sockets and the white (neutral) side of the main center socket.

You have now completed your rewiring project!

While most Vintage Floor Lamps have an oversized porcelain mogul socket, some Vintage Floor Lamps have a standard size socket in the center. Please check the size of the center socket and be sure to select the right center socket size  for your lamp. If your Floor Lamp currently has an oversized porcelain Mogul Socket, You CANNOT Change this socket to a standard size socket because lamps with a porcelain Mogul Socket screw onto a 1/2" threaded center rod. A standard Socket screws onto a 3/8" threaded center rod. Also, because of the height difference, the port for the stem (or turn knob) would not line up. If you have a Mogul socket in your lamp, you can find the larger oversized Mogul Bulbs in our online store. If however, you would prefer to use a standard bulb instead, we also carry the Mogul to standard size adaptors allowing you to convert from a Mogul to a standard size bulb.