How to Replace a Lamp Socket

[@Know-How-Now]

Thanks for watching the video. Due to the fantastic response to the video, I made some more videos on repairing lamps. Thanks for watching! Here's the link to the lamp repair video playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLvce66kQTjJR9SvrmHgWbz9fK4kFzvRFT There are hundreds of videos at Know How Now, subscribe so you can always find the channel…. It’s free. I always respect your time and do my best to keep the videos brief, but informative. Check out the channel with this link: www.youtube.com/@Know-How-Now/videos

[@kimbennett2677]

😊b

[@sheshickey]

The "extra" explanation you provided about removing the shell saved my sanity! I could NOT for the life of me figure out how to get that shell off. THANK YOU!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome. I do my best to cover everything you need to know in the videos.

[@chicagobob8969]

This is an update to my previous comment. I fixed a nice lamp that I was going to put in the trash, and fixed it by replacing the 3-way socket and switch. I wouldn't have been able to fix it without the aid of this helpful video. Thank you.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, William. I love to hear that the lamp was saved from the trash.

[@dorothycook7938]

What an EXCELLENT TEACHER!!! Very patient with the correct amount of explanation of everything....I almost threw a beautiful lamp away, but found this and replaced the socket and my lamp is once more working💃🏻thank you!!!

[@Know-How-Now]

Congratulations on the lamp repair Dorothy. Thanks for the compliment.

[@njtexit8]

Your video was the first one I watched that talked about the Press spot!!! I held the lower piece with one a piece of cloth to give me a better grip. And I pressed on the spot that said Press. Next up is a trip to Home Depot and buy the Leviton brand's Push-Button Socket Lamp Holder. Edit: The old lamp socket holder is Leviton brand and made in USA (that tells you how old it is) and had the Press spot. The new lamp socket holder also Leviton brand and made in Mexico but does not have the Press spot.

[@chicagobob8969]

Thank you for this video. It is so helpful, especially the portion of the video where you describe the hot and neutral wires...so helpful. Thanks again!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, William. It's my pleasure to help. Best wishes for the lamp repair.

[@kaygiossi6648]

I agree she is very patient and explained everything. I was able to change it. Thanks a ton.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Kay.

[@chrishigh8]

I agree with other reviews -the bit where you show how to get the shell off by pressing on an image on the shell which may not have the word "press" but has the round shape gave me the assurance that if I used a wrench there it would finally get the top off the base. One of the other videos starts to suggest getting a screwdriver but then zooms forward to where the top's been removed -not showing how. Your video is far more honest and helpful.

[@Know-How-Now]

Thanks for the compliment, Chris. I do my best to not gloss over difficulties you may encounter. I hope the lamp repair went smoothly.

[@HamSangar]

Thank you for the detailed demonstration. Very helpful.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome.

[@kyleenslin2425]

Watched 2 other videos before watching this. This video is perfect for a novice. Every step explained carefully, intelligently, and with information about “why”. Ie. Description about why wires go to what poles, how they look and are marked, great separate pictures of them. I could not get the socket apart either, which immediately stumped me until I saw her gently use channel lock pliers. Duh! Which was perfect for someone like me. Last example, only video that said when you put socket back together you hear a click. Mine didn’t go back together until I needed to use more force than I thought I would til I heard the click. Without this video I couldn’t get started or get finished. Thanks. I’m s subscriber

[@Know-How-Now]

Welcome to Know How Now, thanks for subscribing. I do my best to keep the videos short, fully informative on the task and accurate. Have a great day.

[@oceans.and.deserts]

Watched a few videos. Yours helped explain how to use the wire cutters which I need to buy. I wouldn't have known about using the 18 gauge hole at all. I also had trouble pulling the casing apart until I found the spot that said press. Not so easy for some of us who are older and don't have man hands (or perfect vision)! Thank you for having a DIY video made by a woman. 😊

[@Know-How-Now]

Thanks for the feed back, I enjoy hearing from people who have watched the videos. I too have a hard time pulling the socket apart. I usually end up putting a piece of cloth on the socket and using a pair adjustable channel lock pliers to grab and pull./wiggle. You have to be really careful not to crush the socket.

[@oceans.and.deserts]

@@Know-How-Now You're welcome. Pulling the socket apart was a breeze once I found the "press" spot imprinted into the metal. My mistake was buying cheap strippers from Wal-Mart! They were so stiff and like dull scissors and wouldn't cut through the insulation for anything, even on the tiniest gauge. After 30 mins on each side, I got through and stripped the insulation off. I was in pain for days. Luckily, I could return them and will be buying better ones with a spring in between the handles (and with cushioned handles) at a home improvement store the next time I need to do this. Tough lesson but my lamp is great. My only other advice to folks is the socket I bought off Amazon (better brand) is long and narrow and my GE LED bulb wouldn't make contact. I used the EcoSmart brand from Home Depot and it fit but just a warning if it works with an incandescent but not an LED: look for one with a skinnier base.

[@Know-How-Now]

Klein Tool and Ideal make good wire strippers. I had a pair that I used daily for years. They were good until a co-worker borrowed them and cut through live 120 VAC. That blew a chunk out of the cutter part.

[@Snoopstopher2024]

Thanks - pressing the side to get the socket apart is the main information I really needed. And it was right there. Thanks

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Christopher. It's my pleasure to help.

[@iwolf6645]

Thanks for the help! Helped me to fix my favorite old lamp.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome!

[@enricolimcaco]

Great info. Thank you. Most videos don’t get to the safety info like this one. Hot = smooth wire, narrow prong, printed wire, gold connector.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome. Electricity is not very forgiving if you make a mistake.

[@tonym6920]

Excellent video, I always wondered how they came apart. Thanks!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Walkin' Man! It's always nice to hear from you!

[@JohnSmith-td7hd]

Thanks for saying what happens if you connect them wrong :)

[@Know-How-Now]

I spent extra time on the electrical videos. Errors can have bad consequences. There are over 200 how to/repair videos, organized by playlist on the channel. They may not always appear at the top of your search. If you have a spare moment, click on the channel name and check it out. Subscribing is free and you will always be able to find the channel and the videos easily.

[@msavina9129]

I had to come here bc I chose the other tutorial with more views, which was the pits. He said pull socket out, period. I was unable. Thankfully you had this well informed video, i was able to remove socket. Thank you very much!!!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome. There are now over 200 how to /repair videos, organized by playlist on the channel, including how to replace a lamp cord. If you find a few spare moments, click on the channel name and check it out. Thanks for watching the video, it's people like you who have made the channel successful.

[@danainnc]

Perfect teaching video how to do this!!!

[@benzboi1]

Thank you! I just followed your easy steps and made my repair.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome. Way to go on the successful repair!

[@brianthompson9241]

Thank you for the help!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome!

[@michaelzoran]

QUESTION: I dropped a lamp I like very much from the 1990s that is touch sensitive with three levels of brightness. Originally, the bulb would screw in 100% of the way until it stopped and was very firm. The bulb did not wiggle or wobble at all after being screwed in. However, after being dropped, the bulb screws in about 99% of the way and "almost" feels firm. However, the bulb never screws in 100% of the way now. The bulb will always continue to rotate. Once this point of 99% has been reached, the bulb wiggles and wobbles back and form. The bulb does still work, and the lamp still turns on and off with three different levels of brightness. But, I'm concerned there would be a potential electrical problem or fire problem if the lamp has a wiggly bulb plugged in like that. What are your thoughts? Is this lamp safe to use in such a way? And also is this something that can be repaired? It looks like there are places online far from my home that repair lamps. But, touch sensitive lamps like this have not been common for a long time. Any help would be appreciated.

[@Know-How-Now]

Without seeing it, I can't say if it is a fire hazard. For sure if there is a loose connection and it heats up, that is a recipe for a fire. I had a lamp that from factory had "vampire" connections, which is a pointy piece of metal that pierces the wire for a connection instead of the screw down type shown in this video. Apparently it was not a good connection and over time it started to arc and destroy the connector. I had the light on a timer and was lucky to see that it was blinking on and off. I pulled the plug and found the socket to be hot. When taken apart the socket was black and starting to melt.

[@brianpytel9805]

Well done ! Thanks

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome. Thanks for the compliment.

[@gdust7786]

Very good explanation!

[@Know-How-Now]

Thanks for the compliment!

[@aeonfluxcapacitor77]

1.) Thank you so much! 2.) I have 40 minutes trying to pull the bottom couplet off the socket... Press... Push press 😂😂😂😂

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome! It's my pleasure to help.

[@lwoan2348]

Thank You.

[@Know-How-Now]

You're welcome

[@grashoprsmith]

Keep up the good work

[@Know-How-Now]

Thanks for the show of appreciation, Christopher. It's my pleasure to help people accomplish some common tasks and have some fun making the videos too.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

Thanks, I could not figure out how to take golden lamp holder apart... push. Why the polarized plug? My lamp was recently wired, it doesn’t have polarized plug..

[@Know-How-Now]

The short answer is that the lamp socket threads could be connected to the "hot" because you can insert a non polarized plug into an outlet either way. If you have a broken bulb, don't unplug the lamp and touch the threads you are going to get a shock. If another part of your body is grounded when you touch the threads and the current goes across your heart, it can kill you. It doesn't take much current to stop your heart.

[@Know-How-Now]

PS - there are other lamp repair videos on the channel, including how to replace a cord. Click on the channel name, find the playlist tab and you will find a bunch of videos on lamp repair.

[@SusieQ1971]

Ya I shocked myself not unplugging my lamp first before attempting to take off the parts to the lamp socket 😅

[@mdepercin3031]

Thx!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome!

[@julieanderson6503]

Hi Loved your video, it already helped me change one socket but I have a question. Can I change a 60 watt socket for a 100 watt socket or is the wiring in the lamp specific to having a 60 watt bulb? Really appreciate your help!

[@Know-How-Now]

If it's an older lamp, the bulb size limitation label on the socket would be for an incandescent bulb. The concern is that the heat from an incandescent bulb would cause the shade to catch fire, not overload the socket/wiring. The socket and wire size would handle either a 60watt or a 100 watt incandescent bulb. An LED bulb creates very little heat. A 5.5 watt LED bulb is equal to a 60 watt incandescent bulb and will generate way less heat. I hope that helps.

[@julieanderson6503]

@@Know-How-Now Thank you for your quick reply, your information clears things up!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Julie. Have a great day.

[@barbarahamilton8149]

Thanks

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Barbara.

[@charlesmiller8167]

perfect

[@lindapitts7700]

What if the base of the old socket won’t unscrew and come off the lamp?

[@Know-How-Now]

I've never had one that won't come off. Sometimes there is a set screw that you have to loosen first.

[@jeffreybower5959]

are they all the same size for every lamp!?

[@Know-How-Now]

Most of them are the same socket. The big box hardware stores sell the typical socket.

[@cd7071]

Nice video, but you should always place a bulb in the lamp to demonstrate that your repair actually works..

[@Know-How-Now]

I assume that you will put a bulb in the socket. I keep the videos as brief as possible to respect your time.

[@cd7071]

@@Know-How-Now yes and it is greatly appreciated! Just a suggestion, that’s all..

[@censortube7160]

"Hot wire to silver screw"...🤯 Copper screw is hot (black), silver screw is (white) neutral...

[@jasongooden917]

both of my screws are silver

[@Know-How-Now]

Is that on your new socket or the old one?

[@bobradbury5808]

B

[@oneworldawakening]

Thank you.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome.