Re-wiring a lamp

[vicky whitworth]

Hello, this isn't really a period property question - more of a period lighting question. I have inherited a 1930s Anglepoise lamp from my Grandmother. It has been re-wired in recent times (a few years ago by my dad) but the cable is so short it won't reach any socket that I have near a table or desk and I don't want to run extension leads. So I'm thinking of re-wiring it myself using old fashioned-style(but modern) cable.

Do you think this is difficult to do? I can re-wire a plug so the only tricky end if where it connects to the actual bulb socket - and I can copy how that's been done. Or is this daft and if so is it an electrician that I need? It seems such a small job to ask an electrician to do, but on the other hand it is ELECTRICS!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Vicky - if you can wire a plug, you can re-wire a lamp.

The terminals in the lamp will most likely be screw terminals similar to a plug - dependent on what was use to rewire it.

Usual Elfin Safety precautions apply - don't do it whilst standing in the shower, or outside in a thunderstorm, etc!

 

[Flyfisher]

Different things are easy/difficult for different people and I'd say you're right to be wary if your're not familiar with electrical things.

But it's not a complex job and anyone who can (competently!) wire a plug should be able to safely re-wire a lamp fitting. Take care to correctly earth the lamp. The actual bulb holder will only connect to the live/neutral (blue/brown) wires (red/black if the cable is very old) but there should be a separate earth tag somewhere on the fitting for the yellow/green earth wire. This is particularly important if the lamp is of metal contstruction.

As an alternative, it's possible to buy cable jointing 'boxes', which you could use to extend the length of the existing cable so you don't have to touch the lamp fitting at all. Sometimes these have a switch included, which might be useful. To use them, remove the existing plug from the lamp and connect the lamp wires into the connection box. Buy a new length of cable, connect one end into the connection box and the other end to the original plug. Ensure you use a 3 Amp fuse in the plug. Such connection boxes or in-line switches can be found in most DIY sheds or at any electrical supplier and should come with full wiring instructions.

 

[Penners]

live/neutral (blue/brown) wires (red/black if the cable is very old)

In the interests of safety, perhaps I could just add a little clarification to the above:

Live: old colour red, new colour brown

Neutral: old colour black, new colour blue

 

[MdB]

A few points:

1) Make sure that all the metalwork is connected to earth (the green yellow wire). I would want to check this with a meter. Just because you have made an earth connection at the base, do not assume that there is a good connection to this earth at the lamp shade end via all the joints.

2) Use doubly insulated wire which is designed to be bent. This means that the conductors are made of lots of pieces of copper which has been wrapped in two different layers of plastic. The idea is that if one layer fails, there is still the second layer to protect you.

3) Don't bodge any of the joints. If the current terminals are screw terminals then this is easy. If they are crimp terminals then crimp the replacements using the correct tool (pliers do not count). If they are soldered then solder them properly.

4) Take photographs of what you are doing and post here. There are quite a few people here with good electrical knowledge who will let you know when you are doing something dodgy. Don't plug in and switch on until you get a response.

 

[LadyArowana]

As an alternative, it's possible to buy cable jointing 'boxes', which you could use to extend the length of the existing cable so you don't have to touch the lamp fitting at all. Sometimes these have a switch included, which might be useful. To use them, remove the existing plug from the lamp and connect the lamp wires into the connection box. Buy a new length of cable, connect one end into the connection box and the other end to the original plug. Ensure you use a 3 Amp fuse in the plug. Such connection boxes or in-line switches can be found in most DIY sheds or at any electrical supplier and should come with full wiring instructions.

I have done one of those and would classify it as "easy peasy" on a scale of "easy peasy" to "don't try this at home". I am, of course, using the girl version of the scale, not the boy version, where "easy peasy" takes 3 weeks and involves buying a lot of new power tools and possibly hiring someone later to finish the job!

 

[Penners]

the boy version, where "easy peasy" takes 3 weeks and involves buying a lot of new power tools and possibly hiring someone later to finish the job!

Woooooo.... meeow!

 

[LadyArowana]

the boy version, where "easy peasy" takes 3 weeks and involves buying a lot of new power tools and possibly hiring someone later to finish the job!

Woooooo.... meeow!

Not implying that this is bad :lol: just trying to put things in perspective. I once arranged to collect a medium sized granite tile for my kitchen to save the builder wasting a whole morning and I asked if it would be heavy................... He assured me not,......... he is quite a big strong chap with a van. I'm a girl and was travelling on the subway! I made it home, just, and the boys all thought it was quite funny. I was upgraded to small but sturdy after that.

 

[Lime]

I don't think there is anything easy about rewiring an old 30s lamp.
Almost certainly it was originally wired without an earth and used rubber/cotton flex.
Many older lamps can be a death trap if not correctly altered to comply with modern earthing/protection methods.

I would suggest it is rewired by someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
That means a person qualified and able to assess whether it is able to wired up safely.
It isn't as easy as wiring a plug.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Well, there you go Vicky - in true PPUK style you've got the full range of advice! Some very helpful detailed stuff in the middle for you.

Providing your dad did a competent job rewiring it, I still maintain it should be straightforward.

Flyfisher's idea to use a connection box (ideally with a switch) is a great one.

 

[Feltwell]

Flyfisher's idea to use a connection box (ideally with a switch) is a great one.

Often called a torpedo switch, I can tell you with a very high degree of confidence :wink: that Focus DIY sell them in both black and white.

Other DIY sheds will be likely to have them as well, plus there will be plenty online.

 

[MdB]

I would agree with Lime. I would want to rewire it to modern standards and wouldn't trust the old wiring. If the probably single layer of insulation fails, it can make the entire lamp live if there isn't a good ground connection. When dealing with electrickery, old does not mean good. It quite often means lethal.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

If I've understood Vicky correctly in her first post, the 1930's lamp was rewired "a few years ago" by her dad. Therefore, provided she checks it carefully, I don't think we need worry her unduly about the state of 1930's braided wiring in this context. The advice to make sure the lamp is properly earthed is sound.

Yes you need to be aware of electrickery - but rewiring a lamp is no more outside the realms of the competent diy-er than most of the other things we discuss on this site. Alternatively we could suggest she instantly calls in an expensive electrician, plumber, joiner, plasterer, stonemason, bricklayer, chimney sweep, carpet fitter, and gardner every time a minor job needs doing.

I happen to think that is contrary to the broad ethos of this site though. We all learn by starting with smaller jobs and progressing to more complex things. If Vicky is competent wiring a plug, then wiring a lamp is probably a relatively straightforward extension of that (particualrly given the advice and support offered to her in this thread). You should always stay within what you feel comfortable undertaking - but there is no reason to be any more fearful of simple electrics than there is plumbing, plastering, etc.

 

[Lime]

With respect I disagree,
Wiring an old metal lamp, rewired previously or not, is not a simple task nor is it one to be undertaken unless competent to do so.
"Checking carefully" assumes knowledge of the safety requirements.

The problem with older lamps generally is that earthing was not thought of nor considered.
If the lampholder is metal it needs to be earthed directly with an earth wire to comply.
There is no proper provision to connect the earth wire(s) to the metal fitting (or lamp socket if metal) and twisting the earth wire under a convenient structural screw is not effective nor compliant.
Fitting flex with an earth wire demands more space than the old 2-wire flex.
Often the wires are difficult (or impossible) to thread through the spaces used previously and in most cases there are no grommets fitted either but plenty of metal edges to cut into the wire eventually.
Also normal PVC flex is not satisfactory in a light fitting that gets hot.

It is essential to have an understanding of the safety requirements.
It is not sufficient just to have a simple understanding of electrical circuits.
Wiring a lamp that lights up when plugged in does not mean that it is safe.
The lamp should be tested prior to connecting to the mains.

And, no, I don't think this forum is suitable for instructing anyone to carry out electrical wiring.
Old electric lights can be very dangerous if wired incorrectly even though they appear to work.
I've seen too many electrical death traps wired up by people who said they knew what they were doing but obviously didn't.

 

[Schoolmarm]

:lol:


Best chuck it luv.

 

[Flyfisher]

In this age of 'elf & safety and ambulance-chasing lawyers we should recommend that Vicky throws the lamp in a skip and not risk exercising any DIY initiative. After all, people are not considered able to wire their own 3-pin plugs these days so what were we thinking of by assisting anyone to re-wire a simple light fitting. Shame on us all.

Funny how, as we 'advance', we seem to be deemed less and less able to do anything for ourselves. At this rate it may not be long before tools of any description are unavailable to the general public and only to those with the appropriate qualifications. And quite right too - do you realise how many DIY tools have sharp edges or can be used as offensive weapons? Shocking really.

 

[Lime]

In general I'd agree with you Flyfisher.
The State, usually at the behest of the EU, ventures ever deeper into what was once consider personal and "the common sense realm" of life.
Doing anything physical is now ruled by those who do nothing for themselves and know nothing nor care about it either.

However the wiring of an old anglepoise lamp is fraught with potential problems.
By the very nature of the lamp it gets handled and moved about a great deal.
That means it is particularly likely to cause shock if wired incorrectly.

Unfortunately re-wiring the old lamp isn't a question of copying what already existed (if you can get the old style flex) it is about ensuring it is safer than when it was originally manufactured.

I have several old lamps still in use and I have endeavoured to upgrade them to modern safety standards.
Bluntly, I would not risk my life nor anyone else's using them as they were originally wired.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Vicky,

I'm a great believer in diy and having a go and learning by experience, but in this case Lime is absolutely correct about the potential problems of the job. Essentially, if you're needing to ask the question "can I easily rewire this lamp?" then the answer is automatically NO. Electricity is the one thing in your house that can kill you instantly, and should be treated with the greatest of respect. Unless you have a good understanding of electrical theory and the requirements of the IEE regulations, plus a sound knowledge of practical installation techniques, then you should not be undertaking electrical work of any sort.

Rewiring the lamp may well be a perfectly straightforward task, but for a variety of reasons it may not be. As Lime said, getting the light to come on is easy. Knowing that the installation is safe by design, and that it will perform properly under fault conditions, and that it will continue to perform correctly under the combined effects of heat and movement requires the aforementioned knowlege and understanding.

In my work I have encountered numerous dangerous installations, most of which "worked" but which had inherent flaws either in design, installation, or incorrect choice of equipment. Thank goodness that legislation is now bringing to an end the days of householders bodging their own electrical work. Yes, the legislation is not perfect by any means, but it's a step in the right direction.

Sorry, Vicky, but you need to get sombody in, or perhaps find a lighting shop which will carry out the work or recommend sombody who will.

 

[Flyfisher]

Thank goodness that legislation is now bringing to an end the days of householders bodging their own electrical work.

If only that were really the case. The type of person who bodges their own electrical work is likely to be the type of person who doesn't care about about the niceties of legislation and will carry on regardless. Meanwhile, eminently competent persons and those who take particular care to learn the correct methods are prevented from doing many perfectly acceptable works. Once again, the ignorant minority end up restricting the freedom of the majority.

Yes, the legislation is not perfect by any means, but it's a step in the right direction.

I don't believe so. It's the thin end of a wedge that will gradually reduce our freedom to act, indeed to think, for ourselves without calling in an 'officially competent' person. How long before we see legislation to prevent any work on listed buildings except by "qualified professionals"?


As for this life-threatening lamp, if Vicky doesn't already have an RCCD in her consumer unit then I would suggest she buys one of those plugs with a built-in RCCD and plugs the re-wired lamp into it. That should prevent any danger to life, even if the lamp is re-wired incorrectly or without correct earthing, shouldn't it?

 

[Nigel Watts]

Old anglepoise lamps are currently highly fashionable and reconditioned versions sell in places like the Conran shop for over £100. I have two. One has its original bakelite bits which are broken and wont unscrew making the lamp unusable and another was refitted by my father with a cheap and nasty white plastic bulb holder. The ones I have seen for sale have had their lamp holders replced, ususally with smarter looking metal (chrome plated?) ones. If you are concerned about safety you can get the job done by a specialist rewirer of old light fittings. There is one in Soho, whose name I cant recall just now.