WIRINGREPAIRS

Currentwith2011-2013ElectricalCodes

ContentsWiringRepairProjects

RepairingLightFixtures

RepairingChandeliers

RepairingCeilingFans

RepairingFluorescentLights

ReplacingPlugs&Cords

ReplacingaLampSocket

WiringRepairProjects

“Repair”and“wiring”aretwowordsyoudon’tseetogethertoomuchanymore.Inmostcasesofanelectricalfailure,therepairistoreplacethefaileddevice.Butitmayalsobereconnectedtoabadspliceoralooseconnection.

Theelectricalitemsthatmostfrequentlyrequireactualrepairsarelightfixtures.Ifyouincludelampsandcordsinthiscategory,you’veprettymuchcoveredit.Mostelectricalfailuresresultfrompoorlymadeconnectionsintheoriginalinstallation.Exceptionsareswitches,whichtendtowearoutovertimeandrequirereplacement,andceilingfans.Ceilingfansareuniqueinthat,likeswitches,theycontainmovingparts—andrapidlymovingpartsatthat.Catchingaswitchpullchainonamovingbladeisthecauseofmanyceilingfanproblems,alongwithbladesthathavefallenoutofbalanceandhavebeguntowobble.

Whenreplacingpartofanelectricalfixture,theruleofthumbforfindingthereplacementpartistoremovethebrokenpartandbringitwithyoutoalightingorelectricalsupplystore.Failingthat,takedownthemakeandserialnumberofthefixturesotheclerkcanlookuppartinformationforyou.

RepairingLightFixtures

Lightfixturesareattachedpermanentlytoceilingsorwalls.Theyincludewall-hungsconces,ceiling-hungglobefixtures,recessedlightfixtures,andchandeliers.Mostlightfixturesareeasytorepairusingbasictoolsandinexpensiveparts.

Ifalightfixturefails,alwaysmakesurethelightbulbisscrewedintightlyandisnotburnedout.Afaultylightbulbisthemostcommoncauseoflightfixturefailure.Ifthelightfixtureiscontrolledbyawallswitch,alsochecktheswitchasapossiblesourceofproblems.

Lightfixturescanfailbecausethesocketsorbuilt-inswitcheswearout.Somefixtureshavesocketsandswitchesthatcanberemovedforminorrepairs.Thesepartsareheldtothebaseofthefixturewithmountingscrewsorclips.Otherfixtureshavesocketsandswitchesthatarejoinedpermanentlytothebase.Ifthistypeoffixturefails,purchaseandinstallanewlightfixture.

Damagetolightfixturesoftenoccursbecausehomeownersinstalllightbulbswithwattageratingsthataretoohigh.Preventoverheatingandlightfixturefailuresbyusingonlylightbulbsthatmatchthewattageratingsprintedonthefixtures.

Techniquesforrepairingfluorescentlightsaredifferentfromthoseforincandescentlights.Refertopages308to313torepairorreplaceafluorescentlightfixture.

Tools&Materials

CircuittesterScrewdriverContinuitytesterCombinationtoolReplacementparts,asneeded

Inatypicalincandescentlightfixture,ablackhotwireisconnectedtoabrassscrewterminalonthesocket.Powerflowstoasmalltabatthebottomofthemetalsocketandthroughametalfilamentinsidethebulb.Thepowerheatsthefilamentandcausesittoglow.Thecurrentthenflowsthroughthethreadedportionofthesocketandthroughthewhiteneutralwirebacktothemainservicepanel.

Before1959,incandescentlightfixtures(showncutaway)oftenweremounteddirectlytoanelectricalboxortoplasterlath.Electricalcodesnowrequirethatfixturesbeattachedtomountingstrapsthatareanchoredtotheelectricalboxes.Ifyouhavealightfixtureattachedtoplasterlath,installanapprovedelectricalboxwithamountingstraptosupportthefixture.

PROBLEM REPAIRWall-orceiling-mountedfixtureflickersordoesnotlight.

1.Checkforfaultylightbulb.2.Checkwallswitchandrepairorreplace,ifneeded.3.Checkforloosewireconnectionsinelectricalbox.4.Testsocketandreplace,ifneeded(pages318to319).5.Replacelightfixture.

Built-inswitchonfixturedoesnotwork.

1.Checkforfaultylightbulb.2.Checkforloosewireconnectionsonswitch.3.Replaceswitch.4.Replacelightfixture.

Chandelierflickersordoesnotlight.

1.Checkforfaultylightbulb.2.Checkwallswitchandrepairorreplace,ifneeded.3.Checkforloosewireconnectionsinelectricalbox.4.Testsocketsandfixturewires,andreplace,ifneeded.

Recessedfixtureflickersordoesnotlight.

1.Checkforfaultylightbulb.2.Checkwallswitchandrepairorreplace,ifneeded.3.Checkforloosewireconnectionsinelectricalbox.4.Testfixtureandreplace,ifneeded.

HowtoRemoveaLightFixture&TestaSocket

Turnoffthepowertothelightfixtureatthemainservicepanel.Removethelightbulbandanyshadeorglobe,thenremovethemountingscrewsholdingthefixturebasetotheelectricalboxormountingstrap.Carefullypullthefixturebaseawayfromthebox.

Testforpowerbytouchingoneprobeofacircuittestertothegreengroundingscrew,theninsertingtheotherprobeintoeachwireconnector.Testershouldnotglow.Ifitdoes,thereisstillpowerenteringthebox.Returntotheservicepanelandturnoffpowertothecorrectcircuit.

Disconnectthelightfixturebasebylooseningthescrewterminals.Iffixturehaswireleadsinsteadofscrewterminals,removethelightfixturebasebyunscrewingthewireconnectors.

Adjustthemetaltabatthebottomofthefixturesocketbypryingitupslightlywithasmallscrewdriver.Thisadjustmentwillimprovethecontactbetweenthesocketandthelightbulb.

Testthesocket(showncutaway)byattachingtheclipofacontinuitytestertothehotscrewterminal(orblackwirelead)andtouchingprobeoftestertometaltabinbottomofsocket.Testershouldglow.Ifnot,socketisfaultyandmustbereplaced.

Attachtestercliptoneutralscrewterminal(orwhitewirelead),andtouchprobetothreadedportionofsocket.Testershouldglow.Ifnot,socketisfaultyandmustbereplaced.Ifsocketispermanentlyattached,replacethefixture.

HowtoReplaceaSocket

Removetheoldlightfixture.Removethesocketfromthefixture.Thesocketmaybeheldbyascrew,clip,orretainingring.Disconnectwiresattachedtothesocket.

Purchaseanidenticalreplacementsocket.Connectthewhitewiretothesilverscrewterminalonthesocket,andconnecttheblackwiretothebrassscrewterminal.Attachthesockettothefixturebase,andreinstallthefixture.

HowtoTest&ReplaceaBuilt-inLightSwitch

Removethelightfixture.Unscrewtheretainingringholdingtheswitch.

Labelthewiresconnectedtotheswitchleads.Disconnecttheswitchleadsand

removetheswitch.

Testtheswitchbyattachingtheclipofthecontinuitytestertooneoftheswitchleadsandholdingthetesterprobetotheotherlead.Operatetheswitchcontrol.Iftheswitchisgood,thetesterwillglowwhentheswitchisinoneposition,butnotboth.

Iftheswitchisfaulty,purchaseandinstallanexactduplicateswitch.Remountthelightfixture,andturnonthepoweratthemainservicepanel.

RepairingChandeliers

Repairingachandelierrequiresspecialcare.Becausechandeliersareheavy,itisagoodideatoworkwithahelperwhenremovingachandelier.Supportthefixturetopreventitsweightfrompullingagainstthewires.

Chandeliershavetwofixturewiresthatarethreadedthroughthesupportchainfromtheelectricalboxtothehollowbaseofthechandelier.Thesocketwiresconnecttothefixturewiresinsidethisbase.

Fixturewiresareidentifiedashotandneutral.Look

closelyforaraisedstripeononeofthewires.Thisistheneutralwirethatisconnectedtothewhitecircuitwireandwhitesocketwire.Theothersmoothfixturewireishotandisconnectedtotheblackwires.

Ifyouhaveanewchandelier,itmayhaveagroundingwirethatrunsthroughthesupportchaintotheelectricalbox.Ifthiswireispresent,makesureitisconnectedtothegroundingwiresintheelectricalbox.

HowtoRepairaChandelier

Labelanylightsthatarenotworkingusingmaskingtape.Turnoffpowertothefixtureatthemainservicepanel.Removelightbulbsandallshadesorglobes.

Unscrewtheretainingnutandlowerthedecorativecoverplateawayfromtheelectricalbox.Mostchandeliersaresupportedbyathreadednippleattachedtoamountingstrap.

Mountingvariation:Somechandeliersaresupportedonlybythecoverplatethatisboltedtotheelectricalboxmountingstrap.Thesetypesdonothaveathreadednipple.

Testforpowerwithacircuittester.Testershouldnotglow.Ifitdoes,turnoffpowertothecorrectcircuitatthepanel.

Disconnectfixturewiresbyremovingthewireconnectors.Unscrewthreadednippleandcarefullyplacechandelieronaflatsurface.

Removethecapfromthebottomofthechandelier,exposingthewireconnectionsinsidethehollowbase.Disconnectthesocketwiresandfixturewires.

Testsocketbyattachingclipofcontinuitytestertoblacksocketwireandtouchingprobetotabinsocket.Repeatwithsocketthreadsandwhitesocketwire.Iftesterdoesnotglow,thesocketmustbereplaced.

Removeafaultysocketbylooseninganymountingscrewsorclipsandpullingthesocketandsocketwiresoutofthefixturearm.Purchaseandinstallanewchandeliersocket,threadingthesocketwiresthroughthefixturearm.

Testeachfixturewirebyattachingclipofcontinuitytestertooneendofwireandtouchingprobetootherend.Iftesterdoesnotglow,wiremustbereplaced.Installnewwires,ifneeded,thenreassembleandrehangthechandelier.

RepairingCeilingFans

Ceilingfanscontainrapidlymovingparts,makingthemmoresusceptibletotroublethanmanyotherelectricalfixtures.Installationisarelativelysimplematter,butrepairingaceilingfancanbeveryfrustrating.Themostcommonproblemsyou’llencounterarebalanceandnoiseissuesandswitchfailure,usuallyprecipitatedbythepullchainbreaking.Inmostcases,bothproblemscanbecorrectedwithoutremovingthefanfromtheceiling.But

ifyouhavedifficultyonladdersorsimplydon’tcaretoworkoverhead,considerremovingthefanwhenreplacingtheswitch.

Tools&Materials

ScrewdriverCombinationtoolReplacementswitchVoltageSensor

Ceilingfansaresubjecttoagreatdealofvibrationandstress,soit’snotuncommonforswitchesandmotorstofail.Minimizewearandtearbymakingsurebladesareinbalancesothefandoesn’twobble.

HowtoTroubleshootBladeWobble

Startbycheckingandtighteningallhardwareusedtoattachthebladestothemountingarmsandthemountingarmstothemotor.Hardwaretendstoloosenovertime,andthisisfrequentlythecauseofwobble.

Ifwobblepersists,tryswitchingaroundtwooftheblades.Often,thisisallittakestogetthefanbackintobalance.Ifabladeisdamagedorwarped,replaceit.

Ifthebladesaretightandyoustillhavewobble,turnthepoweroffatthepanel,removethefancanopy,andinspectthemountingbraceandtheconnectionbetweenthemountingpoleandthefanmotor.Ifanyconnectionsareloose,tightenthemandthenreplacethecanopy.

HowtoFixaLooseWireConnection

Aleadingcauseoffanfailureisloosewireconnections.Toinspecttheseconnections,firstshutoffthepowertothefan.Removethefanbladestogainaccess,thenremovethecanopythatcoverstheceilingboxandfanmountingbracket.Mostcanopiesaresecuredwithscrewsontheoutsideshell.Haveahelperholdthefanwhileyouremovethescrewssoitwon’tfall.

Oncethecanopyislowered,you’llseeblack,white,green,copper,andpossiblybluewires.Holdavoltagesensorwithin1/2"ofthesewireswiththewallswitchthatcontrolsthefanintheONposition.Theblackandbluewiresshouldcausethesensortobeepifpowerispresent.

Whenyouhaveconfirmedthatthereisnopower,checkallthewireconnectionstomakecertaineachistightandmakinggoodcontact.Youmaybeabletoseethataconnectionhascomeapartandneedstoberemade.Butevenifyouseeonebadconnection,checkthemallbygentlytuggingonthewireconnectors.Ifthewirespulloutofthewireconnectorortheconnectionfeelsloose,unscrewthewireconnectorfromthewires.

Testthewiresbyplacingavoltagesensorwithin1/2"ofthewires.Ifthesensorbeepsorlightsup,thenthecircuitisstillliveandisnotsafetowork.Whenthesensordoesnotbeeporlightup,thecircuitisdeadandmaybeworkedupon.Ifeverythingworks,reinstallthecanopybyreplacingthescrewsthatwereholdingitinplace.Reattachthefanbladesandthenrestorepower.

HowtoReplaceaCeilingFanPull-ChainSwitch

Turnoffthepoweratthemainservicepanel.Useascrewdrivertoremovethethreetofourscrewsthatsecurethebottomcaponthefanswitchhousing.Lowerthecaptoexposethewiresthatsupplypowertothepull-chainswitch.

Testthewiresbyplacingavoltagesensorwithin1/2"ofthewires.Ifthesensorbeepsorlightsup,thenthecircuitisstillliveandisnotsafetowork.Whenthesensordoesnotbeeporlightup,thecircuitisdeadandmaybeworkedupon.

Locatetheswitchunit(thepartthatthepullchainusedtobeattachedtoifitbrokeoff);it’sprobablymadeofplastic.You’llneedtoreplacethewholeswitch.Fanswitchesareconnectedwithfromthreetoeightwires,dependingonthenumberofspeedsettings.

Attachasmallpieceoftapetoeachwirethatenterstheswitchandwriteanidentifyingnumberonthetape.Startatonesideoftheswitchandlabelthewiresintheorderthey’reattached.

Disconnecttheoldswitchwires,inmostcasesbycuttingthewiresoffasclosetotheoldswitchaspossible.Unscrewtheretainingnutthatsecurestheswitchtotheswitchhousing.

Buyer’sTip

Here’showtobuyanewswitch.Bringtheoldswitchtothehardwarestoreorhomecenter,andfindanidenticalnewswitch—onewiththesamenumberandcolorofwires.Itshouldalsoattachtothefanmotorwiresinthesameway(slotsorscrewterminalsorwithintegralwiresandwireconnectors)andattachtothefaninthesameway.Ifyouareunabletolocateanidenticalswitch,findtheownersmanualforyourceilingfanandcontactthemanufacturer.Or,findthebrandandmodelnumberofthefanandorderaswitchfromaceilingfandealerorelectronicssupplystore.

Removetheswitch.Theremaybeoneortwoscrewsthatholditinplaceoritmaybesecuredtotheoutsideofthefanwithasmallknurlednut,whichyoucanloosenwithneedlenosepliers.Purchaseanidenticalnewswitch.

Connectthenewswitchusingthesamewiringconfigurationasontheoldmodel.Tomakeconnections,firstuseawirestrippertostrip3/4"ofinsulationfromtheendsofeachofthewirescomingfromthefanmotor(theonesyoucutinstep5).Attachthewirestothenewswitchinthesameorderandconfiguraionastheywereattachedtotheoldswitch.Securethenewswitchinthehousingandmakesureallwiresaretuckedneatlyinside.Reattachthebottomcap.Testallthefan’sspeedstomakesurealltheconnectionsaregood.

RepairingFluorescentLights

Fluorescentlightsarerelativelytroublefreeanduselessenergythanincandescentlights.Atypicalfluorescenttubelastsaboutthreeyearsandproducestwotofourtimesasmuchlightperwattasastandardincandescentlightbulb.

Themostfrequentproblemwithafluorescentlightfixtureisaworn-outtube.Ifafluorescentlightfixturebeginstoflickerordoesnotlightfully,removeandexaminethetube.Ifthetubehasbentorbrokenpinsorblackdiscolorationneartheends,replaceit.Lightgraydiscolorationisnormalinworkingfluorescenttubes.Whenreplacinganoldtube,readthewattageratingprintedontheglasssurface,andbuyanewtubewithamatchingrating.Neverdisposeofoldtubesbybreakingthem.Fluorescenttubescontainasmallamountofhazardousmercury.Checkwithyourlocalenvironmentalcontrolagencyorhealthdepartmentfordisposalguidelines.

Fluorescentlightfixturesalsocanmalfunctionifthesocketsarecrackedorworn.Inexpensivereplacementsocketsareavailableatanyhardwarestoreandcanbeinstalledinafewminutes.Ifafixturedoesnotworkevenafterthetubeandsocketshavebeenserviced,theballastprobablyisdefective.Faultyballastsmayleakablack,

oilysubstanceandcancauseafluorescentlightfixturetomakealoudhummingsound.Althoughballastscanbereplaced,alwayscheckpricesbeforebuyinganewballast.Itmaybecheapertopurchaseandinstallanewfluorescentfixtureratherthantoreplacetheballastinanoldfluorescentlightfixture.

Afluorescentlightworksbydirectingelectricalcurrentthroughaspecialgas-filledtubethatglowswhenenergized.Awhitetranslucentdiffuserprotectsthefluorescenttubeandsoftensthelight.Acoverplateprotectsaspecialtransformer,calledaballast.Theballastregulatestheflowof120-volthouseholdcurrenttothesockets.Thesocketstransferpowertometalpinsthatextendintothetube.

PROBLEM REPAIRTubeflickers,orlightspartially.

1.Rotatetubetomakesureitisseatedproperlyinthesockets.2.Replacetubeandthestarter(wherepresent)iftubeisdiscoloredorifpinsarebentorbroken.3.Replacetheballastifreplacementcostisreasonable.Otherwise,replacetheentirefixture.

Tubedoesnotlight.

1.Checkwallswitchandrepairorreplace,ifneeded.2.Rotatethetubetomakesureitisseatedproperlyinsockets.3.Replacetubeandthestarter(wherepresent)iftubeisdiscoloredorifpinsarebentorbroken.4.Replacesocketsiftheyarechippedoriftubedoesnotseatproperly.5.Replacetheballastortheentirefixture.

Noticeableblacksubstancearoundballast.

Replaceballastifreplacementcostisreasonable.Otherwise,replacetheentirefixture.

Fixturehums. Replaceballastifreplacementcostisreasonable.Otherwise,replacetheentirefixture.

Tools&Materials

ScrewdriverRatchetwrenchCombinationtoolCircuittesterReplacementtubesStarters,orballast(ifneeded)Replacementfluorescentlightfixture(ifneeded)

Olderfluorescentlightsmayhaveasmallcylindricaldevice,calledastarter,locatednearoneofthesockets.Whenatubebeginstoflicker,replaceboththe

tubeandthestarter.Turnoffthepower,thenremovethestarterbypushingitslightlyandturningcounterclockwise.Installareplacementthatmatchestheoldstarter.

HowtoReplaceaFluorescentTube

Turnoffpowertothelightfixtureattheswitch.Removethediffusertoexpose

thefluorescenttube.

Removethefluorescenttubebyrotatingit1/4turnineitherdirectionandslidingthetubeoutofthesockets.Inspectthepinsattheendofthetube.Tubeswithbentorbrokenpinsshouldbereplaced.

Inspecttheendsofthefluorescenttubefordiscoloration.Newtubeingoodworkingorder(top)showsnodiscoloration.Normal,workingtube(middle)mayhavegraycolor.Aworn-outtube(bottom)showsblackdiscoloration.

Installanewtubewiththesamewattageratingastheoldtube.Insertthetubesothatpinsslidefullyintosockets,thentwisttube1/4turnineitherdirectionuntilitislockedsecurely.Reattachthediffuser,andturnonthepoweratthemainservicepanel.

HowtoReplaceaSocket

Turnoffthepoweratthemainservicepanel.Removethediffuser,fluorescenttube,andthecoverplate.Testforpowerbytouchingoneprobeofaneoncircuittestertothegroundingscrewandinsertingtheotherprobeintothehotwireconnector.Iftesterglows,returntotheservicepanelandturnoffcorrectcircuit.

Removethefaultysocketfromthefixturehousing.Somesocketsslideout,whileothersmustbeunscrewed.

Disconnectwiresattachedtosocket.Forpush-infittings(above)removethewiresbyinsertingasmallscrewdriverintothereleaseopenings.Somesocketshavescrewterminalconnections,whileothershavepreattachedwiresthatmustbecutbeforethesocketcanberemoved.

Purchaseandinstallanewsocket.Ifsockethaspreattachedwireleads,connecttheleadstotheballastwiresusingwireconnectors.Replacecoverplate,andthenthefluorescenttube,makingsurethatitseatsproperly.Replacethediffuser.Restorepowertothefixtureatthemainservicepanelandtest.

HowtoReplaceaBallast

Turnoffthepoweratthemainservicepanel,thenremovethediffuser,fluorescenttube,andcoverplate.Testforpowerusingacircuittester(page303,step3).

Removethesocketsfromthefixturehousingbyslidingthemout,orbyremovingthemountingscrewsandliftingthesocketsout.

Disconnectthewiresattachedtothesocketsbypushingasmallscrewdriverintothereleaseopenings(above),bylooseningthescrewterminals,orbycuttingwirestowithin2"ofsockets.

Removetheoldballastusingaratchetwrenchorscrewdriver.Makesuretosupporttheballastsoitdoesnotfall.

Installanewballastthathasthesameratingsastheoldballast.

Attachtheballastwirestothesocketwiresusingwireconnectors,screwterminalconnections,orpush-infittings.Reinstallthecoverplate,fluorescenttube,anddiffuser.Turnonpowertothelightfixtureatthemainservicepanel.

HowtoReplaceaFluorescentLightFixture

Turnoffpowertothelightfixtureatthemainservicepanel.Removethediffuser,tube,andcoverplate.Testforpowerusingacircuittester.

Disconnecttheinsulatedcircuitwiresandthebarecoppergroundingwirefromthelightfixture.Loosenthecableclampholdingthecircuitwires.

Unscrewthefixturefromthewallorceilingandcarefullyremoveit.Makesuretosupportthefixturesoitdoesnotfall.

Positionthenewfixture,threadingthecircuitwiresthroughtheknockoutopeninginthebackofthefixture.Screwthefixtureinplacesoitisfirmlyanchoredtoframingmembers.

Connectthecircuitwirestothefixturewiresusingwireconnectors.Followthewiringdiagramincludedwiththenewfixture.Tightenthecableclampholdingthecircuitwires.

Attachthefixturecoverplate,theninstallthefluorescenttubesandattachthediffuser.Turnonpowertothefixtureatthemainservicepanelandtest.

ReplacingPlugs&Cords

Replaceanelectricalplugwheneveryounoticebentorlooseprongs,acrackedordamagedcasing,oramissing

insulatingfaceplate.Adamagedplugposesashockandfirehazard.

Replacementplugsareavailableindifferentstylestomatchcommonappliancecords.Alwayschooseareplacementthatissimilartotheoriginalplug.Flat-cordandquick-connectplugsareusedwithlight-dutyappliances,likelampsandradios.Round-cordplugsareusedwithlargerappliances,includingthosethathavethree-pronggroundingplugs.

Sometoolsandappliancesusepolarizedplugs.Apolarizedplughasonewideprongandonenarrowprong,correspondingtothehotandneutralslotsfoundinastandardreceptacle.

Ifthereisroomintheplugbody,tietheindividualwiresinanunderwriter’sknottosecuretheplugtothecord.

Tools&Materials

CombinationtoolNeedlenosepliersScrewdriverReplacementplug

HowtoInstallaQuick-connectPlug

Squeezetheprongsofthenewquick-connectplugtogetherslightlyandpulltheplugcorefromthecasing.Cuttheoldplugfromtheflat-cordwirewithacombinationtool,leavingacleancutend.

Feedunstrippedwirethroughrearofplugcasing.Spreadprongs,theninsertwireintoopeninginrearofcore.Squeezeprongstogether;spikesinsidecorepenetratecord.Slidecasingovercoreuntilitsnapsintoplace.

Whenreplacingapolarizedplug,makesurethattheridgedhalfofthecordlinesupwiththewider(neutral)prongoftheplug.

HowtoReplaceaRound-cordPlug

Cutoffroundcordneartheoldplugusingacombinationtool.Removetheinsulatingfaceplateonthenewplugandfeedcordthroughrearofplug.Stripabout3"ofouterinsulationfromtheroundcord.Strip3/4"insulationfromtheindividualwires.

Tieanunderwriter’sknotwiththeblackandthewhitewires.Makesuretheknotislocatedclosetotheedgeofthestrippedouterinsulation.Pullthecordso

thattheknotslidesintotheplugbody.

Hookendofblackwireclockwisearoundbrassscrewandwhitewirearoundsilverscrew.Onathree-prongplug,attachthirdwiretogroundingscrew.Ifnecessary,excessgroundingwirecanbecutaway.

Tightenthescrewssecurely,makingsurethecopperwiresdonottoucheach

other.Replacetheinsulatingfaceplate.

HowtoReplaceaFlat-cordPlug

Cutoldplugfromcordusingacombinationtool.Pullapartthetwohalvesoftheflatcordsothatabout2"ofwireareseparated.Strip3/4"insulationfromeachhalf.Removecasingcoveronnewplug.

Hookendsofwiresclockwisearoundthescrewterminals,andtightenthescrewterminalssecurely.Reassembletheplugcasing.Someplugsmayhaveaninsulatingfaceplatethatmustbeinstalled.

HowtoReplaceaLampCord

Withthelampunplugged,theshadeoff,andthebulbout,youcanremovethesocket.Squeezetheoutershellofthesocketjustabovethebaseandpulltheshelloutofthebase.TheshellisoftenmarkedPressatsomepointalongitsperimeter.Pressthereandthenpull.

Undertheoutershellthereisacardboardinsulatingsleeve.Pullthisoffandyou’llrevealthesocketattachedtotheendofthecord.

Withtheshellandinsulationsetaside,pullthesocketawayfromthelamp(itwillstillbeconnectedtothecord).Unscrewthetwoscrewstocompletelydisconnectthesocketfromthecord.Setthesocketasidewithitsshell(you’llneedthemtoreassemblethelamp)

Removetheoldcordfromthelampbygraspingthecordnearthebaseandpullingthecordthroughthelamp.

Bringyourdamagedcordtoahardwarestoreorhomecenterandpurchaseasimilarcordset.(Acordsetissimplyareplacementcordwithaplugalreadyattached.)Snaketheendofthecordupfromthebaseofthelampthroughthetopsothatabout3"ofcordisvisibleabovethetop.

Carefullyseparatethetwohalvesofthecord.Ifthehalveswon’tpullapart,youcancarefullymakeacutinthemiddlewithaknife.Stripawayabout3/4"ofinsulationfromtheendofeachwire.

Connecttheendsofthenewcordtothetwoscrewsonthesideofthesocket(oneofwhichwillbesilverincolor,theotherbrass-colored).Onehalfofthecordwillhaveribbingormarkingsalongitslength;wrapthatwireclockwisearoundthesilverscrewandtightenthescrew.Theotherhalfofthecordwillbesmooth;wrapitaroundthecopperscrewandtightenthescrew.

Setthesocketonthebase.Makesuretheswitchisn’tblockedbytheharp—thepartthatholdstheshadeonsomelamps.Slidethecardboardinsulatingsleeveoverthesocketsothesleeve’snotchalignswiththeswitch.Nowslidetheoutersleeveoverthesocket,aligningthenotchwiththeswitch.Itshouldsnapintothebasesecurely.Screwinalightbulb,plugthelampin,andtestit.

ReplacingaLampSocket

Nexttothecordplug,themostcommonsourceoftroubleinalampisawornlightbulbsocket.Whenalampsocketassemblyfails,theproblemisusuallywiththesocket-switchunit,althoughreplacementsocketsmayincludeotherpartsyoudonotneed.

Lampfailureisnotalwayscausedbyabadsocket.Youcanavoidunnecessaryrepairsbycheckingthelampcord,plug,andlightbulbbeforereplacingthesocket.

Tools&Materials

ReplacementsocketContinuitytesterScrewdriver

Socket-mountedswitchtypesareusuallyinterchangeable:chooseareplacementyouprefer.Clockwisefromtopleft:twistknob,remoteswitch,pullchain,pushlever.

Tip

Whenreplacingalampsocket,youcanimproveastandardON-OFFlampbyinstallingathree-waysocket.

HowtoRepairorReplaceaLampSocket

Unpluglamp.Removeshade,lightbulb,andharp(shadebracket).Scrapecontacttabcleanwithasmallscrewdriver.Prycontacttabupslightlyifflattenedinsidesocket.Replacebulb,pluginlamp,andtest.Iflampdoesnotwork,unplug,removebulb,andcontinuewithnextstep.

SqueezeoutershellofsocketnearPressmarking,andliftitoff.Onolderlamps,socketmaybeheldbyscrewsfoundatthebaseofthescrewsocket.Slipoffcardboardinsulatingsleeve.Ifsleeveisdamaged,replaceentiresocket.

Checkforloosewireconnectionsonscrewterminals.Refastenanylooseconnections,thenreassemblelamp,andtest.Ifconnectionsarenotloose,removethewires,liftoutthesocket,andcontinuewiththenextstep.

Testforlampcordproblemswithcontinuitytester.Placeclipoftesterononeprongofplug.Touchprobetooneexposedwire,thentotheotherwire.Repeattestwithotherprongofplug.Iftesterfailstolightforeitherprong,thenreplacethecordandplug.Retestthelamp.

Ifcordandplugarefunctional,thenchooseareplacementsocketmarkedwiththesameampandvoltratingsastheoldsocket.Onehalfofflat-cordlampwireiscoveredbyinsulationthatisridgedormarked:attachthiswiretothesilverscrewterminal.Connectotherwiretobrassscrew.

Slideinsulatingsleeveandoutershelloversocketsothatsocketandscrewterminalsarefullycoveredandswitchfitsintosleeveslot.Presssocketassemblydownintocapuntilsocketlocksintoplace.Replaceharp,lightbulb,andshade.

ConversionsMetricEquivalent

ConvertingMeasurements

TOCONVERT: TO: MULTIPLYBY:Inches Millimeters 25.4Inches Centimeters 25.4Feet Meters 0.305Yards Meters 0.914Miles Kilometers 1.609Squareinches Squarecentimeters 6.45Squarefeet Squaremeters 0.093Squareyards Squaremeters 0.836Cubicinches Cubiccentimeters 16.4Cubicfeet Cubicmeters 0.0283Cubicyards Cubicmeters 0.765Pints(U.S.) Liters 0.473(lmp.0.568)Quarts(U.S.) Liters 0.946(lmp.1.136)Gallons(U.S.) Liters 3.785(lmp.4.546)Ounces Grams 28.4Pounds Kilograms 0.454Tons Metrictons 0.907Millimeters Inches 0.039Centimeters Inches 0.394Meters Feet 3.28Meters Yards 1.09Kilometers Miles 0.621Squarecentimeters Squareinches 0.155Squaremeters Squarefeet 10.8

Squaremeters Squareyards 1.2Cubiccentimeters Cubicinches 0.061Cubicmeters Cubicfeet 35.3Cubicmeters Cubicyards 1.31Liters Pints(U.S.) 2.114(lmp.1.76)Liters Quarts(U.S.) 1.057(lmp.0.88)Liters Gallons(U.S.) 0.264(lmp.0.22)Grams Ounces 0.035Kilograms Pounds 2.2Metrictons Tons 1.1

ConvertingTemperatures

ConvertdegreesFahrenheit(F)todegreesCelsius(C)byfollowingthissimpleformula:Subtract32fromtheFahrenheittemperaturereading.Thenmulitplythatnumberby5/9.Forexample,77°F-32=45.45×5/9=25°C.ToconvertdegreesCelsiustodegreesFahrenheit,multiplytheCelsiustemperaturereadingby9/5,thenadd32.Forexample,25°C×9/5=45.45+32=77°F.

Copyright©2013CreativePublishinginternational,Inc.400FirstAvenueNorth,Suite300Minneapolis,Minnesota554011-800-328-0590www.creativepub.comAllrightsreserved

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President/CEO:KenFund

Digitaledition:978-1-61058-724-2Softcoveredition:978-1-58923-601-1

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Thecompleteguidetowiring.--5thed.p.cm.“Currentwith2011-2013Electricalcodes.”“Black&Decker.”

Includesindex.Summary:“New5theditionisfullycompliantwiththe2013NationalElectricalCode.”--Providedbypublisher.ISBN-13:978-1-58923-601-1(softcover)ISBN-10:1-58923-601-7(softcover)1.Electricwiring,Interior--Amateurs’manuals.2.Dwellings--Maintenanceandrepair--Amateurs’manuals.3.Dwellings--Electricequipment--Amateurs’manuals.I.Black&DeckerCorporation(Towson,Md.)II.CreativePublishingInternational.III.Title:Black&Decker,thecompleteguidetowiring.

TK3284.C652011621.319’24--dc22

2011000820

HomeImprovementGroup

Publisher:BryanTrandemManagingEditor:TracyStanleySeniorEditor:MarkJohanson

CreativeDirector:MicheleLanci-AltomareArtDirection/Design:BradSpringer,JamesKegley,KimWinscher

LeadPhotographer:CoreanKomarecSetBuilder:JamesParmeterProductionManagers:LauraHokkanen,LindaHalls

EditionEditor:ChrisSibellPageLayoutArtist:DanielleSmithTechnicalConsultantandShopHelp:JohnKeaneProofreader:IngridSundstromLundegaard

TheCompleteGuidetoWiring5thEditionCreatedby:TheEditorsofCreativePublishinginternational,Inc.,incooperationwithBlack&Decker.Black&Decker®isatrademarkofTheBlack&DeckerCorporationandisusedunderlicense.

NOTICETOREADERSForsafety,usecaution,care,andgoodjudgmentwhenfollowingtheproceduresdescribedinthisbook.ThepublisherandBlack&Deckercannotassumeresponsibilityforanydamagetopropertyor

injurytopersonsasaresultofmisuseoftheinformationprovided.

Thetechniquesshowninthisbookaregeneraltechniquesforvariousapplications.Insomeinstances,additionaltechniquesnotshowninthisbookmayberequired.Alwaysfollowmanufacturers’instructionsincludedwithproducts,sincedeviatingfromthedirectionsmayvoidwarranties.Theprojectsinthisbookvarywidelyastoskilllevelsrequired:somemaynotbeappropriateforalldo-it-yourselfers,andsomemayrequireprofessionalhelp.

Consultyourlocalbuildingdepartmentforinformationonbuildingpermits,codes,andotherlawsastheyapplytoyourproject.