How To Rewire an Antique Light Fixture

 

How To Rewire an Antique Light Fixture

As I watched one of the bulbs in my living room’s antique ceiling institution flicker on and out yet again, I ticked off a internal roster of implicit repairs. My hubby, Todd, and I had formerly examined the bulb and the light switch for faults, and set up none. It was time, we realized, to rewire and change the sockets of our brass lighting institution, one of numerous that was beginning to fail in our circa- 1900 house. The lighting fixtures in our Colonial Revival- style home in Staten Island, New York, were installed when the house was converted from gas to electricity in 1920. A many of the fixtures had been rewired some 30 times agone

            , but utmost still had the original wiring. In addition, nearly all of the sockets were original — and utmost of them were starting to fail. Because we had some experience with electrical work we had run wiring, installed light switches, and hung fixtures during our times of home restoration — my hubby and I decided to rewire the fixtures ourselves.

 Step 1

 Turn off the power to the fixture at the service panel, and remove any shades. Wind the retaining nut or mounting screws on the ceiling canopy( A). numerous fixtures have tents held in place by a retaining nut; our bell- shaped canopy was attached by three mounting screws that pressed against, but did n’t squinch into, a brass shaft. Once the nut or screws are lose, slide the canopy down the chain. 

 Step 2 

 Be certain the power is no longer flowing; test the fixture’s cables with a circuit tester( B). still, return to the service panel to find the correct circuit breaker to turn off, If it glows. Once you ’re sure the electricity is out, remove the wire connectors and unwrap any electrical tape to dissociate the fixture’s cables from the ceiling. Support the fixture as you do this; noway let a fixture hang by electrical cables. 

 Step 3 

 Wind the chandelier from the threaded nipple and take down the ceilingfixture.However, you may need a helper,( If the chandelier is particularly heavy or delicate.) ultramodern fixtures are attached to the ceiling by an electrical box, with the threaded nipple run through a mounting strap. Our fixture was installed onto a now-defunct gas pipe by a nipple that was threaded on two sides.

 Step 4 

 Next, you ’ll want to pierce the cables in the fixture and dissociate them from the fixture. To expose the cables for our ceiling fixture, we had to wind the cap and chain at the top, also separate the top pan of the fixture’s main body by gently loosening it with a screwdriver( C). Some fixtures only have a cap that needs unscrewing; others have wiring that’s fluently exposed once a pate shade is removed.

 Step 5 

 Remove the socket and its cables. Once the cables have been removed, some socket housings may be connected substantially by the cables, and can detach( ours did). The socket in our fixture was brass with a cardboard lining and a turnkey squinched into place, but some sockets may have retaining rings to hold them inplace.However, they ’ll need to be replaced,( If the rings are damaged.) Depending on the age of your institution, chancing a replacement socket may be a process of trial and error. A socket with a plastic external shell did n’t fit in our socket housing, but a brass socket with a brass external shell was a perfect match. 

 Step 6 

 Connect new line to the replacement socket, considering your fixture’s needs. We used regular lamp cord that could handle 500 watts of power. Our chandelier has five arms, so each socket would be suitable to handle a 100- watt bulb, further than sufficient for our requirements. To connect the cables to the socket, examine the lamp cord, looking for the line that feels rough or has a raised stripe or a mark( ours had a black dotted line); this is the neutral line. Connect the neutral line to the silver screw on the replacement socket( D). The hot line should feel smooth or be devoid of markings; it gets attached to the brass screw on the socket. Wind the line around the socket’s screws in a clockwise direction, also strain the screws. Return the socket to its housing( E), also thread the remaining line through the arm of fixture( F), leaving some redundant line in the center of the fixture’s main body( G).( We also wrapped electrical tape around the cables where they entered the main body.) Repeat Steps 5 and 6 with all the arms on the fixture.

Step 7

 Connect all the socket cables to the main line( H). First, strip the ends of the cables with a line stripper, also gather all the neutral socket cables and the main line together, and twist their ends in a clockwise stir. Next, twist a line connector atop them( I), making sure no strands stick out( this can beget a short). Give the line connector a tug to make sure it stays put if not, you ’ll need to try again. Repeat the process with the hot cables.

 Step 8

 Thread the main line through the top of the fixture, also put the fixture back together( J). To meet law in our area that prevents fixtures from hanging by cables, we had to run the new line beside the chain rather than threading it through. Check your original codes and reinstall your fixture consequently. formerly all cables have been duly reconnected, you can flip the switch and enjoy flicker-free lighting. 

About this item

Adjustable Cord/Detachable Metal Chain: 

This industrial pendant light is typically design to be adjustable. 

The detachable chain allows you to create a perfect height of the pendant light to match for your home, UL Listed.Standard E26 holder allows you to use any bulb you want.

 Each bulb limited load 60W(Note: bulbs are not included. )Application: 

The vintage pendant light fixture can be especially gorgeous for a dining room, kitchen island, cafe, bar, restaurant, dinning room, wine cellar, kitchen island, etc.

Easy installation: You will easily install the 4 lights indstrial hanging light, the simple installation make it easy to enjoy your new eye-catching decoration.

1 year warranty: Adhering to the principle of offering our customer a satisfying shopping ,we offer 1 year warranty of the kitchen island lighting . 

If you have any problem with our product, please feel free to contact us anytime.