How to replace an electrical plug on a lamp

I can’t tell you how many times I have come across fabulous lamps either in a thrift store, at a yard sale, or at a second hand store that are wonderful but have faulty plugs.  Sometimes a plug is missing a prong.  Sometimes in my haste to move furniture around my store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment, I will accidentally destroy a plug by dragging furniture over it, crushing it, or simply cracking it.  Did you know it is very easy and inexpensive to replace an electrical plug on a lamp?

I am not an electrician so this post is simply informative.  You might want to consult an electrician or other expert for more details on how to replace an electrical plug on a lamp.

You can purchase replacement plugs at any home improvement store.  I bought these in the hardware section at Walmart.  They come in a two pack of either brown or white plugs.

Getting started

The first step is to inspect your lamp.

I am replacing the plug on the lamp I bought for $12 from one of my vendors at Blu. Inspect the cord to ensure that there are no knicks, tears, cracks, or other damage to the entire length of the cord.  Should you find any damage, you should also replace the cord. This is often necessary with old lamps.  Many times they are stored in a hot attic or garage that is not climate controlled.  Over time the casing on the cord becomes very brittle and can crack.  These cords must be replaced.

Once you have determined that the cord is in good shape, cut the cord just above the plug to remove the damaged/old plug from the cord.  There are tools for this but a sharp pair of scissors works fine.  My cord was in good shape.  It did have some old paint on it but I scraped most of it off.

Your cord is actually comprised of two separate wires, each of which is wrapped in a protective covering.  Take your scissors and carefully snip between the wires for about one inch.

Open the replacement plug and insert each part of the cord into the channels as instructed on the package.  Closed the plug firmly.  There are metal contacts that will pierce the casing of the wire and connect with the wire beneath.

Then insert the screw to tighten the connection.  The back of the package has handy instructions for reference.  Note:  The wire on my lamp is old and consequently it is thicker than cords on lamps today.  I had to gently score the location on the wire where the contacts would pierce the casing just to help it along.

And here she is, all bright and ready for a cosmetic makeover!