How to Add a Switch to a Lamp Cord (no wiring)

February 14, 2023 by Karen 26 Comments

Can you operate a pair of scissors? Yes? PERFECT. That means you have the skills to install a switch on a lamp cord. Today we're installing a wheel switch.

There's really no good reason you wouldn't want to install a wheel switch. It's like having a tiny wizard in your cord.

Anyone can do this. ANYONE.

Because with a handy little wheel switch there's no wiring.

THE FIRST REASON (other than the wizard thing) you'll want to try this is because you can get almost immediate satisfaction from it. It takes like, 5 minutes, but you'll feel ... smug. Smart. Handy.

THE SECOND REASON is if you have a lamp that has no switch (as is the case with the picture light I'm working on here). There are archaic lights out there that you need to plug in to turn on and unplug to turn off.

THE THIRD REASON is if the lamp's switch is inconvenient to reach, like under a lampshade or in a bucket of spiders.

So everybody just calm down. You've got this. It's a piece of cake

EXCEPT WARNING

THERE'S ONLY ONE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW: which is the hot and which is the neutral wire.

The narrow (brass) prong is the HOT conductor which connects to the hot wire.

The wide (silver) prong is the NEUTRAL conductor which connects to the neutral wire.

All polarized plugs (with a wide & a narrow prong) are the same.

ONLY add an inline wheel switch to a cord with a polarized plug.

The side with the smooth sheathing is the HOT wire.

The side with the ridged sheathing is the NEUTRAL wire.

That means:

Narrow terminal side - Smooth insulation = HOT conductor

Wide terminal side - Ridged insulation = NEUTRAL conductor

You'll probably have to look back to reference those things, and that's fine. Just make sure that you're always paying attention to which wire it is you're cutting and/or dealing with.

YOU'RE CONFUSED. I understand.

All you need to remember is that you are cutting the smooth wire. (the one that goes to the narrow terminal)

Step by step this is how to install your light switch.

1. Get your stuff together.

2. Decide where you want the switch to go. You get to decide where it's most convenient for you.

3. Admire your switch. You're about to become an electricianish.

4. Your switch might look slightly different. That's O.K.

5. Remove the screw to open the switch up. Don't lose the tiny nut from the other side of the screw head.

6. Using a sharp blade split the electrical cord to separate it.

7. Cut the HOT, smooth insulated wire in the middle. (this is where you get to show off your scissor skills)

8. Press the NEUTRAL, ridged, wire into the bottom channel then press the cut HOT, smooth wires above it.

9. Note the points on the other half of the switch. They will pierce the HOT smooth wires to finish the broken circuit.

10. Line the top part of the switch over the bottom, and press together firmly.

11. Make sure the tiny nut is in place and screw together to tighten.

12. You're done Bob Vila. You just have to test it out.

Look at you, you switched it up.

If you have bigger lamp problems, I can also show you how to rewire an entire lamp.

And then of course there's the option of using smart plugs and smart bulbs. I use Philips Hue bulbs in my living room and Kasa smart plugs around the house, plus I added some to my mom's house.

Betty claimed she didn't need them, but now that I've set them up for her she loves walking into the living room and saying "Hey Google" turn the lights on." Then the neighbourhood takes a drink.