How to Rewire a Two-Headed Floor Lamp

Unplug the floor lamp from the wall outlet and remove the lamp shade. Depending upon the type you have, the shade might have a simple screw cap on the center of the frame or a frame that squeezes together to disconnect it from the lamp.

Unscrew the bulbs from the sockets. Remove the center cap from the top of the lamp post. Most double socket lamps have a twist cap on the top of post. This exposes the wires from each socket and the main cord wires, along with the connecting wire nuts. Twist the wire nuts securing the socket wires to the main lamp cord counterclockwise with your fingers.

Pry the socket housings from the socket base with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the socket housings out of the base. Loosen the screws securing the wires to the socket with a flat-head screwdriver and disconnect the wires from the socket.

Place the lamp on its side and remove the bottom base of the lamp. Depending on your lamp, the bottom might have a screw securing it or it might just snap on and off. Pull the lamp cord out of the lamp and out of the base.

Insert the end of a new lamp cord through the grommet on the lamp base and into the center post of the lamp until it comes out the top of the post.

Split the each end of the 1-foot lamp cord wires down the center with a utility knife to create a 1-inch long, two-wire end. Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from the ends of each individual wire with wire strippers. Attach one end of lamp cord wire to each of the terminal screws on the lamp sockets and tighten the screws with the screwdriver.

Push the opposite end of the socket wire through the socket base until it comes through the top of the lamp post. Push the socket housing into the socket base.

Twist the bare ends of the socket neutral wires with the neutral lamp cord wire. The neutral wire is the one with ribbed insulation or some writing on the insulation. Twist the ends together with a wire nut. Repeat for the hot wire ends. Push the wires into the cavity in the top of the lamp post and screw the cap onto the lamp post.

Secure the bottom base back onto the bottom of the lamp. Stand the lamp on its bottom and reattach the shade. Screw light bulbs into the sockets, and plug the lamp into the wall outlet.