For DU electricians, a lamp cord question.

[irisblue]

I scraped off the plasticized coat by catching it under the metal bed frame. I can see the wires. I've wrapped the area in electric tape. Should I plan to swap out the cord next week? I'd like to use the lamp, it's in the guest room and would only be on for 4 hrs for 3 days.
Thanks.🔌

[zipplewrath]

1. There are two sides

In layman's terms, there is the positive and negative sides. It's why there is a "line" down the middle of a lamp cord. If one side can touch the other, you have a problem. If you only have exposed wires on one side, your electrical tape is enough. Otherwise, they need to be separated.

[Glamrock]

2. You should definitely change that cord.

But if you want to use it, you need to seperate the two wires in the cord and tape them up seperately.

[jberryhill]

3. Question back

What you don't want to happen is for the wires to be exposed, which the wrapping accomplished, but you ALSO don't want them touching each other if the cord is moved, bumped, whatever.

In other words, if you could see both wires and you just wrapped the whole thing up, then what you might consider is UNPLUGGING it, unwrapping what you did, and then using a knife to cut the plastic cord in the middle where the wires are exposed, in order to be able to (1) individually wrap each wire at the exposed part, and then (2) wrap around the outside of it again.

If both wires were exposed, but you did not individually wrap and isolate the conductors, then there is an indoor fireworks show in store for you in the near future.

It's always best to replace a damaged cord, since the tape can come off, will catch on things, etc.. If you have children or wire-curious pets in the house, don't bother with the tape - unplug it and replace the cord. Children or wire-chewing critters will find the taped portion to be fascinating.

(not an electrician, but hold graduate degrees in electrical engineering)

[Turbineguy]

4. I think there's a risk of fire

I suggest unplugging the lamp until you get a new cord.

[dameatball]

5. Depends on your confidence that the electrical tape will not also catch on the metal frame.

Is there any other alternative to the present location? If not, I would replace it with a longer cord and find a different outlet if you can.

And no, I am not an electrician. I just have a hard enough time sleeping peacefully these past two years without worrying about a fire.

[jberryhill]

6. Ah good point

Yeah, if the wire caught on the frame as-is, then the taped repair definitely will.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. The fire in the Trump Tower was caused by an electrical problem.

How much do cords cost? If that's too much, scavenge the cord from an old device that you're throwing out. You can get a jacketed cord from a DVD player.

Also, use an underwriters loop at the base of the bulb's socket.

Black to brass, white to bright.

I could go on, but I'm logging off now.

There should be lots of videos at YouTube to guide you.

Best wishes.

[irisblue]

8. Thanks. Unplugged the lamp

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Really. Get a new lamp or replace the old cord. Simple enough to do. A fire is not what ...

you want vs. a new lamp or repaired lamp. Take care. The prior posts all are good too of course.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. Replace the cord. Or gift the lamp to a Republican neighbor.

[irisblue]

11. Navy Blue street, 'cept for that fool kitty corner to me. And I like her dog.

I do like that angry muffin icon.

[RainCaster]

12. Unplug it, then replace the cord when you can

Do not keep it plugged in any longer.

[csziggy]

13. Replce the cord - it's easy and safer

Also figure out how to run the cord so the new one won't get rubbed - you may want to install a much longer cord to make this easier.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Don't swap it out next week...

swap it out today.

I worked in electronics for decades. Better not to take chances, especially on an item that is so cheap.

[irisblue]

15. Lamp is unplugged in the guest room

They managed fine with one bedside lamp.

Thanks everyone.

[Fla Dem]

16. I recently replaced a cord in a old lamp.

First time I did it. Got a cord replacement kit at Lowe's or Home Depot, can't remember which, but it was a very easy thing to do and not expensive.

I'd say, better safe than sorry.

[onethatcares]

17. when this happens again

separate the cord where the wire is exposed and strip back about 1/2 inch of conductor on both ends. slide a piece of shrink tube onto one side that will cover the length of the splice and leave it loose. wrap wire conductors together and solder. Slide shrink wrap over splice and lightly heat same with soldering iron.

No muss, no fuss and will last quite a while.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

18. I'd cut the cord at the frayed point then clip on a new plug. Then get an extension cord.

Probably cheaper than rewiring the lamp, certainly less time consuming.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. I was just about to post that. That works as long as

the damaged portion of the cord is near the existing plug. If the damaged portion is in the middle of the cord, irisblue could end up with a lamp that has a two-foot cord. That cord might not be long enough for her.

I fixed a battery charger with this technique, sort of. In my case, the insulation was getting so old that it had cracked in one spot. The bad part was close to where the cord went into the metal case of the battery charger. The insulation in the remainder of the cord seemed supple. The cord was secured to the metal case by a strain relief. I removed the strain relief from the battery charger case. I was able to cut off the portion of the cord with deteriorated insulation and have a long enough cord that it was still usable. I had to solder in new connections inside the charger and wrestle the strain relief back into place. Obviously, this is more work than irisblue had in mind.

At any rate, damaged insulation needs to be attended to right away. If this were in a workplace, an OSHA inspector would write a citation for it.

Rewiring lamps is a good skill to have. It's not tough. The only worry comes from making sure the polarity is the way it ought to be. I am certain that videos on YouTube will cover that.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

20. I've rewired a few lamps but the last one I did was a real pain.

Unlike a straight base>body>bulb lamp the cord was snaked through a series of piping and lots of threaded pieces. Made it hard to tighten up the socket mount. It was more time commitment than I ever expected.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

21. I love to scavenge great stuff from trash piles.

My current archenemies are the scrap dealers who come around and clip off the cords to otherwise possibly repairable TV sets, etc. Then they leave the carcasses behind. Sheesh, that annoys me. How much money is there in the copper that you'd find in six feet of a TV power cord? They should take the whole thing or leave the whole thing, but not take one part, destroying the value of what's left.