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Replacing Appliance Receptacles

Appliance receptacles, rated from 15 to 50 amps, 240 volts and from 20 to 50 amps, 120/240 bolts, each require a special plug that will fit only that receptacle. Take care when replacing appliance receptacles because they have two hot wires, usually red and black, going to them. They may or may not have a separate grounding wire.

CAUTION: before beginning any work, turn off the power to the circuit. For a 240-volt circuit, you may have to remove two fuses or trip a two-handed circuit breaker.

Replacing a Grounded Receptacle
  • Shut off power to the circuit, unscrew the cover plate and remove.
  • Unscrew the receptacle from its box and carefully pull it out.
  • Note which wire is connected to which terminal screw.
  • Disconnect the wires from the screws.
  • To install the new receptacle, wrap the wires clockwise around the screws (use old receptacle as a guide.)
  • Screw the receptacle to the box and replace the cover plate.
Replacing a Backwired Receptacle
  • Shut off the power.
  • Push a small-bladed screwdriver into the slots next to the wires.
  • Pull them out.
  • To install the new receptacle push the end of the stripped black wire into the hole by the brass screws, white wire by the silver ones.
Replacing a 120/240-volt Receptacle
  • Shut off the power and remove the receptacle from its box.
  • Label the wires and screws.
  • Detach the wires.
  • Reconnect the wires to their proper screws on the new receptacle.
  • Reattach the receptacle to the box and replace the cover plate.
Professional Hint: Using Wire Nuts

For most simple repairs, you won't need to splice wires. But you may have to splice two or more copper wires to replace a damaged wall or ceiling light fixture or to make a connection in a receptacle, switch or junction box.

To splice wires:

  • Strip 1 inch of insulation off the wires together clockwise.
  • Snip off 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the ends.
  • Cap the twisted wires with a wire nut, turning it clockwise to secure the connection.
  • Make sure the wire nut is the proper size for the wires.
  • CAUTION: Don't use any wire nuts to splice together a damaged extension cord. For safety, building codes allow you to splice house wires only within junction, receptacle, fixture or switch boxes. Also, be sure to turn off the power to the circuit before you make any splice.
Parts of a Lamp

Most incandescent lamps have a socket, switch, cord and plug. Any one of these parts may wear out and need to be replaced. To check a lamp that doesn't work, test the light bulb, plug the lamp into another receptacle to be sure the receptacle isn't at fault and check the plug and cord for wear.

NOTE: A lamp assembled with rivets instead of nuts and bolts can't be taken apart for repair, so you'll have to replace it.

CAUTION: Before working on any lamp, make sure it's unplugged

Incandescent Light Fixtures

There are many types of incandescent light fixtures including wall and ceiling-mounted lights, from single-bulb globes to chandeliers. They are all connected directly to your home's wiring through a recessed ceiling box hidden by the fixture or a decorative canopy. Though instruction here are for repairing and replacing ceiling-mounted fixtures, you'll use the same procedures for wall-mounted styles.

When a Fixture Doesn't Work

First check the light bulb and then check the circuit and light switch. If the fixture is the problem, the cause may be in the wiring or the socket. Detach the fixture from the ceiling box and check for a loose connection. Tighten if necessary. If the fixture still doesn't work try to replace it or repair it following the instructions found below.

Replacing a Fixture
  • Shut off the power, remove the bulb and unscrew the cap nuts to free the fixture from the screws on the ceiling box.
  • Disconnect the old fixture and strip 1/2 inch off the new wires.
  • Wrap the bare ends around the circuit wires and bend over.
  • Install wire nuts.
  • Carefully push the new fixture onto the screws that hold it to the ceiling box.
  • Screw on the cap nuts to secure the fixture and replace the bulb.
Replacing a Prewired Socket
  • Turn off the power and remove the glass shade.
  • Unscrew the fixture screws to free the fixture.
  • Unscrew the wire nuts to disconnect the socket wires from the circuit wires.
  • Unclip and remove the faulty socket from the fixture.
  • Attach the new socket by pushing the wires through and splicing them to the circuit wires with wire nuts.
  • Reattach the fixture and replace the cover.
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