Common Floor and Table Lamps Problems and Solutions
- Bulb flickers or does not light
- Lamp blows fuse or trips circuit breaker
- Bulb broken or seized
- Bulb burns out too quickly
- Shock when changing bulb
- Shock when plugging or unplugging lamp
Bulb flickers or does not light
Possible Cause | Procedure |
---|---|
Plug or bulb loose | Check plug in wall outlet, tighten bulb in socket |
Bulb burned out | Replace bulb |
Wall outlet faulty | Test lamp in another outlet. If it lights, service the outlet |
Socket contact tab bent | Pry up contact tab |
Socket faulty | Replace socket |
Lamp switch faulty | Test and replace switch |
Plug faulty | Replace plug |
Lamp cord faulty | Test and rewire lamp |
Lamp blows fuse or trips circuit breaker
Possible Cause | Procedure |
---|---|
Overload circuit | Move a high-wattage appliance to another circuit Have an electrician run a new circuit from the circuit panel |
Short circuit in lamp cord | Test and rewire lamp |
Plug faulty | Replace plug |
Socket faulty | Test and replace socket |
Bulb broken or seized
Possible Cause | Procedure |
---|---|
Socket corroded or damaged | Replace socket |
Bulb burns out too quickly
Possible Cause | Procedure |
---|---|
Heavy use of lamp | Install long-life bulb or bulb life extender |
Shock when changing bulb
Possible Cause | Procedure |
---|---|
Socket faulty | Replace socket |
Polarity reversed | Check polarity in cord and plug |
Shock when plugging or unplugging lamp
Possible Cause | Procedure |
---|---|
Plug faulty | Replace plug |
Lamp cord faulty | Rewire lamp |