texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
nmmuledeerhunter, Dzia-Dzia, TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed
71989 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,417
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,030
Posts9,719,606
Members86,989
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp #7558933 07/18/19 12:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
kry226 Online Content OP
The General
OP Online Content
The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
I think I'm on track with where I'm heading with this but want to be sure... pic below.

I've got a really cool old desk lamp that my wife loves but it's time to bring it into this century before we put it into operation. I'm installing a LED bulb in place of the old fluorescent one and obviously by-passing the ballast and wiring directly to the ends of the LED light tube. Well this lamp has a switch with four wires, two blue and two black. My assumption is one color is hot and the other is neutral. Is this correct?

[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7558937 07/18/19 12:35 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,096
P
pdr55 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
P
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,096
The neutral usually doesn’t go into the switch, the switch only makes or breaks the line voltage.


If you`re running down my country, man,
You`re walking on the fighting side of me. (Merle)
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7558948 07/18/19 12:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
kry226 Online Content OP
The General
OP Online Content
The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
OK, got it. So let me ask a different way...what is the polarity of the black and blue wires?

The original plug isn't polarized, so it looked to me the lamp was wired for juice to flow either way. Does that matter?

ETA, I found this:
Quote
black is on and blue is temporary on. black to source and other black to ballast. blue to each end of tube fixture. other source to bulb fixture


If this is correct, and I'm bypassing the ballast, I don't need all four wires. Just need to wire the switch with black wires connected to the source and one end of the light tube?

Last edited by kry226; 07/18/19 12:59 AM.

[Linked Image]
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7558967 07/18/19 01:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Ok, not enough info really, but I will take a stab.

That was a fluorescent lamp I am hearing. You want to put an LED tube in its place.

First, find the tube and the mounts for it. An LED tube may look conventional but it is not. One end is wired for two wire power, the other is a physical mount only.

Am I assuming correctly?


Cast

[Linked Image]

I have a short attention spa
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7559161 07/18/19 10:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
kry226 Online Content OP
The General
OP Online Content
The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
It was an old florescent lamp. I've done LED replacements before (my travel trailer) and I've seen LED tubes that simply have wires to connect and where the ends are only physical holders, as well as tubes where the ends of the LED tubes are electrical contacts. This new LED tube I'm using is like the latter. Its wiring instructions say to bypass the ballast and connect the hot lead to one end of the tube and the neutral lead to the other end. It also states that it doesn't matter which end each lead is wired to.

I'm learning that the switch is a starter switch, which I believe is operated by holding down momentarily until the florescent tube lights then released. My plan is to not use the switch's blue wires (momentary on) and use the black wires (constant on) to wire the switch between one end of the LED tube and the hot power source.

I'm cautious about the function of this switch and if it doesn't work, I'll just replace it with a modern piece.


[Linked Image]
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7559162 07/18/19 10:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,821
hopalong Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,821
replace the switch and do it right.



lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA - 903 474 7479 reservations

Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7559163 07/18/19 10:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Ok, well then you are ready for the next step. Strip all the old wiring, ballast and switch out. Discard. Find a new SPST switch that will fit the existing switch hole and install.

Rewire -

Install and wire power and neutral wires to the new LED bulb. The neutral wire bypasses the switch and goes right out to the power plug. The hot from the LED bulb goes to one of the two connectors on your new switch. The hot wire from the power plug goes to the other connector on the new switch.

Plug it in and switch it on.


Cast

[Linked Image]

I have a short attention spa
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7559188 07/18/19 11:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
kry226 Online Content OP
The General
OP Online Content
The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
Thanks, guys! Ack all. Part will be here on Saturday and I'll follow-up with the finished product (assuming I don't burn my house down or end up with black fingers.)

roflmao


[Linked Image]
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7559229 07/18/19 12:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 810
J
JESmith Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
J
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 810
Originally Posted by kry226
I'm learning that the switch is a starter switch, which I believe is operated by holding down momentarily until the florescent tube lights then released. My plan is to not use the switch's blue wires (momentary on) and use the black wires (constant on) to wire the switch between one end of the LED tube and the hot power source.


You are correct. Those switches were a three position switch. The momentary on was used to engage the starter. Remove this portion of the wiring and the starter. Wire the hot to one side of the bulb and neutral to the other. No need to replace the switch.

Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7559310 07/18/19 02:17 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 8,376
N
nsmike Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
N
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 8,376
Apparently polarity is important with led lights if it doesn't work simply reversing the connections will fix it.


for every stereotype there's a prototype don't be the prototype
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: nsmike] #7559339 07/18/19 02:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 810
J
JESmith Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
J
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 810
Originally Posted by nsmike
Apparently polarity is important with led lights if it doesn't work simply reversing the connections will fix it.

Not usually the case..
Yes - individual discreet LEDs are a DC device (usually 5V DC). However most replacement bulbs are 115V AC and are not polarity sensitive. (they have a builtin transformer)

What happens is some fluorescent style LED bulbs only have live terminals on one end. So you can put them in backwards and they won't work.

Disclaimer. - 12volt automotive LED bulbs ARE DC and therefore polarity sensitive.

Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: JESmith] #7559707 07/18/19 10:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
kry226 Online Content OP
The General
OP Online Content
The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
Originally Posted by JESmith
Originally Posted by kry226
I'm learning that the switch is a starter switch, which I believe is operated by holding down momentarily until the florescent tube lights then released. My plan is to not use the switch's blue wires (momentary on) and use the black wires (constant on) to wire the switch between one end of the LED tube and the hot power source.


You are correct. Those switches were a three position switch. The momentary on was used to engage the starter. Remove this portion of the wiring and the starter. Wire the hot to one side of the bulb and neutral to the other. No need to replace the switch.

Thank you, sir! up


[Linked Image]
Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: kry226] #7560025 07/19/19 01:19 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 810
J
JESmith Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
J
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 810
For safety's sake ... make sure the neutral goes to the bulb and no where else. Do not ground to any metal of the lamp. These old style plugs can be plugged in backwards and give you a "hot chassis". shocked

I would recommend chaining the cord out to a three wire cord and plug OR at least cut off the plug and swap it out with newer two prong plug that has a wider neutral blade. That way it can never be plugged in backwards. Either way works.

Re: Rewiring a 40+ Year-Old Lamp [Re: JESmith] #7560485 07/20/19 01:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958
kry226 Online Content OP
The General
OP Online Content
The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,958

Originally Posted by JESmith
For safety's sake ... make sure the neutral goes to the bulb and no where else. Do not ground to any metal of the lamp. These old style plugs can be plugged in backwards and give you a "hot chassis". shocked

I would recommend chaining the cord out to a three wire cord and plug OR at least cut off the plug and swap it out with newer two prong plug that has a wider neutral blade. That way it can never be plugged in backwards. Either way works.

That’s my absolute #1 priority...to not become a ground. I’ve already replaced the cord with a wide neutral blade cord. Thanks again. up


[Linked Image]
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3