How to Wire a Socket

Customize your light fixture’s light socket with ease! In this tutorial, you’ll learn everything you need to know about wiring a basic shade-ready socket. Color Cord Company’s socket features a 3-piece construction: the top cap, a threaded socket (also known as a skirt), and the terminal plate. Enjoy this quick tutorial with easy-to-follow instructions for your next DIY light fixture project.

• Color Cord Black Socket
• Standard Cord Grip
• Color Cord 3000 - Wire Stripping Tool
• Phillips Head Screwdriver
• Cresent Wrench
• Masking Tape
• Solder Gun & Solder

Measure 1 1/4 from the tip of the cloth-covered wire, and wrap an inch of electric tape over the wire. Over the midsection of the tape, strip the PVC housing to expose the 3 conductor wires. We recommend the use of our Color Cord 3000 striping tool.

• Strip one end of each wire to expose about 3/16” of the stranded copper wire.
• Make sure that there are no cuts on the conductor wires exposing the internal stranded copper wire.
• Using your fingers, twist the stranded wires together.

• Flip the cap upside down & locate the screw of the ground terminal. Loosen the screw to about 1/8.”
• Bend the exposed end of the ground (green) wire to a 90-degree angle.
• Insert the ground (green) wire through the top opening of the cap.
• Insert the exposed section of the green (ground) wire into the ground terminal opening under the screw.
• Make sure the exposed copper wire is completely inside the hole.
• Then secure the wire in place with the screw.

• Insert the black & white wire through the top opening of the cap and push the wire inside the cap.
• Locate the positive & negative terminal screws on the terminal plate.
• With the head of screws facing up, the positive terminal will be at the left (brass), and the negative to the right (silver). Loosen up both screws to open up the terminals.
• Align the terminal plate with the cap, so the black wire is aligned with the positive terminal, and the white wire with the negative.
• Insert the exposed copper of the black wire into the positive terminal screw, and the exposed white wire into the negative terminal screw.
• Make sure the exposed wire is all the way in, and tighten up the screws to hold the wire in place.

• Pull the insert inside the cap. It should sit well in the fitted ridges inside the cap.
• Align the shell with long internal threads facing the cap and twist it into the socket.
• Twist the cap until it locks into the socket! You will hear a clicking/ratcheting noise as the cap is securely locking onto the socket.
• Once the socket is locked, slide the cord grip towards the socket.
• Twist the cord grip rightly into the socket.
• Screw the plastic screw back into the cord grip!

Voila! You now have a custom cloth-covered light cord with a socket you’ve wired yourself. The next question is, what kind of light fixture would you like to create with it? We look forward to seeing your creations!