How to change a chandelier socket: step-by-step instructions. Electric cartridge types, device, connection and repair

An electric light bulb socket is a device that is the connecting unit between the lamp and the incandescent element. In addition, using additional fasteners, a lampshade or shades can be hung. This part transmits current through wires. The screwed-in burnt element can be easily changed due to the simplicity of the product body.

Product marking

Depending on the diameter of the threaded part of the assembly, the products have several varieties:

Connecting the electric socket

To understand how to connect a light bulb socket, you need to have a good understanding of its structure. The central contact is made of brass. It presses against the ceramic liner. To do this with reverse side There is a threaded steel plate. A screw is screwed into it and passes through ceramic and brass.

The screw is tightened with good force, because an electric current passes through the part to the contact. A side brass plate is placed nearby, which is attached according to the same principle.

When connecting the wires, rings are formed on them for fastening. They pass through its central hole in the body and are fixed on steel plates. The phase from the network is supplied to the central contact.

After this, a bushing with a thread for the light bulb is screwed on top. Then the lamp is selected.

Product fastening

Typically, the socket in chandeliers or lamps is mounted at the bottom of the housing. It is unacceptable to place any weight on the wires. For fixation, the chandelier has a hole at the bottom into which a plastic sleeve is inserted. The wiring runs into it and is fixed with a bolt. A more reliable fastening is a metal tube. Wires are passed through it. The nuts located on it allow the installation of shades and chandelier caps.

Special sockets are available for installing lamp shades or wall lamps. They have a thread on the outside. The attachments are pressed using plastic bushings that are screwed onto the threaded part of the cartridge.

It should be remembered that you cannot install a high-intensity light bulb, because the plastic washers begin to melt.

Reasons for replacing the design

Over time, the product requires replacement. The need arises due to the following circumstances:

Before replacing the cartridge, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Dismantling and installation work

Armed necessary tools, you can begin dismantling the old structure and installing a new product . The step-by-step instructions are as follows:

Power is supplied to the network and the device turns on. If the work is done correctly, the light should light up.

An electric socket is a product that is present in any lamp. Over time, the structure fails. The reason may be rust or a crack in the housing. Main, notice it in time and work to replace it.

Such a seemingly simple and uncomplicated procedure as connecting a light bulb socket has its own nuances that are not always familiar to people far from electricity.

What can I say, sometimes the electricians themselves do it wrong. What could this mean for you in future use?

For example, the fact that the next time you replace a burnt paw, you will simply get under voltage and get an electric shock. To avoid this, let's look at all the possible mistakes when doing this work.

Types of cartridges

The most widespread in our market are 3 types of cartridges:

• Soviet-style carbolite

• ceramic

• plastic self-clamping

Connecting old-style carbolite

Let's start with carbolite ones. This cartridge is collapsible and consists of three parts:

• cylindrical body with thread

• bottom

• ceramic insert with contacts

Most often in our apartments we use cartridges marked:

• E27

• E14

The value in numbers indicates the diameter of the lamp base in millimeters that is suitable for this socket.

The letter "E" indicates that it belongs to the screw series with Edison threads.

There are also pin type, G series and some others presented below.

Such products are designed for a current of no more than 4A. That is, in a 220V network you can connect a load of up to 900W to them.

Connecting wires - phase and zero

The cable is connected in the following sequence.

First of all, before starting work, you need to find out which of the wires in the cable is a phase. This main point responsible for the safety of all further assembly.

This is done using an ordinary indicator screwdriver.

The phase in the cartridge should arrive only at the lower central part of the base, and nowhere else.

The connection contact is shown in the photo below.

Why is this so important? The point is that you should never have a live threaded part in a chuck. Not many people know, but when a light switch (one-key, two-key) is turned off, only one of the conductors is broken.

The second one continues to go directly to the cartridge. Now imagine that an electrician accidentally mixed up a phase with a zero and sent a neutral wire through the switch.

As a result, at one fine moment, the light bulb in the chandelier may not just burn out, but burst, destroying the glass bulb.

You will turn off the light to replace it, and with such a replacement, you will have to come into contact with the base anyway.

And if a phase comes to it, and not zero, then you are guaranteed to come under voltage.

There are generally lamps entirely with metal socket housings. It is worth mixing up the connection of wires here, and when emergency situation the entire lamp will be energized.

You can also often observe a situation where, when you wrap a light bulb in a socket, for some reason it does not light up. The reason here lies in the bending of the central contact. It just doesn't reach the base patch.

To correct this defect, it is enough to bend it back. Many people do this with non-insulated screwdrivers or a knife.

As a result of careless actions, you will definitely touch the side contacts, and they will be energized.

As a result, you are guaranteed an electric shock. In this case, experienced electricians advise not to use screwdrivers or foreign tools at all, but to use the cartridge itself.

Unscrew the cylindrical threaded body and insert its side edge between the two contact pads.

Next, grab the central patch with the edge and bend it towards the top. In this case, you will not create any short circuits, and you yourself will not come under voltage.

And it doesn’t matter whether this cartridge is on the wall or on the ceiling. Everything is done in the same way in both cases.

Therefore, remember - the neutral conductor should always come only to the threaded part of the base.

How to connect a cable with three wires

Many people have a question: where to connect the ground wire if you have 3 wires in the cable? After all, there are no more free connectors on the contact insert.

This third wire must be connected to the body of the lamp itself. Usually on or sconces, there is always a factory place where the “ground” should be connected.

Therefore, the third wire does not go directly into the cartridge itself. When stripping a cable, always make this yellow-green conductor longer, at least twice as long.

Although it should be noted that some types of ceramic bases have similar connectors.

1 of 2

They are a metal plate placed in the center of the product. If space allows, you can make a connection on it.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of this cartridge:

• ease of disassembly and assembly

• time-tested reliability

• contact pads are fixed with screws

Firstly, if necessary (burnout, melting), they can be replaced. Or simply tighten it when the contacts loosen and the connection heats up.

By the way, these screws need to be tightened initially, even before directly connecting the wires. This will extend the life of the socket and light bulb significantly.

In 90% of cases, the light bulb stops shining because the central contact heats up and its plate-shaped area begins to bend, gradually moving away from the lamp base.

Flaws:

• inconvenient connection to screw terminals

To provide good contact, you will have to unscrew them entirely from their seat.

Moreover, if you have a non-Wera screwdriver with a bunch of additional “chips,” then this screw often falls out and rolls into the most inappropriate places.

Although experienced electricians do without completely unscrewing the screws and bending the neat rings on the copper conductors. The entire connection is made much easier.

The veins are stripped a little more than usual (2-3 centimeters), and the screws are only loosened. Next, place the vein under the washer with the screw and make a turn strictly in the direction of tightening the thread.

This is necessary so that when tightening the screw, the ring does not unbend, but rather tightens even better.

After this, bite off all the excess protruding behind the bolt with side cutters. You should end up with some kind of half ring.

All that remains is to squeeze it with platypuses to a full ring.

It is not yet possible to tighten such a connection. It should “play” in its seat.

Take the second wire and do the same procedure with it. Only then can the screws be tightened as far as possible. As a result of such a connection, there is no need to unscrew anything, make some rings in advance, guessing the diameter of the bolts.

All this is adjusted directly on the cartridge itself. Saving time and labor costs is obvious.

The only disadvantage of this method is that the wire consumption will be a couple of centimeters more than usual.

Connecting a stranded wire

If you have multi-core wires, then there is no way to do this without first forming a ring and soldering it. Otherwise, 100% reliability and durability cannot be achieved from such a connection. The contact will simply be crushed by the screw head.

In this case, the veins are first divided in half and twisted.

After which a free ring is formed around the bolt.

It then needs to be soldered and then connected.

The extra tails after the ring are bitten off.

Before all these procedures, do not forget to first place the “butt” from the cartridge on the cable itself.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to assemble it after this and will have to twist the cartridge a second time.

The second disadvantage of carbolite products is connection time.

The entire process of disassembling and reassembling, unscrewing and tightening screws, takes from 5 to 10 minutes. Therefore, the procedure for “loading” a carbolite cartridge cannot be called quick.

Connecting wires in a ceramic socket

The ceramic device is not a dismountable product, just like its contacts. This is where the main disadvantages arise.

These contacts are rolled and eventually weaken over time. As a result, heating occurs, followed by burnout or too much frequent exit failure of the light bulbs themselves.

Such cartridges also have the sin of twisting the skirt itself along with the light bulb. After such a defect, it is better to replace it entirely.

Of course, you can initially solder the contacts in the folding areas or crimp the unscrewed skirt again, but the vast majority do not bother with this and simply buy a new one.

The main advantage of the ceramic cartridge is its simplified connection system. Everything happens much faster here.

Firstly, there is no need to disassemble the device itself into three parts. Secondly, completely unscrew the screws.

It is enough to loosen them slightly and insert the stripped wire core into the contact space.

When you remove the cover, you will find that there are no screws inside at all where you could attach the wires. A person who is far from electrical installation work will not immediately understand such a design.

How to connect it? Everything is done very simply.

You need to strip the ends of the wires and push them into the small holes until they click. Moreover, most models have two pairs of contacts at once. And accordingly, not two, but four holes at once.

They are designed for convenient assembly of light bulbs in . Insert the appropriate wire into one hole, and into the other - the wire going to the next light bulb.

Just don’t think about inserting phase and neutral into adjacent holes, otherwise you will create a short circuit!

Inside these contacts there are spring-loaded metal plates that provide the connection.

Here also do not forget about correct connection phase and zero.

The wires in such clamps are held quite securely, and even with a little force, they cannot be pulled out.

2 Do not forget to tighten the screws that secure the contact plates to the ceramic liner at the very beginning.

You can solder all the wires super securely, but if these screws are loose, then heating of the connection is still inevitable.

3 Connecting multi-core wires without soldering or tinning.
4 Connecting phase and zero to two adjacent contacts keyless chuck and creation of a contract.
5 Pressing and adjusting the central plate in the carbolite cartridge when bending it, using a non-insulated tool.

Types, device, connection and repair

is an installation electrical product used for detachable connection of light bulbs and other artificial light sources to electrical wiring.

The electric socket is an integral part of any lamp or chandelier and often performs the task of not only transmitting electric current, but also holding a lampshade, lampshade, other aesthetic items and lighting control devices.

Types, markings and technical characteristics
electric cartridges

All electric cartridges are designed in the same way according to the principle of operation and differ only overall dimensions, the material from which they are made and design.

The body of the electric cartridge is usually marked, indicating its specifications. If they are not indicated, you can find them out from the table based on the mounting dimensions of the lamp base.

Table of types of popular electric cartridges
for connecting artificial light sources to the network

Electrical sockets based on the method of connecting lamp bases are available in two varieties: screw type E series and pin type G series.

To electric threaded chucks for lamps, GOST R IEC 60238-99 applies, according to which sockets for a 220 V network are available in three types. E14 – in everyday life called minion, E27 and E40 – for street lamps.

Pin sockets for lamps are subject to GOST R IEC 60400-99, which regulates technical requirements for cartridges of type: G4, G5.3, G6.35, G8, GR8, G10, GU10, G10q, GR10q, GX10q, GY10q, G13, G20, GX23, G24, GX24, GY24, G32, GX32, GY32, GX53, 2G7, 2G11, 2G13, Fa6, Fa8 and R17d, designed for operation in a 220 V network. It is worth noting that in the marking of pin sockets, the number indicates the distance in the socket between the contact holes for installing lamp pins.

As you can see, according to GOST, the range of electric sockets is quite wide, so the table lists only the popular types that are most often installed in chandeliers and lamps for indoor and outdoor lighting.

Types and types of popular electric sockets for connecting artificial light sources
Marking	Appearance	Load current, A	Power no more than, W	Purpose
E14		2	440	Edison round thread cartridge ∅14 mm, which is popularly called “Minion”. Designed for low power LED and incandescent lamps
E27		4	880	A socket with a ∅27 mm Edison round thread, which until recently was installed in almost all lamps. Currently being replaced by E14
E40		16	3500	Ceramic cartridge with round Edison thread ∅40 mm. Designed for installation in high-power outdoor lighting fixtures
G4-G10		5	60	Pin plug-in sockets G4, G5.3, G6.35, G8, G10 are usually installed in luminaires for connecting small-sized, low-power halogen and LED lamps. The number after the letter G indicates the distance between the cartridge contacts
G9		5	60	The contacts in the G9 socket are made in the form of grooves, designed for connecting halogen and LED lamps, having a base with flat contacts in the form of a loop
GU10		5	50	The GU10 pin insert chuck is similar in application to G4-G10 with a pin spacing of 10 mm. Its special feature is the increased diameter of the lamp base pins at the ends, due to which the base is installed in the socket by turning clockwise and securely fixed
G13		4	80	The G13 pin plug-in socket is designed for connecting linear fluorescent and LED lamps. Its distinctive feature is its use in pairs and the need, after installing the lamp in the slot of the socket, to rotate it relative to the axis by 90°
GX23		2	75	The two-pin plug-in socket GX23 is designed for connecting U-shaped fluorescent and cylindrical LED lamps
G24		2	75	The four-pin plug-in socket G24 is designed for connecting U-shaped fluorescent and cylindrical LED lamps. The number 24 indicates the distance between opposite pins diagonally
2G7		2	50	Pin plug-in four-pin socket 2G7 is designed for connecting U-shaped fluorescent and cylindrical LED lamps
GX53		5	50	The modern GX53 pin chuck is similar in design to the GU10 with a pin spacing of 53mm. Its special feature is its small thickness, which is important for installing LED lamps in suspended and suspended ceilings

In the table, the maximum load current and power of connected lamps are for reference and depend on the material from which the socket is made. For example, ceramic sockets, unlike plastic ones, can withstand more current and allow the connection of more powerful lamps.

In Chinese chandeliers there are non-standard E27 electric sockets, designed for screwing in two, three or more light bulbs at once.

The socket for three light bulbs is designed and connected as follows. There are holes in the contacting plates, and you can connect wires to them using screws with M3 nuts; if you have a soldering iron on hand, you can connect the wires to the plates by soldering. The red arrow indicates the plate to which the phase wire must be connected. The neutral wire is connected to the location of the blue arrow. The dotted blue line shows the connection between the pins. This jumper need not be made, since the plates will be connected to each other through the base of the screwed-in light bulb, the green line in the photo. But then, if the right light bulb is not screwed in, then the left light bulb will also not receive power.

Design and principle of operation of an electric cartridge

Let's look at the design of an electric cartridge using the example of the widely used E-series Edison threaded cartridges.

The cartridge consists of three main parts. An outer cylindrical body in which a threaded sleeve with Edison thread is fixed, a bottom and a ceramic liner. To transfer current from suitable conductors to the light bulb base there are 2 brass contacts and threaded mounting strips.

In front of you in the photo is an E27 cartridge, completely disassembled into its component parts.

The photo clearly shows how the brass contacts touch the base of the light bulb. The photo on the right shows how current is transferred when brass contacts are attached to a ceramic liner.

In ancient times, when electricity bills were based on the number of light bulbs and sockets in an apartment, a device popularly known as the “rogue” was widely used.

The adapter cartridge that you see in the photo was screwed into the electric cartridge. On one side it has an external thread, like a light bulb, and on the other, an internal thread, like an ordinary socket. This crook had two brass tubes built into it, like a socket. The swindler allowed him to connect any electrical appliances to the chandelier. You can make such a crook yourself from an ordinary electric cartridge.

Methods for attaching electric sockets
in chandeliers and lamps

When replacing or repairing faulty electrical sockets in chandeliers and lamps, they have to be removed. To do this, you need to know how to attach the cartridge to the base of the chandelier.

The cartridge is attached to chandeliers and lamps, usually at the bottom. There is a thread in the hole where the wire enters the cartridge. For E14 – M10×1. E27 can have one of three: M10×1, M13×1 or M16×1. Lamps can be hung directly on an electrical wire or on a metal tube of any length and shape with a thread at the end.

Fastening the electric socket in the lamp
for the current-carrying wire

Fastening the cartridge to the current-carrying wire without additionally securing it is not permissible. A plastic sleeve is screwed into the bottom with a hole in the center for the passage of the electrical wire, in which a fixing plastic screw is provided.

After connecting the wires to the contacts of the cartridge and assembling it, clamp the wire with a plastic screw. Often the bushing is also used to secure decorative elements of lamps and parts for attaching the lampshade. This ensures the reliability of the connection of the electric socket, the lamp suspension and the mounting of the lampshade. Photo report on how I attached the cartridge to the current supply wire when making sconces for the hallway. A special wire with increased mechanical strength is used.

Mounting the electric socket in a chandelier on a tube

Mounting an electric socket on a metal tube is the most common, as it allows you to hang heavy lampshades and gives scope to your design imagination. He often screws additional nuts onto the tube and, using them, directly attaches any chandelier fittings, decorative caps, or lampshades themselves to the tube. The entire load is no longer carried by the electric cartridge, but by the metal tube. The wire for connecting the cartridge is passed inside the tube.

There are electric sockets that have a thread on the outer part of the cylindrical body onto which you can screw a lampshade ring and use it to secure a lampshade or other element of design and direction of the light flux.

Fastening the electric socket with a bushing

In table lamps and wall lamps, electrical sockets are often secured with metal or plastic tubular bushings to sheet metal parts. This method of fastening expands the capabilities of lamp designers, since it is enough to drill a hole anywhere in a part made of sheet material and secure the socket with a bushing.

More than once it was necessary to repair lamps with such fastening of the electric socket using plastic bushings due to its deformation. When heated by an incandescent light bulb, the plastic became deformed and the electric cartridge began to dangle.

Replaced the melted bushing with a metal one. I took it from a variable resistor type SP1, SP3. They have an M12×1 mounting thread. Please note that the thread may be different. The fact is that the connecting thread of E27 cartridges is not standardized, and each cartridge manufacturer made the thread at its own discretion. If you decide to use a sleeve from a resistor, then before breaking the resistor, be sure to check whether the thread fits the cartridge. The resistor is completely disassembled and the bushing is removed from the plastic base.

Mounting the electric socket in a chandelier
with screwless terminals

The fastening of an electric cartridge with screwless contact clamps is somewhat different from the traditional fastening due to the fact that the connection of the housing to the bottom is carried out using two latches, and not a thread.

First, the bottom is screwed onto the threaded tube in the chandelier, then the wires are threaded into the socket and finally the cylindrical body is snapped into the bottom. In the photo, the latches at the bottom are broken off; the chandelier was repaired due to this problem. Such a cartridge can be repaired; the repair technology is described in the article below.

Therefore, if you have to change such a socket in a chandelier, then in order not to damage the wires, first use a screwdriver to move the latch to the sides, thereby freeing the body from the bottom.

This photograph shows a socket with screwless contact clamps, installed during the repair of a chandelier to replace a socket that had failed. In this chandelier, the cartridge also performs a fastening function, fixing a decorative metal cup to which the glass shade is attached in the assembled chandelier.

Repair of electric cartridges

Electric cartridges of the E series can be successfully repaired, since it is possible to disassemble them. In the G series cartridges, the parts are connected using rivets and in case of breakage they have to be replaced with new ones.

Repair of dismountable electric socket E27

If the light bulbs in the lamp begin to burn out frequently or the light bulbs begin to change their brightness during operation, then one of the reasons, in addition to poor contact in the switch or junction box, is poor contact in the electrical socket. Sometimes, when the lamp is turned on, the cartridge begins to make a specific buzzing sound; in addition, the cartridge may smell bad of burning. It's not difficult to check. Just unscrew the light bulb and look into the socket. If the contacts are blackened, then you need to clean them. The cause of blackening may also be poor contact at the point where the cartridge is connected to the wires.

To properly repair an electric cartridge, you need to completely disassemble it, check the reliability of the wire connections and clean the brass contacts until they shine. Sometimes they need to be bent a little towards contact with the lamp base.

Sometimes when you try to unscrew a light bulb, its bulb comes unstuck from the base. In this case, you need to try to unscrew the base remaining in the cartridge by unscrewing the cylindrical body of the electric cartridge, holding it by the bottom. If you can’t unscrew the housing, you can try to grab the light bulb base by the edge with pliers and twist it that way.

Repair of a collapsible electric socket E14

We had to repair a five-arm chandelier in which only two bulbs were shining. The chandelier was old, Soviet-made, with dismountable E14 sockets with screw fastening of the wires.

The chandelier was used for many years with incandescent light bulbs and as a result high temperature and loosening of the wires, the places where they were clamped with screws became oxidized and burned.

The screws were stuck in the threads and it was impossible to unscrew them with a screwdriver. I had to use pliers and as a result, the fastening part for fixing the wire from the side contacts of the cartridge broke off in one of the cartridges. There was no similar replacement cartridge at hand and I had to figure out how to repair it.

To do this, a screw was screwed into the fastening part of the contact until it stops and a piece of copper wire, previously coated with tin-lead solder, was inserted, as shown in the photograph.

After assembly, the place where the copper wire was installed was filled with a large drop of solder using a soldering iron. After repair, the electric cartridge became even more reliable than it was before.

As a precaution, all five cartridges were checked and the contacts were cleaned with sandpaper. The wires were freed, the burnt ends were bitten off, the insulation was removed and tinned with solder. But I came across one electric cartridge in which, when unscrewing the screws, the heads broke off.

I repaired the cartridge using soldering, soldering the current-carrying conductors to the place where the screws broke. Now the quality of the connection will be maintained for many years.

After this Maintenance and repairs, the chandelier will last for many more decades, especially since LED filament bulbs are now screwed into the sockets.

with screwless terminals

When renovating an apartment, a neighbor had to remove a chandelier from the ceiling. When she unscrewed the union nuts from electric sockets with screwless contact clamps to remove the lampshades, all the cylindrical parts of the sockets became detached from the bottoms and hung on the wires. The chandelier only lasted six years with incandescent bulbs. It became apparent that the heat had caused the plastic to become brittle and the latches had broken off. I decided to repair the electric cartridges.

First, I sawed off the remains of the latches to the level of the pads in the cylindrical base of the electric cartridge. In the photo on the left there is a broken latch, and on the right it is adjusted to the required size.

The new latches were made from 0.5mm thick sheet brass. A cut strip of brass equal to the width of the broken latch was bent to the shape shown in the photograph. The latch can be made from any sheet metal, such as iron or aluminum.

The curved side of the strip was inserted into the bottom of the cartridge from the side of the rounded part. The straight section of the strip was then folded around the remaining holder of the broken latch, as shown in the photograph.

After installing the homemade latches, the bottom of the socket was screwed onto the decorative tube in the chandelier.

After connecting the electric leads to the cylindrical part of the cartridge, it was secured to the bottom using new latches. The self-made latches performed the task perfectly, firmly holding the cylindrical part of the cartridge. Now the latch will never break off.

A light bulb socket is an intermediate element used for a convenient and reliable connection of electrical wiring and a lamp. Often various decorative elements of modern chandeliers and lamps are attached to it.

Device

The design of electric sockets depends on the series. The most common products are the E-series model with Edison thread. There are three main elements - a cylinder-shaped outer body, into which a metal sleeve with Edison thread is attached, a bottom and a ceramic liner.

Brass contacts and special strips are used to transfer electric current from the cable to the lamp base. To increase safety during operation, a phase is supplied to the central contact of the base, which reduces the likelihood of contact with the phase.

G-series cartridges are characterized by the same principle of operation, but have a simpler design and use a different method of transmitting current to the base.

Marking

In accordance with GOST, products with Edison threads are divided into three main types - E14, E27 and E40. The first are called “minions” and are used in microwave ovens, freezers, the second - in lamps, the last - in organizing street lighting. The principle of operation is the same everywhere, and the differences are related to the design and dimensions.

There are markings on the cartridge body. When decoding, you can find out the characteristics of the product. E14 is installed in devices with a current consumption of no more than 2 A and a power of up to 440 W, E27 - up to 4 A (880 W), E40 - up to 16 A (3500 W). Each model is designed for 250 V AC.

Varieties by installation method

In fact, installation method is how exactly the product is attached to the lamp in a lamp or other electrical equipment. If a few years ago there was no alternative to a threaded connection, now pin-type cartridges are used. The latter involve fastening using pins located on the base.

Threaded connection - a classic scheme with screwing in a light bulb. The phase is transferred from it to the light bulb when the latter is completely twisted and contact of the base sleeve with the contacts of the socket is ensured.

There is a third option - combined devices with a GU10 base, used in modern chandeliers. First, the light bulb is inserted into the socket, then screwed into the lock until it stops. Elements with rotary threaded connection characterized by a complex design, but are irreplaceable where lighting devices are subject to periodic/continuous mechanical stress, including vibration.

Varieties by type of base

The choice of base depends on the light bulbs used:

1. For almost all housekeepers, fluorescent and conventional lamps, type E27 with a traditional threaded connection is used. The socket is suitable for household LED appliances and a range of halogen lamps.
2. Small light bulbs can be used with E14 type sockets (minions). The number in the marking indicates the diameter - in this case 14 mm.
3. G-chucks are products that use pin fastening. Suitable for housekeepers and halogen lamps with the same design.

How to connect a light bulb socket

Connecting a lighting socket to the electrical wiring of a house is carried out using one of two methods - detachable or permanent. In the first case (the method is called “screw”) fastening is carried out using a threaded screw or a special terminal.

Permanent fastening is associated with homemade soldering or press-fitting at the product manufacturer. The last procedure is relevant for elements of the G4-G10 series. Two insulated cables are pre-lead from them, the length of which does not exceed 100 mm. The elements are attached to the electrical wiring using a terminal block.

Ordinary electric

First you need to understand the assembly procedure of a conventional electric cartridge. A ceramic liner is made, onto which a brass plate is pressed, used as the main contact. On the other side of the liner there is a steel plate - a screw is screwed to it, ensuring reliable fastening of the plate to the liner. The same screw also performs another function - current flows through it to the main contact.

When tightening the screw, use a lot of force, which is due to its participation in the transmission of electric current from the cable to the light bulb. The same sequence of actions is used to attach the second brass plate, after which the main contact is bent so that it is level with the side ones.

Next, form rings on the conductors, thread them through the bottom and secure them to the steel plates. If the cartridge is used in an electrical circuit with a stationary switch, the wire transmitting the phase should be connected to the central contact. To check the reliability of contact, you need to install the light bulb in the base and make sure that when it rests on the side contacts, the main one bends by at least 2 mm. In case of less deflection, the main contact bends upward.

A cylindrical body is attached to this structure, then the cartridge can be used. Select light bulbs by matching the markings on both products.

Cartridge with terminals

When connecting electrical wiring to modern sockets, screw clamps on terminal blocks are used. The approach significantly speeds up the process of connecting and installing an electrical device.

The body is made of plastic, monolithic. Using a special rivet, the wires that supply the base are attached to the body.

Note! The main disadvantage of a product with terminals is the impossibility of repair, so if it fails, you need to completely replace the cartridge with a new one. Among standard sizes the most popular model series E14 and E27, also used in conventional electrical products.

Screwless electric

Most modern design implies the presence of special holes on the cartridge body - usually four (grouped in pairs). Wires are pulled through the holes, fixed with brass contacts using a spring mechanism. Pairwise connection of contacts simplifies the parallel connection of light bulbs in chandeliers or lamps. Electric current is supplied to the first cartridge, and subsequent ones are connected to it using jumpers.

Important! In this way, you can connect many housekeepers that consume a minimum of electricity.

The products are characterized by simple and quick connection - strip the end of the wire and insert it into the correct hole on the socket body with a clamp fastening.

Many chandeliers and lighting fixtures use thin stranded wires. It is unrealistic to ensure their reliable fastening in the body of a screwless cartridge. Choose chandeliers with serviced wire ends or solder an alloy onto the multi-core cable yourself so that the wire becomes single-core. Tinned ends are easier to insert into the contact of a screwless product.

If you don't know how to use a soldering iron, there is another way. Before inserting the stripped end of the cable into the hole, place a metal rod there that is larger in diameter than the wire itself. A nail and a screwdriver will do. Pull back the spring contact and insert the stranded wire into the hole without any problems. Remove the nail (rod) so that the contact clamps the wire strands. The same method is used for dismantling. Pull the cable lightly to check the connection is secure.

How to connect a socket to an electric socket

At first glance, connecting an outlet to an electric socket is a completely meaningless process. Imagine if you urgently needed an outlet next to the mirror in the bathroom, but the distribution box was located too far away. The bathroom must have a lighting fixture with a socket, to which two cables necessary for operating the socket are connected in parallel.

But there is one caveat: the socket is de-energized whenever the light in the bathroom is turned off, which cannot be called a disadvantage. This relationship increases electrical safety - in the event of a water leak or moisture getting into the outlet, a short circuit is eliminated. For added safety, choose sealed outlets designed for rooms with high humidity levels.

Mounting methods

In most cases, the socket is connected to the lighting fixture through the bottom. There is a hole in the bottom for entering an electrical cable. The E27 series is available with M16, M10 or M13 threads, and the E14 - M10.

For current-carrying wires

Direct connection of the cartridge to the wires is unacceptable! First you need to ensure reliable fastening of the product in the lighting fixture (lamp or chandelier), for which a plastic sleeve with a hole in the center necessary for the cable is installed on the bottom. A plastic screw is mounted to the sleeve for further fixation.

Connect the socket, clamp the wires with a plastic screw. The sleeve is intended for mounting decorative parts, and the screw ensures reliable fixation of the lampshade and the device suspension.

On the phone

The socket is attached using a metal tube, which allows you to hang heavy lampshades from the ceiling. The tube is equipped with additional nuts, with the help of which the fittings for the chandelier, including caps, are installed. The entire load falls on the metal tube, and the wires needed to connect the power are pulled directly through it.

Cartridges with threads on the outer surface of the body can be decorated with lampshade rings and other decorative elements.

Bushing

Tubular bushings are used for fastening sockets in table lamps and wall sconces. Products are made from sheet materials. It is enough to make a hole through which the cartridge should be attached using a sleeve.

Due to the heating of the light bulb, plastic bushings can become deformed, causing the socket to begin to wobble. Replace plastic with metal.

The mounting thread varies, as there is no specific standard for E27 socket sockets. To replace a plastic bushing with a metal one, use resistors. Before breaking, disassemble and compare the threads so as not to ruin the product in vain.

With screwless terminals

The body and bottom of the cartridge, using screwless clamp contacts, are connected to each other using two latches. The bottom of the product is screwed to the threaded tube, then the electric wires. The body is made in the shape of a cylinder and is attached to the bottom.

Elements are subject to repair and maintenance. Use a screwdriver and move the latches to the sides so as not to damage the cable when dismantling the product.

Repair of electric cartridges

Electric chucks E and G series differ from each other and in terms of maintenance capabilities. If the first ones are repaired, in most cases, if the second ones break down, the socket in the chandelier needs to be replaced.

Repair of dismountable electric socket E27

The cause of frequent burnout of light bulbs and changes in brightness during operation of lighting fixtures may be a breakdown of the electric socket. This is also indicated by extraneous sounds heard when the product is turned on.

Unscrew the light bulb from the base and inspect the internal cavity of the element. If you find blackened contacts, you need to not only clean them, but also figure out the root cause. Often the formation of blackening is preceded by poor contact at the point of contact between the cartridge and the electrical wires.

Disassemble the cartridge, inspect the wire connections (pull lightly on the cable to ensure reliable fixation) and clean the contact plates. In some cases, for better contact, the plates need to be bent in the direction of the light bulb base.

There are often cases when, when trying to unscrew a light bulb from the socket, the bulb comes unstuck from the metal base and the latter remains inside. If this happens, disassemble the housing and bottom to remove the light bulb base. Another option is to take a pair of pliers with insulated handles, try to grab the edge of the base and turn it counterclockwise. Be careful not to damage the internal threads of the chuck.

Conclusion

When choosing electric sockets for lighting fixtures, focus on reliable fastening of the light bulb and calculate the level of safety.

The product is an important part of auxiliary fittings for lamps and chandeliers, an element of an electrical circuit. The slightest malfunction can result in fire or serious injury. Avoid purchasing low-quality, cheap products!

Any chandelier has a socket into which the light bulb is directly screwed. In addition to its fixation, such an element is involved in current transmission and also performs several other functions. A lampshade or lampshade, as well as other possible decorative elements of the lamp, are attached to it.

It happens that you need to replace not only the light bulb, but also the chandelier socket. It is quite possible to cope with this task on your own. Correct actions will help restore full functioning of the device. It is necessary to adhere to the work and perform all actions according to a certain scheme. Advice from professional craftsmen will help you perform all the steps correctly.

Types of cartridges

When considering the technology of how to change the cartridge in a chandelier, it is necessary to study the types of these devices according to their intended purpose. According to the area of ​​application, there are 3 types of presented devices.

The first type is labeled as E14. Such cartridges are intended for illumination, for example, of a microwave oven or refrigerator. Due to their small size, they are popularly called minions. The maximum current for which they are designed is 2 A (about 440 W).

The second type is the E27 chandelier holder. This is the most common type of such products. The maximum current for which the presented devices are designed is 4 A (about 880 W). There are also more powerful cartridges. They can handle 16 A (approximately 3.5 kW). They are used for street lighting. The sockets for this type of spotlight are marked E40. When choosing such products, be sure to take into account their variety.

Chuck device

Regardless of whether the chandelier holder is installed E14 or E40, its design will be largely identical. The difference between them lies only in dimensions and some structural elements. Each cartridge consists of 3 main parts. The first of these is the Edison threaded sleeve. A light bulb is screwed into it. The cartridge also has a bottom and a ceramic liner. These elements transmit current to the lamp.

For this purpose, the cartridge has 2 brass contacts on the base. There is also a special threaded strip. The central element of the base has a phase. This minimizes the risk of human contact with the conductive elements of the cartridge. This increases the safety of its operation. This is a standard design. Wires are connected to it, thanks to which the presented device is activated.

Non-standard cartridge

When considering the technology of how to change the cartridge in a chandelier, it is necessary to understand the structure of a non-standard type of product. They are much less common. The vast majority of cartridges have the principle presented above. In non-standard varieties, understanding the device is somewhat more difficult.

Several light bulbs can be screwed into such products at once. If you don't remember how the wires were located, you may not figure out how to connect them. Therefore, when replacing a non-standard socket, the wires must be marked. The bar has places for connecting wires. They are attached to correct sequence. Phase and neutral must be connected to the corresponding holes. A special jumper is made between them. Without it, subsequent lamps will not light if the first illuminator is not activated.

Assembling a simple cartridge

To understand how to properly connect a new cartridge, you need to understand the technology of its assembly. The ceramic plate is adjacent to the brass contacts. With her opposite side there is a steel plate. It is fixed to the ceramic liner using a screw and nut.

This design not only performs the function of a latch, but also actively participates in the operation of the entire system. A chandelier socket with a nut and screw conducts current through these elements to the central contact. A Grover is not required. But his presence is welcome. Moreover, the screw must be tightened very tightly, because it transmits current to the lamp. The second brass plate is connected in the same way. In this case, the central contact must be bent to the level of the conductors on the sides.

Connecting wires

When connecting the E27 chandelier socket with a nut, you must correctly connect the wires to the contacts. They need to be pulled through the bottom. Rings are made on wires stripped of insulation and screwed to steel plates.

If the system will be controlled by a stationary switch, the phase is supplied to the central contact. Before doing this, you need to check the reliability of its fit. To do this, they rest against the side conductors. The central (phase) contact must bend by at least 2 mm. If this does not happen, this element is corrected, raising it a little. Also, the choice of wires must be given sufficient attention. They must correspond to the total electricity consumption of the lighting fixture.

When considering how to replace a cartridge in a chandelier, it should be noted that for a simple device at this stage the process is completed. The cylinder-shaped body is screwed onto the space allocated for it. All wires and connections are hidden by this decorative element. The socket is ready to screw in the lamp.

Professional electricians advise purchasing sockets in which the wires are connected using terminals. This is a simpler and safer way to operate the device. In this product, instead of a screw and nut, a special cassette is installed. It has terminals to which you can quickly connect wires. Experienced electricians claim that such devices have more long term operation.

Connecting a socket with a clamp

The chandelier socket with terminals has one minor drawback. This type cannot be repaired. If you need to replace it, you will need to purchase the entire socket to get the lamp working again. But all the work will take a minimum of time.

The body of the clamps and chuck is made of plastic. This is a monolithic structure. Conductors are connected to the system through special clamps. They are simply tightened with a screwdriver. Their design makes it easy to replace the collapsible cartridge. Similar products of type E14 and E27 are on sale. Therefore, they are used mainly only for internal installation. It will be easier for a novice electrician to install this type of socket.

Screwless device

The most modern development is considered to be a screwless chandelier socket. It has special holes for the wire. Usually there are 2 pairs of them. A special spring mechanism tightly presses the wire that is pulled through them. The paired clamp system allows you to connect lamps from a chandelier with several lighting fixtures in parallel. When using energy-saving lamps, it is quite possible to connect 10 or even more electrical consumers to such a device. Use a flat blade screwdriver to remove the clamp. Next, the wire is inserted into the appropriate connector. After this, the screwdriver releases the brass spring. It will press the wire firmly against the contacts.

A special feature of such clamps is the requirement for the supply wires. It is difficult to insert a multi-core cable into the socket intended for it. Therefore, a solid conductor type of wire is required. Sometimes chandelier manufacturers specifically provide for the presence of stranded wire. This allows you to easily fit them into the clamp. This is the simplest type of cartridge. It will be much easier to change it. Its performance qualities significantly exceed other varieties. Therefore, it is one of the most preferred varieties today.

Having considered what a chandelier socket is, you can independently replace the failed product. Modern varieties devices allow you to do this quickly and efficiently.