How to choose lamp holders for chandeliers. Electric cartridge types, device, connection and repair

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 cartridge is an integral part of any lamp or chandelier and often performs the task of not only transmitting electric current, and also a holder for 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.

Electric threaded sockets for lamps are subject to GOST R IEC 60238-99, 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 lineup electric sockets are quite wide, so the table lists only 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 to connect 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.

The introduction of a lighting device into the general electrical network is realized using a wide range of elements. One of the most important parts of the design of such devices is the cartridge. With its help, the light bulb is fixed directly and at the same time installed in the electrical wiring socket. In order for the light bulb socket to perform its functions properly, you must select and connect it correctly.

Types of cartridges by installation method

The installation method determines how the socket and the lamp and luminaire as a whole will be physically held in the overall structure. There are several methods for such fastening. The most common types of cartridges are pin and threaded. In the first case, the lamp is attached using special pins directly to the base. The second option involves implementing the classic element twisting scheme. Moreover, the connection of the lamp to the electrical wiring will be made only at the moment when the base sleeve completely rests on the contacts of the socket. Also common are combined sockets for chandelier light bulbs, which are equipped with a GU10 socket. These are rotary-threaded devices that are integrated into the cartridge and then turned in a special lock until it stops. This method installation is characterized by structural complexity, but it turns out to be the only possible one in the field of operation lighting fixtures where vibrations and external mechanical influences take place.

Types of cartridges by base type

To indicate one type of base or another, special markings are used. The appropriate cartridge is selected for it. Often the choice of one type or another can be made based on whether the lamp belongs to a certain category. For example, the E27 format, which represents traditional threaded light bulb sockets, is suitable for compact fluorescent, energy-saving and incandescent lamps. Types of LED lamps that are designed for household use, like some halogen models can also be connected to this type of cartridge.

For small light bulbs, regardless of the operating principle, the E14 format is often used - the so-called minion. These are cartridges designed for a base with a diameter of no more than 14 mm. The G marking is also popular and covers pin bulb sockets. Types of pin fluorescent and halogen lamps that are designed for low-voltage power supply are suitable for such sockets.

Adapter cartridges

There are often cases when the task is to screw a lamp of the wrong size into a socket of one brand. In such situations, adapter cartridges are used, which provide the ability to interface structural components of different formats. For example, an E27-E14 type adapter allows you to screw a small minion lamp into a classic socket for threaded sockets. A branching socket for light bulbs is also common, which forms a structure with several bases at the same time. That is, one lamp will be connected to one socket, but there will be several lamps - this solution increases the power of the device at low energy costs.

How to choose the right model?

The choice takes into account different aspects, affecting both installation and performance. Of course, you need to start screening out unsuitable models with the size and shape of the structure. So, for a regular fluorescent lamp with a threaded base, an E27 type socket is suitable. But there are also cases when an alternative is possible. In particular, a light bulb socket with a small minion-type base can be replaced with other formats - perhaps, from the point of view of energy saving, the use of adapters will be justified. It is important to take into account other features of the selection of lamps and sockets. For example, fixtures designed to operate with low-voltage pin elements are often paired with a transformer. It is not inserted into the base connection structure itself, but is placed nearby. Therefore, you should initially evaluate the possibility of hidden installation of the transformer unit, for example, in a ceiling niche, or prefer a different combination of lamp and socket.

Installing the chuck

To begin with, it should be noted that fastening the cartridge without auxiliary fixation is impossible for reasons of reliability and safety. The simplest installation schemes involve the use of a plastic sleeve with a hole in the central part through which the electrical wire is passed. But the fixation itself will be implemented not through a cable, but through a plastic screw provided as part of the bushing kit. The method of mounting on a metal pipe is also common. It is the most reliable, therefore suitable for installing heavy shades and chandeliers. In the usual configuration, the light bulb socket is mounted to the tube by screwing in, but before doing this, you need to pass the wire through the hole in the cylinder and make the connection. Next, the pipe is physically installed in the ceiling niche. This method is not only labor-intensive, but also suffers from distortion of the stylistic effect at the installation site. Therefore, it is recommended to use additional decorative overlays and masking components whenever possible.

Connecting a light bulb socket

Connection is impossible without assembling the cartridge. In its typical design, it is formed by three main parts - an outer cylindrical body, a bottom and a ceramic liner. The current is transferred to the lamp base via two brass contacts and clamping strips. To assemble this structure, you must first press a brass plate connected from the main contact in the center to the ceramic liner. Fixation is made using a screw in a steel plate. In the question of how to disassemble a light bulb socket, consistency is also important. The operation should begin with conductors and clamps. Next, the body elements are disassembled with the cylindrical shape unwinding. The direct connection of the wiring is carried out between disassembly and assembly - the master twists the wires corresponding to their functions.

Conclusion

Electrical devices, regardless of the function they perform, bear great responsibility. Even a minor malfunction of auxiliary fittings can cause a fire. And the light bulb socket is no exception - not only the reliability of fixing the lamp base, but also the stability of operation depends on it electrical circuit. For this reason, it is important to initially calculate the level of security that the purchased item can provide. For example, experts do not recommend purchasing cheap cartridges and models made of plastic. The optimal solution will be a ceramic or metal cartridge selected from the line of a major manufacturer.

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 functionality 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 is 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. It's more simple and safe way operation of 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 a longer service life.

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 mainly used only for indoor installation. It will be easier for a novice electrician to install this type of socket.

Screwless device

Most modern development considered 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 types of devices allow you to do this quickly and efficiently.

It is difficult to imagine a lamp without an electric cartridge. This part not only fixes the light bulb and transmits current, but also serves as an integral component for other additional elements. These parts include: lampshade, lampshade and various aesthetic items. In order to understand how to connect a light bulb socket, you need to take a closer look at all the nuances.

Cartridge

Before installing a light bulb socket, you should pay attention to its structure, GOST standards, types, connection methods and other interesting things.

Marking

If you believe GOST-R IEC 60238-99, you can see that threaded cartridges come in three different types:

• E14 is a cartridge that is called “minion”. This device is used in microwave ovens and refrigerators.
• E27 is used in the vast majority of luminaires.
• E40 is used for street lighting sources.

They all have the same principle of operation, and the differences can only be observed in dimensions and design solutions.

Important! Any device has its own markings on the surface of the body. It is needed to indicate the technical characteristics:

• The first from the list is installed only in those places where current consumption does not exceed 2 A, at 440 W.
• E27 - no more than 4 A, at 880 W.
• The latter is no more than 16 A, at 3.5 kW. All these devices operate on an alternating voltage of 250 V.

How to remove the socket from a chandelier? Let's take our time and get acquainted with the structure of this useful device.

How is the cartridge constructed?

The device boasts three main elements: a cylinder-shaped body containing a threaded sleeve, a bottom and a ceramic liner. Carving is based on Edison's principle. To transmit current, two brass contacts and two strips are used, with threads applied to them for fastening.

Important! For safety reasons, you need to apply the phase directly to the contact of the base, which is located in the center. Such measures will help minimize the chance of being affected by the human phase.

Triple cartridge

There are devices that can accommodate three lamps at once. Contacts can often fall out of the device, so you should pay attention when working with such devices.

Wires are attached to the holes located in the contact plates. You can attach them using nuts and screws, but no one forbids using a soldering iron.

Important! It will be quite difficult for a person who has never done this, so it is best to rely on the instructions, which can be found on the manufacturer’s websites or the box of the product itself.

We are already close to installing the light bulb socket.

Installing a conventional appliance

It is necessary to understand how the cartridge itself is assembled from the very beginning. Such knowledge will always be useful in case of repair:

• The brass plate is pressed tightly against the ceramic liner. The contact plate is secured with a screw that is screwed into the steel plate. This screw is needed not only to secure the central contact, but to pass current through it.
• The second brass plate is installed exactly according to the same principle. The contact located in the center must be bent to the level of the contacts located on the side. Rings are formed directly on the conductors and threaded through the bottom, attaching to steel plates.

When connecting the cartridge through a standard key, the phase must be connected to the contact that is located in the center.

Important! During assembly, all components must be checked for integrity. Take the lamp base and press it firmly against the contact. If during contact the deflection is measured in a few millimeters, then you did everything right. Otherwise, you should bend the contacts upward.

Now screw the housing itself onto the bottom, use the finished device for any lamps.

Terminals

Progress does not stand still, so the market household appliances has long boasted a new type of device, the wires of which are secured using special terminals.

Terminals help to significantly speed up the installation process for chandeliers and lamps. The body of such a device itself is made of plastic, and the contacts are held on the inside with rivets.

Important! Unfortunately, if the device is damaged, restoration work will not be possible, which will force the consumer to look for a replacement.

Screwless cartridge

How to assemble a lamp socket if it does not have a thread? Everything is very simple. The case is equipped with two pairs of holes into which the wires go. Inside the cartridge there are brass contacts, which are some kind of springs. This entire structure serves to secure the wires.

Important! Paired holes allow you to connect sockets in parallel in chandeliers and lamps that have several bulbs. One device is powered by voltage, and the rest are simply connected to it.

In order to connect a contactless cartridge, you need to take the wire and remove the insulation on it exactly one centimeter, and then simply thread it into the desired hole.

But there are nuances when working with such devices. It is no secret that the most commonly used wires are stranded, and securing them in contacts is quite problematic. Manufacturers solved this problem this way: multi-core wires are tinned in order to make them single-core.

Important! If you find it difficult to reach the wires with your fingers, you can resort to using tweezers.

How to repair a cartridge?

Have your lamp bulbs started to flicker or burn out? Most likely, the issue is poor contacts inside the cartridge. The buzzing and burning smell when turning on and off only indicates this.

To check this, unscrew the light bulb and inspect the socket. Blackened contacts need to be cleaned. The cause of such blackening may be poor contact at the junction of the wires and the cartridge. In order to get rid of this problem, you need to do the following:

1. Disassemble the electric cartridge.
2. Make sure good connection with a current conductor.
3. Clean the contacts well if necessary.
4. If the bulb moves away from the base, then it is best to unscrew it by unscrewing the device body from the bottom.

Modern rooms cannot be imagined without lighting fixtures. But even to light a light bulb, you need a socket to connect it to the network. And to protect the lamp from external influences, a lampshade is required, which also acts as a diffuser. The luminaires may also include a reflector that redistributes the light flux in one direction.

Electrical wiring is laid inside the luminaire to connect the input terminals to the socket contacts. Disassembly of lamps is required:

• immediately after purchase;
• for replacing cartridges;
• to find damage in electrical wiring;
• lamp revision.

Checking and connecting a new lamp

Modern chandeliers, which include several sockets with light bulbs, are sold with an unassembled connection diagram inside. This is dictated by the fact that the user will independently divide the lamps of the lamp into groups and connect them as he needs. Therefore, such a lamp must be immediately opened and connections made. The wires to the light bulbs are colored, the neutral conductors are blue. They are connected together and then connected to the neutral conductor of the power circuit.

When the lamps are turned on at the same time, the phase conductors are connected together and connected to the phase conductor of the network coming from the switch. If the switch has two or more keys, then the phase conductors from the lamp groups, which will be turned on simultaneously, are combined and connected to the corresponding wires from the switch.

If there is a protective conductor, it is connected to the luminaire body.

It would not be superfluous to completely disassemble the lamp and inspect it. Check how the wires are cut (if excess insulation has been removed), tighten the connections in the sockets.

Electrical wiring in lamps is carried out with flexible wires, and in the apartment the cables are made with monocore, and sometimes also aluminum. Therefore, pay attention to connecting the lamp to the electrical wiring. Welding or soldering is not suitable for this - the connection must be detachable. If the conductors of the lamp are not tinned, then be sure to do so. Or press pin sleeve lugs onto the ends of the wires. Then connect to the electrical wiring using WAGO or ZVI terminals (more details about connection methods:). The use of PPE caps is allowed only for connecting copper conductors. No ferrules are required for this connection. But in this case, turning off the lamp to dismantle it during operation will be difficult.

Replacing the lamp socket

The weakest element of the lamp is the socket. In modern products, its lateral contact often suffers. It either breaks off or weakens, losing its springing properties. As practice has shown, bending it is useless. During the process of replacing light bulbs, the central contact sometimes breaks.

Before replacing the socket, determine the type of lamp base used in the luminaire. There are two common sizes: the larger one is E27, the smaller one is E14. If you find it difficult to determine the type of base, go to the store with a light bulb from a lamp or removed cartridge. The second option is preferable, since the range of cartridges is wide.

To dismantle modern porcelain sockets, you need to unscrew two screws, and from the side of its internal cavity, where the lamp is screwed. It's easy to unscrew them; it will be more difficult to screw them back in, since there is nothing to hold them with. It is more convenient to install such a cartridge in place using a screwdriver with a magnetic tip, or magnetize the rod of a regular screwdriver. To do this, it is touched with a permanent magnet. You can hold it on the rod until the screw fits into the threads. If you remove the lamp from the ceiling to replace the socket, the process will go faster.

If the wires connected to the socket are flexible, do not overtighten them. The contact screw may cut conductors.

Replacing old black carbolite sockets sometimes requires complete disassembly of the lamp. There are many modifications: wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted or suspended.

The disassembly sequence is as follows:

1. Unscrew the lamp.
2. Unscrew the part of the socket into which the lamp is screwed (No. 1 in the figure). In this case, the ceramic insert with the contact group (No. 2) must be held with your finger.
3. Remove the ceramic insert and disconnect the wires from it.
4. Depending on the method of fastening the bottom of the cartridge, either unscrew the flat nut or unscrew the bottom if it is held on a thread. At the same time, do not allow the wires to rotate with it.

Assembly is carried out in reverse order. When installing the contact group, it must fit into special grooves in the body of the cartridge bottom. Before screwing in the outer part, hold the ceramic insert with your finger so that it does not come out of the grooves.

Replacing wires in a lamp

In most lamps and chandeliers, the conductors are laid inside the cavities of the tubes that hold the sockets. They have to be changed if, during repeated alterations, the length of the wires becomes insufficient. Or, if the insulation melts or burns as a result of exposure to the operating temperature inside the lamp when using incandescent lamps, or as a result of loose contacts in the socket.

To replace, select a wire with the same insulation thickness and cross-section. Others may not fit into the cavity instead of the old one. New wires are connected to the old ones. To do this, it is better to use soldering, using it to connect the wire strands. The old conductors are then pulled out of the cavity and new wires will be pulled in their place. If the connection is unreliable and breaks, then it will be possible to lay new wires only with the help of a conductor.

A thin steel wire is suitable for the conductor; you can use the one through which the cables are pulled into the corrugation. The wire is inserted into the conductor cavity, new wires are tied to it and pulled inside.