How Do I Rewire a Nelson Bubble Lamp?

 

Did you get your hands on an ever-so sought after Nelson Bubble Lamp?  Nice choice!  These massively popular lamps are a great Mid Century Modern Design addition to your home, and upgrading the original components with Color Cord Company DIY Lamp Parts offers a fresh addition to a vintage look.

You'll need these DIY Lamp parts to revamp your Nelson Bubble: 

 

STEP 1: Cut and strip your cloth covered wire using your Color Cord 3000 or other wire stripping tool.

 

STEP 2: Thread the 1/8 and 1/4 IPS nipples onto the porcelain socket cap and tighten down the set screw.  Slide the socket top and insulation on to the cloth cord with the bottom facing the exposed ends.

STEP 3: Wire your porcelain socket by loosening the terminal screws and hooking the conductor wires underneath and tightening back down.  The black positive wire goes to the gold screw, the white negative to the silver and green ground to the green screw. Slide the socket cap down to the body, turn the socket over and locate the two screw holes on the inside and insert the screws.  Tighten down the cap to the body.

STEP 4: Feed the other end of the cloth cord through the shade and get the top of the porcelain socket to sit flush with the top of the shade.  Then, feed the nut and washer over the cord and onto the all thread nipple at the top of the socket.  Tighten down with a wrench.

STEP 5: Cut and strip the other end of your cloth covered wire.  Thread the reducer coupler and male barrel cord grip together and slide it over the cord with the cord grip facing the exposed conductor wires.  Screw the reducer coupler onto the all thread nipple and tighten down the cord grip set screw.

STEP 6: The last step is to feed the stripped end of your cloth covered wire through the canopy cord grip and tighten down the set screw once you've determined your cord length.

 


YOU DID IT!  Now it's time to install your Nelson Bubble pendant!

Your Nelson Bubble ceiling pendant can be installed in 5 easy steps: 

STEP 1: TURN OFF Light Switch and Breaker!  The last thing you need is to get zapped by the conductor wires coming from an active junction box. So long as you start with step, this entire process shouldn't cause pain (we hope)!

STEP 2: Attach the canopy mounting plate to your junction box using the provided screws.  

**PLEASE NOTE** Once you've determined your pendant length, we recommend tying an overhand knot inside the canopy for extra security.

STEP 3: Twist together the corresponding conductor wires from the fixture to the junction box wires.  Black to Black Positive, White to White Negative and Green Ground to Bare Copper Ground.  More often than not, the ground wire in your junction box will be a bare copper.  Secure each of these using wire nuts, then wrap them with electrical tape to prevent them from moving/slipping.

STEP 4: Push all wires up in to junction box and secure your ceiling canopy to the mounting plate with the provided canopy screws.

STEP 5:  This is our favorite step by far! Add light bulbs, flip your breaker and light switch back on, and enjoy!  

You will also need to track down the following tools to complete this installation:

  • Phillips and Flat Head Screw Drivers
  • Masking Tape
  • Wrench/Pliers 
  • Wire Stripper

It really is that easy!  Let us know if you have any questions regarding the parts you'll need for this project.  Be sure to tag us in your photos of your Nelson Bubble Lamp revamp!