Replies

1. 
   roc | Dec 23, 2008 05:40am | #1

   >electricity chicken

   No shame in being cautious of an invisible snake that strikes at the speed of light !

   I used to make up custom sconces. I worked with an artist/interior design person and we made up all kinds of cool stuff. So that is my background in this area.

   What I recommend is if you have to ask . . . you should not be doing this work. If you have not had a burning desire to learn about electricity from first principles forward then do not get involved.

   The good news is there is probably a lighting store in your area where you can take these and have them configured as needed. Some times to my view they are a bit pricy for what they actually do.

   But.

   We must take into account the safety of your children and the value of your living space.

   With that in mind what's fifty bucks or so ?

   roc

1. 
   chgorugbyref | Dec 23, 2008 06:17am | #4

   Roc

   You made me chuckle. I probably shouldn't be doing the work, but I also want  to learn someday.  This seemed pretty straight forward.  Plus I have an engineering FIL that would double check my work.

   I hadn't thought of the lighting store idea and fifty bucks or so would certainly be worth it.

   It's good to have options though.

   Thank you for your response.

    

2. 
   twotowers | Dec 24, 2008 07:33am | #10

   The speed of Einstein light "c" is a value traveled in the vacuum of space, and nothing can travel faster in a vacuum - but light travels slower in any other mediums: given that, light travels hardly at all in a copper wire, but electricity faster, very fast indeed!
   Jim

2. 
   heartwould | Dec 23, 2008 05:54am | #2

   Having a healthy respect for electricity is a very good thing!  Here are some good sources for tips on wiring lamps:

   http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Lamp

   http://www.tutorials.com/09/0927/0927.asp

   http://www.justanswer.com/home-improvement/electric?r=ga%7c1%7cHI+-+Home+Improvement%7cElectrical&JCRN=Electricians&JCLT=&JRA=&CC=&JPSE=ga&JPAC=1&JPCM=HI+-+Home+Improvement&JPAG=Electrical&JPCT=gahi&JPKW=wiring+how+to&JPDC=S&JPST=&JPAD=1707735693&JPAF=txt&JPCD=20081106-1&JCTY=none&JPLN=none&JPOP=none&gclid=CLyElMLd1ZcCFQhJagod5QmcDg

   http://www.ehow.com/how_117605_fix-lamp.html

   Two more tips for dealing with AC electricity: 1) Think positive, 2) stay grounded

1. 
   chgorugbyref | Dec 23, 2008 06:23am | #5

   Heart

   Based on these links, it seems pretty basic.  I've had a healthy respect for electricity since I was a kid when we had a lamp with a short that would give you a little tingle/zap if you grabbed it the wrong way.  Being young and somewhat more stupid than I am now, I thought it was kind of funny.  As I got older, I wondered how close that was to actually being dangerous and have maintained a safe distance from electrical work because of it.

   Thank you for the info and your reply.

    

1. 
   heartwould | Dec 23, 2008 07:21am | #7

   I am more than confident that you can do it, and the sites give a pretty good step by step tutorial, plus a source in case things get a little squirrely.  Honestly, Wiring a lamp is not too difficult unless you get into tight bends where running the wire becomes difficult.  Please show us the project either as you go or when it is finished!

3. 
   BruceS | Dec 23, 2008 06:10am | #3

   Post some pictures if possible, it would be helpfull.

   There might be a simple fix.

    

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   chgorugbyref | Dec 23, 2008 06:24am | #6

   Bruce

   I'll snap some pics tomorrow and post.  Good thought.  Thank you.

    

2. 
   chgorugbyref | Dec 23, 2008 06:09pm | #8

   Bruce and All

   See attached photos.  Seems pretty basic.

   Thank you.

    

   
1. 
   heartwould | Dec 23, 2008 06:40pm | #9

   Those appear to be wall mounted lamps which gives you a couple of options: 1) hard wire a couple of electrical boxes in the wall of your sons' room and mount the lamps, OR 2) simply buy a couple of three wire cords long enough to reach the existing outlets and wire the lamps to be hung where they will do the most good.  Just make sure to match the wires (black to black, white to white, ground/green to ground) and be sure to use "wire nuts" and a little bit of electrical tape on the connections.

   Either way will serve your purpose, but the second option is by far the easiest.

4. 
   roc | Dec 24, 2008 08:31am | #11

   Isn't every thing made of light ? And when we look at the actual components of the light "stuff" that there is actually nothing there? Or did I get my PBS string theroy/partical phisics TV show with Brian Greene wrong?

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Greene

   Well any way relatively as fast as the speed of light. "It's all relative".

   The main thing for chgorugbyref to know is he does not actually exist, nothing is going to bite him, that nothing is traveling very quickly but an infintisimal distance and it will hurt when that nothing that does not exist bits him.

   Oh yes and I almost forgot. Him being biten and not being biten exists at the same time.

   For further instruction see Mr. Greene at:

   http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html

   Highly recommended viewing even if you are not contemplating being a wizard and manipulating electrons. I mean playing electrician and wiring your lamps.

   roc who is also not really here. I think.