Safe Luxury

Is is safe to convert a wall sconce to a plug in lamp?

I would like to purchase a wall sconce that was made to be hardwired and convert it to a plug in fixture. I rent and we move a lot, so hardwiring is not an option. I would love to give my daughter a nice reading lamp in her bottom bunk. She has a clip on lamp that is tearing up her bed and I can't afford the nice plug in sconces around here. Can I do this safely? I've seen the plug in wall mounted fluorescent lamps, but they're ugly.

Public Comments

1. Yes. Just make correct connections to a cord & plug set, install a backing plate with a hanger hook, and it's done.
2. Sure you can. They have power cables for that with the switches built into them. Or you can just buy a ready-made plug-in wall sconce like this one.. http://www.lampsplus.com/products/Curling-Loops-Dark-Bronze-25-inch-High-Plug-In-Wall-Sconce__M0531.html
3. Yes. It's easily done too. The wiring is the same, except instead of BX or ROMEX (wall wiring) you'll use a cord and put a plug on the end. Be sure to use a low watt CFL bulb or an LED buld (that's preferable), because she's going to have it in a bunk bed, and you don't want to generate heat! Gold screw = black wire Silver screw = white wire Green screw = green or bare wire
4. For free, you could pad the clamp of the lamp you already have