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Is it safe to wire a hardwired lamp to an extension cord?
I bought a small spotlamp fixture from the electrical aisle at my local Lowe's. The fixture has a threade- end, opposite of the bulb socket. I have the threaded-end screwed into a 1" to 1/2" threaded PVC elbow.
I soldered, shrink tubed, and electrical taped the hot and neutral wires to the corresponding wires in an extension cord which I cut the female-end off.
A lot of people seem to do this but I'm wondering how safe it is. I have this plugged into a power strip, hanging over a fish tank. Thanks!
Here is a link to the DIY thread. I used the same fixture and made a PVC stand. Thanks!
Also, I am using a low power LED Par30 bulb in this fixture.
1 Answer
- RoloLv 56 years ago
Some lamp bulbs (IE 300W quartz) may get hot enough to melt a solder connection, you should clean the solder off the spade tabs and use crimp on compression female spade connectors on any hot lamp fixture power feed cord.
AC soldered connections must be under 10 amps draw and after or past a 10 amp chassis protection fuse connection.
You added the LED part but I'm still to point about AC line cord connections, 10 amps will melt the tin solder.
You could solder the female spade onto the spade but it must have compression to back up the solder joint.
Source(s): 30+ years as a electrical bench and field technician.