# Can I convert a "constant current" lamp fixture to have a pullstring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-a-constant-current-lamp-fixture-to-have-a-pullstring/426035 "2007-11-11T18:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-a-constant-current-lamp-fixture-to-have-a-pullstring/426035/1 "2007-11-11T18:29:50Z")
I just moved into a new house, and in one area of the kitchen there is a hanging lamp without a light switch associated: the lamp itself has a twist knob to turn it on and off. I want to replace this lamp with another style but am having a bit of trouble finding lamps that have built-in pullstrings or twist knobs in a style that I like. On the other hand, it should be possible to very easily convert the “two wire” lead in the ceiling where the lamp is attached, to add an in-line switch that has a pullstring hanging down, so that I could basically put any lamp I want there with a pullstring (since installing an actual on/off switch in a panel somewhere nearby would require busting open the walls and possibly running wires to a new location). Am I wrong? I stopped by at my local Home Depot earlier, but after 20 minutes I never got anybody to tell me, they were all inventory type people who had never heard of a part like that and kept radioing for someone else to come help me, who never appeared :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-a-constant-current-lamp-fixture-to-have-a-pullstring/426035/2 "2007-11-11T18:34:51Z")
Electrically, this is trivial. Finding the switch you want, and a nice housing to put it in might be a problem. Why not just replace the lamp with one with a pull-string? I see these all the time, usually as part of a fan kit. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-a-constant-current-lamp-fixture-to-have-a-pullstring/426035/3 "2007-11-11T18:46:59Z")
Or just get something like [this](http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(au5lif2fwte33drjionzwu45)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=31185). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-a-constant-current-lamp-fixture-to-have-a-pullstring/426035/4 "2007-11-12T00:51:42Z")
Hardware and home supplies stores have a selection of pull-chain switches, many of which can be adapted into various fixtures. Unless I misunderstand you, I’d say those are what you want to look at, and I’m amazed that the store personnel didn’t show them to you. They’re pretty basic electrical items. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-a-constant-current-lamp-fixture-to-have-a-pullstring/426035/5 "2007-11-12T12:52:11Z")
Or there’s this: [http://www.smarthome.com/2533L.html](http://www.smarthome.com/2533L.html)