Fix It Yourself 106 Damaged Electric Plug or Power Cord

The Problem:

• A lamp or appliance does not work properly
• A damaged plug is dangerous
• A damaged or loose cord in a plug can cause a short circuit

Tools Needed:

• A new plug (if the old one cannot be used anymore)
• A screwdriver
• A knife or a wire stripper
• A needle – nose pliers
• A line man’s pliers

The basic steps if the plug is attached to thin, flexible cord:

• Cut the cord beyond the break.
• Bare the wires at the end of the cord and reinstall the plug.
• If the original plug was a molded one, do not bare the ends of the wires after having cut the cord; replace the original plug with a lever – type – snap – on plug.
• Note: As an alternative to the snap on plug, you can use  a squeeze type plug.
• Slip body over cord
• Squeeze prongs together and
• Pull body over prongs

The basic steps if the plug is attached to a heavy appliance cord:

• Cut the cord above the molded plug or break in the wire.
• Separate wires at the end of the cord, and strip off about 5/8 insulation of each. A wire stripper is the best tool for the job; if you use a knife, be careful not to cut the wire.
• Remove the fiber insulating cover from the prongs of the plug if it is not a molded one.
• Loosen the terminal screws to release the wires, then pull off the plug.
• Untie the Underwriter’s knot, if there is one.
• Remove the old plug and slip the new one over the cord.
• Tie an Underwriter’s knot; separate about 3 inches of wire. Loop the black wire behind itself and the white wire. Loop the white wire over the end of the black and bring it up through the black loop
• Tighten the knot and pull it down snugly into the plug body.
• Bend loops in the ends of the bared wires with needle – nose pliers.
• Fit the wires inside the plug and place the loops clockwise around the terminal screws, black to brass and white to chrome.
• Tighten the screws and replace the fiber insulating cover over the prongs of the plug.

Note: Replacement of the three - prong plug is also similar to these. Follow all steps as above. Instead of the Underwriter’s knot, tie the three wires together in a tight knot and pull the cord until the knot is snug against the plug. Loop the green wire clockwise around the green colored screw, the black wire around the brass screw and the white wire around the chrome screw. Tighten the screws.