Umair Gaines
Replacing an electrical plug is a useful skill that can extend an appliance's use. It is a simple DIY project that can save you money and only takes about 30 minutes to complete. This guide will walk you through the steps to replace a power cord plug, including how to identify the type of plug and cord you have, preparing the cord, and assembling the new plug. Whether your plug is damaged or worn out, you can easily give your appliances a new lease of life by replacing the plug yourself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to replace | When the plug is damaged or worn out |
| What you need | A replacement plug, wire strippers, a screwdriver, and about $5 |
| First step | Unplug the device and remove the old plug with wire strippers |
| Next steps | - Cut off any damaged parts of the cord |
- Strip off the outer covering and interior insulation, leaving only the wires
- Form the wires into hooks or U-shapes
- Loosen the screws on the replacement plug and open the housing
- Tuck each wire into the corresponding terminal, wrapping the wire around the screw and tightening | | Final steps | - Slide the plug case up the cord and fit the blades in
- Put the yellow tab back in between the blades
- Test the appliance |
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Identify the plug type
Before replacing an electrical plug, it is important to identify the type of plug you are dealing with. The first step is to determine whether it is a plug or a receptacle. A simple rule of thumb is that if something can fit into it, it is a receptacle, and if it fits into something else, it is a plug. Plugs usually have front-facing pins or sockets.
The next step is to identify the shape and colour of the connector. All pigtail connectors come in various shapes and sizes, such as triangles, rectangles, flats, and squares. The colour of the connector can also be a distinguishing factor, although it is not always definitive.
Another crucial characteristic is the number of pins in the connector. Counting the pins will help determine the correct replacement. Connectors can have different pin configurations, ranging from three in a row to multiple rows and columns. The number of holes at the back of the plug is more important than the number of wires being used. In some cases, two connectors may look very similar, but slight variations in the keyways (the little bumps at the front of the connector that align with the sensor) can help distinguish between them.
When replacing a plug, it is important to ensure that the new one matches the type and rating of the original. Plugs can have two or three prongs, with three-prong plugs having an additional grounding pin as a safety feature. Two-prong plugs have a hot and neutral wire, while three-prong plugs add a grounding wire.
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Prepare the cord
Before you begin, ensure that the electrical cord is unplugged from the power source. If the plug is damaged but still plugged in, turn off the power at the breaker before unplugging.
Next, remove the old plug with wire strippers. Cut off any part of the cord that is damaged, cutting about 1-1.5 inches below the damaged area. Be careful not to nick the interior wiring. If you do accidentally cut into the wires, start over with a new cord.
Now, separate the wires by gently pulling them apart. The wire with raised ribbing on the coating is the neutral wire, and the hot wire will have a smooth coating. Strip off about 1-1.5 inches of the outer covering using wire strippers, bending the cord back and forth. Cut away the interior cloth insulation, leaving only the black and white wires. If your wire does not have a white wire, look for ridges along its length, indicating that it is the neutral wire.
Finally, bend the copper portion of each wire into a U-shape or hook. This will make attaching them to the new plug easier and more secure.
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Open the plug
Before you begin, make sure the power cord is unplugged from the electrical outlet. If the plug is damaged but still plugged into an outlet, turn off the power at the breaker before unplugging.
Now, let's open the plug:
Remove the Old Plug and Prepare the Cord:
Use wire strippers to remove the old plug. Cut off any damaged portions of the cord, ensuring you cut about 1 to 1.5 inches below the damaged area. Be careful not to nick the interior wiring. Strip away the outer covering of the cord to expose the black and white wires inside. The white wire might have ridges, indicating it is the neutral wire. The black wire is the hot wire and will have a smooth coating.
Loosen the Plug Housing:
Use a Phillips-head or flat-head screwdriver to unscrew the plug cover or jacket. The screws can usually be found near the prongs or on the side of the plastic plug cover. Set the screws aside safely so you don't lose them.
Open the Plug:
Gently pull and wiggle the plug to open it. The plug should come apart into two sections. Be careful not to force it open as some plugs might have a detachable base that slides onto the cord.
Prepare the Wires:
Bend the copper portion of each wire into a U-shape or a hook. This will make it easier to attach the wires to the new plug securely.
Identify the Neutral and Hot Wires:
The silver screw in the plug is the neutral connection, and the brass-colored screw is the hot connection. It is crucial to identify these correctly for proper wiring.
Now that you have opened the plug and prepared the wires, you are ready to proceed to the next steps of replacing the electrical plug end.
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Connect the wires
Before connecting the wires, it is important to identify the type of plug you are working with. There are three major types of replacement plugs: self-connecting, terminal screw, and three-prong. Self-connecting plugs are typically found on appliances like lamps and are the easiest to replace. Terminal screw plugs and three-prong plugs are also common and require slightly different connection methods.
Once you have identified the type of plug, follow these general steps to connect the wires:
- Strip off the insulation from each wire: Use wire strippers to remove about 1/2 to 3/4 inches of the outer covering, being careful not to cut the interior wires.
- Identify the hot and neutral wires: The hot wire is typically smooth and carries the electrical current. The neutral wire has ridges or raised ribbing on the outside and is sometimes referred to as the return wire.
- Form hooks at the end of each wire: Twist the strands of each wire together and then bend a small hook at the end. This will make it easier to attach the wires to the plug.
- Loosen the screws on the plug: The screws will typically be brass-colored (for the hot wire) and silver-colored (for the neutral wire). Loosen the screws enough to hook the wires around them.
- Connect the wires to the screws: Hook each wire around the corresponding screw in a clockwise direction. Ensure that the wires are snugly wrapped beneath the screws.
- Tighten the screws: Secure the wires in place by tightening the screws.
- Guide the wires through notches: Gently guide the wires through nearby notches to prevent them from crimping.
- Close the plug housing: Depending on the type of plug, you may need to snap the housing back together or screw it closed. Ensure that the wires are not touching each other to avoid short circuits or fire hazards.
It is important to note that the specific steps may vary slightly depending on the type of plug and the number of prongs. Always exercise caution when working with electrical components, and ensure that the power is turned off before beginning any repair work.
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Close the plug
Once you have attached the wires to their corresponding terminals, it is time to close the plug. The process for this will depend on the type of plug you are using. If you are using a 2-pronged plug, the housing will close up like a clamp. Then, one or two screws will hold it together. Make sure you do not lose any of the screws as you will need to put them back in to hold the housing together.
If you are using a 3-prong plug, you will need to skip the previous step and follow the below instructions. First, thread the cord so that the plug will completely close. Then, tighten the exterior screw to close the plug.
If your plug is polarized, make sure the big prong blade matches the side of the wire marked. The bigger blade is neutral, and the smaller blade is hot. The wire with the ridge on the outside is the return or neutral wire and goes to the silver-coloured screw. The hot wire is smooth and carries the electrical current. It goes to the brass-coloured screw.
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Frequently asked questions
First, make sure the appliance is unplugged from the power source. Then, remove the old plug with wire strippers. Cut off any part of the cord that is damaged, and strip off the outer covering. Cut away the interior cloth insulation, leaving only the black and white wires. If there is no white wire, look for ridges along the length of the wire, which indicate the neutral wire. The hot wire will be smooth. Next, attach the black wire to the brass blade and the white wire to the silver blade. Loosen each screw just enough to wrap the hooked wire end around it. Wind the free end of the wire clockwise around the screw and tighten it. Finally, slide the plug case up the cord and fit the blades in.
The hot wire is smooth and carries the electrical current. It goes to the brass-coloured screw. The neutral wire has ridges on the outside and goes to the silver-coloured screw.
It should only cost a few dollars to buy a replacement plug, and you can attach it yourself.
