OT - Replacing a moulded plug

tailwindhome

So the plug on the vacuum cleaner has a loose wire in it.

It's one of the those moulded plug affairs.

Are these replaceable? Any issues I should be aware of is it just a simple case of wiring on a new plug?

I was a bit suprised when I cut the cord to find only 2 inner wires, no earth. Is this normal?

davis

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

The Rookie

Just cut the moulded one off and fit a normal plug.

Simon

deptfordmarmoset

davis wrote:

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

But I wouldn't advise using one of them when you're getting rid of the water on your kitchen floor from a defrosting fridge. Apparently it's not a good idea to use a hair dryer to defrost your fridge either. Although it will start to work quickly, you might experience a hair-standing-on-end moment before you die. Well, that's what an old girlfriend told me....

greg66_tri_v2.0

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

davis wrote:

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

But I wouldn't advise using one of them when you're getting rid of the water on your kitchen floor from a defrosting fridge. Apparently it's not a good idea to use a hair dryer to defrost your fridge either. Although it will start to work quickly, you might experience a hair-standing-on-end moment before you die. Well, that's what an old girlfriend told me....

Nor is it a good idea to use a carving knife to prise sheets of ice off the freezer walls, in the misplaced hope it will speed up the defrosting process. Because it is very easy to slip and pierce the lining of the freezer, resulting in a rapid expulsion of compressed coolant. And one very knackered freezer.

So I have heard, anyway.

The Rookie

A Friend tried to do the above, but the slip didn't liberate the refrigerant but his own blood..... Frrezer had defrosted itself by the time he got back from casualty.

Simon

WisePranker

Greg66 wrote:

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

davis wrote:

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

But I wouldn't advise using one of them when you're getting rid of the water on your kitchen floor from a defrosting fridge. Apparently it's not a good idea to use a hair dryer to defrost your fridge either. Although it will start to work quickly, you might experience a hair-standing-on-end moment before you die. Well, that's what an old girlfriend told me....

Nor is it a good idea to use a carving knife to prise sheets of ice off the freezer walls, in the misplaced hope it will speed up the defrosting process. Because it is very easy to slip and pierce the lining of the freezer, resulting in a rapid expulsion of compressed coolant. And one very knackered freezer.

So I have heard, anyway.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one to have done that

snailracer

When you fit the new plug, make sure the cord grip tightens around the thick outer sheath of the cable (i.e. not the thin inner wires).

mudcow007

yep just snip off the old one an replace with a "normal" plug make sure the wires are the correct way around an as someone else mentioned make sure the grip grabs the outta cable jacket an not the internal (yellow/green, blue and brown) wires

walkingbootweather

As others have said, it's an easy job to replace with a normal plug. Have replaced US moulded plugs with regular UK ones when bought chargers etc. from Hong Kong.

wgwarburton

walkingbootweather wrote:

As others have said, it's an easy job to replace with a normal plug. Have replaced US moulded plugs with regular UK ones when bought chargers etc. from Hong Kong.

Replacing the fuse with one appropriate to the cable, I trust?

Cheers,
W.

kelsen

If you ever attempt to strip wires with your teeth because there's no wire stripper to hand, do make sure the other end isn't connected to the mains before you do so...

tailwindhome

Should be an easy job to do.

Why is it I haven't changed a plus for about 20 years? Are the moulded plugs 'better' than the old style replaceable plugs or do appliances die long before the plug ever does??

flimflam_machine

kelsen wrote:

If you ever attempt to strip wires with your teeth because there's no wire stripper to hand, do make sure the other end isn't connected to the mains before you do so...

Holy sheeeeeet! Also make sure that your teeth are solid. I've lost fillings doing this.

Wire strippers ftw!

snailracer

TailWindHome wrote:

Should be an easy job to do.

Why is it I haven't changed a plus for about 20 years? Are the moulded plugs 'better' than the old style replaceable plugs or do appliances die long before the plug ever does??

Moulded plugs are better because they have a strain relief where the cord exits the plug. This is especially important on cords that can get tugged - like on a hoover or iron.

EKE_38BPM

I believe legislation states that all new appliances must have moulded plugs now. I think it may even be due to one of Esther Rantsonandonandon's campaigns a fair few years back.

Sausages!

mudcow007

EKE_38BPM wrote:

I believe legislation states that all new appliances must have moulded plugs now.

quite true

i recently did my C&G PAT testing course an this was one of the question...waste of time really, the course i mean

lost_in_thought

WisePranker wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

davis wrote:

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

But I wouldn't advise using one of them when you're getting rid of the water on your kitchen floor from a defrosting fridge. Apparently it's not a good idea to use a hair dryer to defrost your fridge either. Although it will start to work quickly, you might experience a hair-standing-on-end moment before you die. Well, that's what an old girlfriend told me....

Nor is it a good idea to use a carving knife to prise sheets of ice off the freezer walls, in the misplaced hope it will speed up the defrosting process. Because it is very easy to slip and pierce the lining of the freezer, resulting in a rapid expulsion of compressed coolant. And one very knackered freezer.

So I have heard, anyway.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one to have done that

See I've heard about someone who's got a 'friend' who's done this many a time, but never known anyone who actually really did it...

I defrost my freezer with a rolling pin (hammer) and a normal knife (chisel)...

Aidy

WisePranker wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

davis wrote:

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

But I wouldn't advise using one of them when you're getting rid of the water on your kitchen floor from a defrosting fridge. Apparently it's not a good idea to use a hair dryer to defrost your fridge either. Although it will start to work quickly, you might experience a hair-standing-on-end moment before you die. Well, that's what an old girlfriend told me....

Nor is it a good idea to use a carving knife to prise sheets of ice off the freezer walls, in the misplaced hope it will speed up the defrosting process. Because it is very easy to slip and pierce the lining of the freezer, resulting in a rapid expulsion of compressed coolant. And one very knackered freezer.

So I have heard, anyway.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one to have done that

A housemate at uni did it, too...

Kieran_Burns

I'm confused....

Wouldn't this:



be a better idea?

kelsen

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I'm confused....

Wouldn't this:



be a better idea?

:?

Kieran, what's your day job? Well, don't give it up, unless you're a writer of stand-up material...

Kieran_Burns

kelsen wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I'm confused....

Wouldn't this:



be a better idea?

:?

Kieran, what's your day job? Well, don't give it up, unless you're a writer of stand-up material...

just tell me how loud you groaned

walkingbootweather

WGWarburton wrote:

walkingbootweather wrote:

As others have said, it's an easy job to replace with a normal plug. Have replaced US moulded plugs with regular UK ones when bought chargers etc. from Hong Kong.

Replacing the fuse with one appropriate to the cable, I trust?

Cheers,
W.

Nah, if you put a the right fuse in this far eastern kit they keep blowing. Bit of tin foil around a regular fuse, or an old wire coat hanger cut to size prevents this.

I'm joking children - please don't try this at home for gawd sake.

evil_breakfast

Greg66 wrote:

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

davis wrote:

It's simple. Just stick a new plug on it. There's no earth wire 'cos it's double-insulated (plastic shell, no conductive parts accessible to the dribbling public).

But I wouldn't advise using one of them when you're getting rid of the water on your kitchen floor from a defrosting fridge. Apparently it's not a good idea to use a hair dryer to defrost your fridge either. Although it will start to work quickly, you might experience a hair-standing-on-end moment before you die. Well, that's what an old girlfriend told me....

Nor is it a good idea to use a carving knife to prise sheets of ice off the freezer walls, in the misplaced hope it will speed up the defrosting process. Because it is very easy to slip and pierce the lining of the freezer, resulting in a rapid expulsion of compressed coolant. And one very knackered freezer.

So I have heard, anyway.

Reminds me of when i moved into an houseshare in about 2003-4.
Cor! I thought, that FF could do with a defrost.
Typical blokeness kicked in, and out came the tools....
...and so did the coolant.
Several hours passed, and my new housemates came home from work.
Hi, I'm Simon, and I've a bit of a confession to make....
:oops:

redvee

The last fridge defrosting was done in under an hour by "a friend", he emptied the fridge and put it in the bath and turned the shower up to temp 11 and washed the ice out of the icebox. All he has to do now is explain the scratches on the bath to the landlady when the time comes. :oops:

Drysuitdiver

tis easy, but then i am a spark.

as others have said make sure strain releif is tightened on the outer sheath. do not ring the flex with a knife you WILL mark the inner insualtion. use a pair of side cutters and cut down the cable pull apart and then trim the outer neatly with the cutters.

the inner cores need to be stripped with the correct tool, NOT the cutters, although it can be done with them you WILL scar the copper or remiove strands.

easy way for people to remember where the inner cores go to.

BLue = Bottom Left
BRown =Bottom Right
sTripey = Top Ok the green and yellow isn't actually called stripey its a CPC ( circuit protective conductor)

most modern appliances are double insualted so won't have a CPC , even some metal cased appliances can be double insulated.

as for fuses, yes this protects the cable not the appliance.

a Fridge for example needs a 13A fuse as the start up current exceeds the 3A you would expecrt to fit by simple power Calculation I=P/V

colout televisions also used to use this rule .

It was a big mistake sending an apprentice with a grudge to do pAT on a high profile job OMG that was 20 years ago now.

Not all new appliances are fitted with moulded plugs , most are, but not all. it is not part of the CE requirements either. Most manufacturers fit moulded plugs as it stops them being sued by idiots who electrocute themselves.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... 29,r:0,s:0

have seen similar

tailwindhome

Drysuitdiver wrote:

tis easy, but then i am a spark

Job done.

To clarify I knew how to change a plug (we did it in school 2 decades ago). I wasn't sure if there were some safety or compliance issues involved in replacing a moulded plug with an ordinary one. I thought I may have to source a replacement cable & plug

An old rusty pair of wire cutters,used with care, did the job ok

Drysuitdiver

TailWindHome wrote:

Drysuitdiver wrote:

tis easy, but then i am a spark

Job done.

To clarify I knew how to change a plug (we did it in school 2 decades ago). I wasn't sure if there were some safety or compliance issues involved in replacing a moulded plug with an ordinary one. I thought I may have to source a replacement cable & plug

An old rusty pair of wire cutters,used with care, did the job ok

they sound better than some of the tools i see on site regularly