Replace Plug on an Extension Cord or an Appliance

[@Know-How-Now]

If you are replacing a plug on a lamp, there are also Know How Now videos about lamp repair including one that shows how to replace the entire cord. I prefer using a plug that is molded onto the lamp cord rather than replace just the plug end. kzbin.info/aero/PLvce66kQTjJR9SvrmHgWbz9fK4kFzvRFT There are hundreds of videos at Know How Now, subscribe so you can always find the channel…. It’s free. I always respect your time and do my best to keep the videos brief, but informative. Check out the channel with this link: www.youtube.com/@Know-How-Now/videos

[@proserepair]

Thanks for the thorough explanations--why to use a polarized plug, how to tell hot from neutral (on wires, screws, and blades), how to read wire indications, how to determine amps, what the numbers on wire strippers mean, etc. I'm going back to the hardware store to get a polarized plug. Thanks for helping us stay safe!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome. I try to make the videos worth watching and provide a little education too. Thanks for the compliment.

[@slantedandenchanted.1992]

Thank you so much! You make it so much easier to understand.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Kelly!

[@tonym6920]

Good information, thanks!

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Walkin' Man. It's nice to hear from you.

[@lynnmcfadden655]

Thanks. I had an idea, but you explained it in a simple way.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Lynn. Have a great day.

[@hphillips7425]

Good video 👍 I have been doing this for years and still learned. There is a lady asking on our next door forum asking about a vacuum cleaner plug replacement I think I will send this link and see how much effort she wants to put out to make the repair herself

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome.

[@rocketrider1405]

Excellent as usual! At 4:18, I think the brown, blue, and green/yellow is used in the UK often. Thanks for the info.

[@Know-How-Now]

It's nice to hear from you Rocket Rider. Thanks for taking the time to write the helpful comment.

[@mrbottomfeeder]

You have a great channel and infor. Thank you. Thank you.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, Richard.

[@ehd1990]

i like your videos. they are very detailed and you can tell that you put a lot of effort into them. one thing id like to point out is the shepherd hook with stranded wire. it is better/safer to use crimp connectors. just a helpful tip

[@Know-How-Now]

Hi Edwin, thanks for pointing that out. It's contributions like yours that make youtube a great resource. I agree the best practice is to crimp a spade terminal on the end of the stranded wire if the terminal on the replacement plug is a round type. I should have recommended it in the video. Most people looking on KZbin for help with this repair likely don't own a crimping tool and crimp connectors, so it's a high hurdle. I wish the people who make the replacement plugs would not use this type of terminal. I do have a video that shows how to make a good crimp with an inexpensive tool. Here's a link to it if anyone is interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpmzfmhjf8eFqqM I would also recommend not using the replacement plugs that have a metal point that pierces the wire when the plug is closed (no screw terminals). I have a lamp that had one of these connections from the factory. The lamp was on a timer and was clicking on and off, luckily I was home and saw it happening. When I took the lamp apart it had one of those connectors. Apparently it was never a proper connection and was loose. It was starting to melt and soon would have been a fire.

[@ehd1990]

@@Know-How-Now that is a major problem with electrical. many people can get away with doing it the wrong way but eventually something will fail and cause a fire. luckily you were able to prevent a fire. thanks for the response

[@oldporkchops]

Hi there, I'm trying to replace the wire on a used carpet cleaner. I'm pretty sure it was grounded. The wire was cut off close to the unit, so I'm guessing little to no AWG information can be gleaned from it. However, the tiny bit of some loose end that remains may or may not have any AWG thickness information. Is there a way to the use a template to determine the AWG information? Regarding amperage, it is printed on the unit itself, so I can use that to confirm my wire of choice is safe. Is there any harm in going over the original wire's rating and AWG? Meaning if the original wire was 14 AWG rated for 15 A and I use 12 AWG rated for 20 A, will the unit fail to run? Or will there be a fire hazard? You explained it so well. Logical and in great detail. Thank you for this video. You gained a subscriber in me.

[@Know-How-Now]

The correct gauge wire gets a little tricky, the longer the cord, the bigger the size of the wire needs to be. If the wire is too small it could burn up the cleaner motor. You might check the amperage on the plate of the cleaner, then find the specs on a new cleaner that has the same amperage. Match the AWG and length of cord on that cleaner to yours. An alternative is to look for a "calculator" that you can plug the cord length, AWG and amps of the cleaner into. Companies that sell cable will usually have something to help figure it out. Also, you could use a pair of wire cutters to check the size wire on your cleaner. I'd think it had a ground wire. When you take it apart, you'll know.

[@oldporkchops]

@@Know-How-Now thank you for your excellent suggestions. I appreciate your time and effort to help. I truly have not come across another KZbin content creator who puts so much time and effort into addressing questions and comments. Do you have a course that teaches us how to wire an entire brand new house ? I will gladly pay for such a course.

[@Know-How-Now]

You are welcome, as time allows, I try to answer questions. I am having fun making the videos and interacting with people who watch them. I do my best to give high quality information in each video. I don't have any formal courses. It takes a lot of instruction to become an electrician. They spend many hours in the class room. You might try to see if your local career and technology school has evening classes. They may offer some entry level classes. My electrical knowledge is courtesy of the US Army.

[@oldporkchops]

@@Know-How-Now Thank you for serving our country in the Army. I salute you. At your suggestion, I found the information on a distributor's website and the operation manual for the carpet cleaner. The distributor's website said the power cord on existing models is 50 feet. The manual said that the the power cord is a 14/3, SJT, and the rated current is 14 Amps. Could you please let me know if I should be looking for a 50 foot, 14/3 SJT wire that's rated for 15 amps? I couldn't find one for 14 amps.

[@Know-How-Now]

Yes, 50 foot 14/3 SJT rated for 15 amp will be OK. An outlet with a 15 amp breaker will have 14 gauge wire too. You can exceed the amp rating used by the manufacturer, you wouldn't want to go under it. Best wishes for the cord replacement.