Installing a terminal-screw plug
Step1
Assuming that you don't mind losing a little cord length, cut the old plug off with wire cutters rather than trying to disassemble it.
Step2
Open the new plug according to the instructions. Some snap on and off the cord, and others screw together.
Step3
Insert about 6 inches (15 cm) of the cord through the plug's housing.
Step4
For a lamp or flat heater cord, split apart the two wires if they're not already split. Start the cut with a utility knife and then tear 2 inches (5 cm) apart by hand.
Step5
For a round cord, such as those used for some appliances and machinery, strip off the outer insulation. Make a 1-inch (2.5-cm) cut lengthwise at the cord's end; grasp the insulation to tear open about 3 inches (7.5 cm), scoring the surface with a utility knife as needed; and cut off the outer insulation at the top of the tear, being careful not to nick the wire insulation.
Step6
Unless the plug body is equipped with a clamp or another strainrelief connector, tie the two wires together using an Underwriters knot.
Step7
Determine how much wire must be exposed to reach and wrap around the terminal screws, then cut off any excess with wire cutters/strippers.
Step8
Remove 1/2 inch (12 mm) of the wire insulation with wire cutters/ strippers, using the stripper hole that corresponds to the gauge of wire you are stripping.
Step9
Twist the wire strands together and bend them to form a loop, then wrap each loop clockwise under the appropriate terminal screw.
Step10
For an ungrounded (two-prong) plug, attach the white or ribbed wire under the silver terminal screw or to the terminal on the wider prong, and attach the black wire (hot) under the brass terminal screw or to the terminal on the narrower prong.
Step11
When an appliance or tool requires a three-prong grounded plug, connect the grounding wire (green) under the green terminal screw on the grounding prong; attach the black wire (hot) under the brass terminal screw and the white wire (neutral) under the silver terminal screw.
Step12
Tighten any cord clamp or other strain-relief connector.
Installing a quick-connecting flat-cord plug
Step1
To install a quick- or self-connecting flat-wire plug, cut the end of the cord with wire cutters.
Step2
Installation varies. Either open an arm on the plug body, insert the cord and press the arm closed; or pull the terminal block and prong assembly out of the plug shell, feed the cord through the shell and into the terminal block, squeeze the prongs and push the two parts of the plug back together.
Installing a 240-V plug
Step1
Appliances requiring 240 volts utilize cords with molded plugs and pigtails. Unplug the appliance and open the wiring-box cover with a screwdriver or nut driver.
Step2
Write "left," "center" and "right" on short lengths of masking tape and wrap these around the wires to identify the connection points. Remove and save the terminal screws.
Step3
Purchase an identical cord and connect its pigtails under the terminal screws, using the old cord as a guide. Reinstall the wiringbox cover.
Comments
frameanalysis said
on 7/13/2008 My plug was completely different. It was a polarized plug and the wires were as follows:
Green/Yellow= Ground
Blue= Hot
Grey= Neutral
morgaine101 said
on 10/3/2006 Thanks. Just what I needed!