The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Care And Repair Of The House

7. REPAIRING DAMAGED APPLIANCE CORDS

The cords by which electrical appliances are connected to a circuit often cause trouble. In most cases this is due either to wear or to improper handling. A cord usually shows the first signs of wear at the end where it is most frequently handled. If the cord is frequently twisted and bent sharply some of the small wires beneath the covering may become broken. If they come in contact with adjacent bare wires, a short circuit will result, requiring at least the replacement of blown-out fuses. If a wire breaks without coming in contact with the other wire the appliance will not work. The break in this case may not be evident on the outside of the insulation. Defective cords should either be promptly repaired or discarded.

Proper Handling of Cords.

To avoid twisting the cord, if a screw plug is used, do not screw the plug into the socket with the cord attached to the plug. If possible, separate the screw half of the plug from the cap and screw it into the socket. When this has been done, the prongs of the cap may be inserted into the plug without twisting the cord. For future convenience in attaching the cord, the threaded half of the plug should be left in the socket, if possible.

Most of the modern receptacles are made to accommodate the bayonet-type plug. As the name implies, this plug is equipped with two bayonet like prongs, to be inserted into corresponding slots in the receptacle. With this type of plug the cords are not subject to twisting as they are in a screw plug.

When disconnecting an appliance do not pull on the cord, as this strain may cause the wires to break or pull out of the cap. It is better to grasp the cap and pull it from the plug. It is now possible to obtain cords with handles attached to the cap, so that no strain will be placed on the cord.

If a cord becomes badly damaged it should be replaced with ft new one. However, if the cord has merely broken near the plug end, or has been pulled out of the plug, it can readily be repaired.

Tools.

Small screw driver, pocketknife, pair of old shears, and a pair of pliers.

Materials.

Electrician's so-called friction tape.