Fix Your Own Vacuum Cord Plug For Less Than The Cost Of A Cup Of Coffee

26 December 2014
 Categories: Home & Garden, Blog

Share

If you have broken the plug on your vacuum's electrical cord, then you will be happy to learn that you can easily, and inexpensively, fix your own vacuume in about ten minutes.

For this project you will need:

  • one replacement plug
  • Philip's style screwdriver
  • wire cutter/stripper tool

Your vacuum's plug can be purchased at any local hardware store. Before leaving to shop, make sure you check the existing plug to see if it has 2 prongs or 3 prongs, so that you purchase the right replacement.

Step 1 - Open Your New Plug and Loosen Screws

The new plug is made of two parts:

  1. the outside housing
  2. the wire connections

The first thing you need to do is remove the screw on the outside of the housing. This will allow you to take the new plug apart.

Once you have plug housing off, then you need to take your screwdriver and loosen the two screws where the wires will attach to the new plug.

Step 2 - Remove the Old Plug

Making sure your vacuum is unplugged, cut the cord with a pair of wire cutters. Dispose of the old plug in your household trash.

Step 3 - Strip Wires

The cord is made from two, or three, internal wires that are each coated in plastic. Additionally, the entire cord is then covered in another layer of plastic. To replace the plug, you need to strip-off each of these coatings. However, you do not want to strip too much plastic off of the wires, because this can cause them to touch each other and arc.

Strip back each wire no more than one inch from the end.

Once all of the wires have been stripped, then you should twist each section of wires between your fingers to ensure that they are securely wrapped together.

Step 4 - Put Plug Housing on Wire

Slip the new plug's housing piece onto the wire. You will attach it to the connection piece as soon as it is connected to the wires.

Step 5 - Attach New Plug to Wires

Taking the end of each wire, twist it around each connection on your new plug. You need to make sure that the wire is completely under the screw, and that the wires do not touch each other as well.

Using your screwdriver, tighten each of the wire connection screws until they tightly secure the wires.

Step 6 - Reattach Housing to Plug

Pull the housing down over the wire connection piece, and replace the screw to attach the housing. Tighten the screw and you are finished replacing your plug!

Conclusion

If you have followed these directions, then you have now fixed your own vacuum cord. Congratulations!

If you do not feel comfortable tackling this project, then you should take your vacuum to a local vacuum repair shop in your area and they can easily fix your vacuum cleaner's plug.