Some basic jobsite skills for a basic Tuesday
The best kind of replacement chords have two halves with built-in cable clamps. Female ends tend to be replaced first on extension cords, male ends, obviously, are the problem on appliances and tools.
Step by step:
Three screws hold the two halves together, when loosened, the three terminals are exposed with three differently colored screws: a gold screw, a silver screw, and a green screw.
Push the cable end through the outer half of the plug, having removed 1/2 inch of the outer sheathing, and stripping the individual wires 1/4 inch.
Slide the bare wire into the appropriate terminals and clamp tightly with the screws:
- The white wire is connected to the silver terminal.
- The black wire is connected to the gold terminal.
- The ground wire (bare or green) connects to the green terminal.
Push the two halves back together and tighten the three screws.
—Steve Maxwell is a home improvement contractor in Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. His website and YouTube page offer many informative videos, articles, and photos.
