|
General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
31st Dec 2021, 5:33 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Fitting a mains plug.
I put a plug on today.
Not stupendous news, I know. But I haven't needed to do it for about fifteen years, and I'd forgotten the sense of pride when looking at the careful and precise wiring and knowing that I've done it safely and well. And made a damned good job of it! It's a lost art, I reckon.
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
31st Dec 2021, 5:39 pm | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,785
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Certainly few people under 50 will ever have wired a BS1363 plug.
|
31st Dec 2021, 5:45 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
It is indeed, especially getting the conductors to the exact individual lengths needed to enable them to be easily terminated but with still some outer sheathing available for the cable retainer to grip. Personally I prep my conductor ends double length needed and fold them over to fill the mounting hole better and more copper for the screw to grip. I then check that the fuse holder has good pressure on the fuse. And yes, the correct fuse fitted. I have seen many nightmare attempts to wire a plugtop!
__________________
A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
31st Dec 2021, 6:00 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,958
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
One time every electrical item one purchased had to have a plug attached when it arrived home. If you forgot to buy a plug you had to rob one off an old table lamp to put on the kettle, if you were lucky it would have a 13A fuse in it.
Now as stated I can not remember the last time I fixed a plug. If I make something that needs a plug and lead, I cut the lead off a broken printer, toaster ETC. Many years ago I received a batch of audio equipment to repair from a council establishment. You would not believe the number of combinations to mix the three wires in the plug, bare wires just out of the plug and crossing inside the plug!! all had 13A fuses. Tinned wire cable ends are sometimes found. I always when possible cut the tinned end and double the wire back to fill the hole. Tinned ends can be subject to cold flow and lead to the screw loosening. John
__________________
My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again" Last edited by 60 oldjohn; 31st Dec 2021 at 6:18 pm. |
31st Dec 2021, 6:01 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 528
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
I remember the sense of annoyance when you forgot to put the cord through a rubber plug before wiring the connections.
|
31st Dec 2021, 6:10 pm | #6 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,315
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Quote:
So many kitchen appliances come with a very short lead and those often need to be replaced so as to reach the wall socket. They have all thanked me for teaching them so they can get items correctly connected. |
|
31st Dec 2021, 6:11 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
For the last few years, all the CPC catalogue entries for leads with a plug or socket on one end only, have included a notice saying something like
"Warning: Only for use by qualified personell. Bare ends must be correctly terminated to another connector or piece of equipment before connection." No such warning is given for plugs or free sockets that do not have cables fitted . I actually fitted four 13A plugs in the week before Christmas. Three were for me, when extending the mains cables of fairy light sets using non-plug and socket flex connectors, and one for my neighbour, when I fitted a new, longer, flex for his table lamp. Last edited by emeritus; 31st Dec 2021 at 6:31 pm. Reason: typos, emphasis added |
31st Dec 2021, 6:13 pm | #8 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
When I was but a lad (maybe 10 or so, 1970) I was the kid on the close that put plugs on for housewives, the "man" of the family being a bureaucrat or some other skill less job and incapable. Mum used to bring me round to their houses, I think the fee was tea and cake, yum. I also showed the lady how to do it, MK plugs could be done using a metal nail file, mother said all plugs should be doable with one, insightful woman.
When I was an apprentice a few years later I did a short course (an hour, called a course these days) on how to put a plug on. Me! a qualified plug putter onerer. It is indeed a joy to do something practical and well. |
31st Dec 2021, 6:36 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,958
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
When I was 10 years old my teachers realised I was interested in anything electrical. The headmaster gave me a microphone and one of the teachers brought a big box of old mains plugs cables and fittings. He taught me the importance of making sure there are no stray wire strands, leaving the earth wire a little longer / slacker than the rest, and making a tidy job in general. On wet days during breaks I would be making up extension leads, all good practice for later life.
John.
__________________
My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again" |
31st Dec 2021, 6:53 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
No problem, you just take a pair of wire cutters and cut through the offending part of the rubber plug. We did it all the time at Thorn.
__________________
A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
31st Dec 2021, 6:54 pm | #11 | ||
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,118
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Quote:
Quote:
edit: Steve beat me to it.
__________________
Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |
||
31st Dec 2021, 7:07 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
I worked at Crabtree for a while as PR Officer and they're officially known as plugtops.
__________________
A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
31st Dec 2021, 7:11 pm | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Here it is!
Correct fuse for a table fan. Legrand plug with unsheathed pins just because I really like those plugs! So, now I'm in the firing line. What do you all think? Tidy job, or not? Go on, let me have it...
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
31st Dec 2021, 7:16 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Other than for MK plugs, I now fit ferrules to the wire ends when wiring plugs. CPC now stock them at a reasonable cost, and I already had a suitable crimping tool.
|
31st Dec 2021, 7:19 pm | #15 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,785
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
I think this dates back to early terminology when the 'plug' consisted of the thing with pins on it ('plug top') and the thing with holes in it ('plug base'). Even today you still hear sparkies talking about 'plug tops' and 'plug top fuses'.
|
31st Dec 2021, 7:23 pm | #16 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 1,030
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
One of the tests for prospective employees was to wire a 13A plug. Also to fit the correct fuse for a given load. This was mainly to see how they handled tools and what their dexterity was like. The choice of fuse showed they knew power to current calculations.
|
31st Dec 2021, 7:25 pm | #17 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,785
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Personally I think the neutral wire should have been left a bit longer, but I've seen much, much worse, and it's not obviously dangerous.
|
31st Dec 2021, 7:32 pm | #18 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Oh, this drives me to fury!
A 'plug top' is the lid that fits on top of a plug, secured by one or more screws, to stop the person plugging it in electrocuting themselves by touching the terminals inside. How much longer must we endure having a PLUG referred to as a 'plug top'?
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
31st Dec 2021, 7:38 pm | #19 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Thanks for your verdict, paulsherwin.
Maybe you have a point, but I've always liked to keep my cores as short as possible. Each to his own, eh!
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
31st Dec 2021, 7:57 pm | #20 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,785
|
Re: Putting on a plug.
Absolutely, no serious criticism intended. It's certainly a neat job.
Ideally it should be wired so that the live wire disconnects before the neutral, but it doesn't really matter if the cord grip is used correctly (as in this case.) |