How to Fix a Broken Electrical Cord / Wire

DISCLAIMER: Please use CAUTION while fixing any electrical wire. Also, fix wires that you unplug regularly, and do not fix wires that you cannot inspect on a regular basis. I would have a professional replace / fix wires on any major appliances a large amount of current / electricity flowing through it.

A how-to video on how to fix broken electrical wires found on lamps, vacuums, extension cords, etc. I show how to fix a 2 prong and a 3 prong (with a ground) plug.

If you have any questions / comments, feel free to write below!
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

[reganwinans]

Thank you so much for your tutorial! A mouse chewed part of my refrigerator cord. Called the appliance repair place and they said the part I need was $100 + labor and was on back order with no estimated date in sight. Watched your video and $25 trip to Home Depot later, my fridge is up and working again. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[ginacarter]

Replaced the pronged plug from a portable dishwasher with this help. Plugged it in and the unit powered on without issue. Thanks!

[jeansagerian]

Thank you for your video.  In all my years of yard work had never cut through a cord until yesterday..and it was a brand new cord to boot.  Watched your video and bought the part and made the repair with a new female end. I usually give all my cord repair work (irons, lamps) to my father..the family electrician.. but due to distance and the amount of leaves falling..i needed to get the cord repaired fast. Cost of repair $6.29..your video:priceless!  thanks!

[pandyriffic]

Thank you so much for posting this! You are a life saver. I just screwed up my husband's man chair (electric recliner) when I moved it I didn't notice the cord was under it and the mechanism chewed up the cord. 30 minutes later (20 mins of panic and 10 minutes of actual video watching/repair) the chair is working again. Best part is he will never know

[creativespecies]

Great video my little electrical heater cord got damaged. No need to buy a whole new heater won't be cold this winter able to say home watch some good movies and be warm this holiday season. Happy Holidays everyone in the world!!

[jayantdesai]

Sorry to say this Richard, don't take it bad way, I know you have good intentions, and you know it is dangerous to play with electrical stuff, so here is my bit of advise, you must not strip the wire bare longer than what is needed to go under the screw, you expected that as you tighten the screw the wire will get pulled under the screw, but it didn't so what i suggest instead is to loosen the screw more so that the bare wire can go around the screw all the way, then tighten the screw, and you should not strip wire too long where they can cause danger by shorting between wires as you loop around the prongs,

The loop around the prongs should not be bare wire at all, loop should be insulated and any bare conductors should only be under the screw and fully tight.

If someone was to twist wire coming out of the plug, those long bare wires can touch each other and cause a massive bang and or even cause fire.

No wires should be joined merely by twisting them together, as that is considered a poor quality joint and after a while the oxidation of bare wires can cause a poor joint, contact between two wires resistance increases, which under heavy load can cause heating and eventually fire risk.


Finally, all wire conductors should be twisted thoroughly such that you do not get any loose strands any where, you should avoid having to cut any loose strands, they should not be there what so ever, if you do get a strand come lose, then take out the wire and redo the twisting until you get it perfect, all bare conductors under the screw and no lose strands to cut or their possibility of shorting with anything else.

[pmetme-ail]

Glad I happened to buy the same style plug because until you pointed out green/white/brass differentiation I thought the screws were all the same color. Damn colorblindness! Thanks for the tutorial.

[chasj]

Thanks Rich. I had to intentionally cut a cord that was 11 feet to a shorter length for a project I was working on. The application was for outdoors so instead of electrical tape I used Gardner Bender Black Liquid Electrical Tape. This is waterproof and doesn't deteriorate.

[mike]

Thank you!  A hanging picture directly above a plugged in cord fell down and broke a two prong plug to my big heavy lighted china cabinet.  The thought of moving the heavy cabinet to replace the entire cord was something I did not look forward to.  I bought a new color matching two prong extension cord at Target and used your video to replace the plug.  It came out beautifully.  Thank you so much.

[Maisy]

@RichsMethods The vacuum is running just fine with the cord repaired thanks to your thorough instructions! Thanks for encouraging women to try something like this simple repair.

[parkersre-creation]

Thanks for this!! Recently had a portion of my tv cord get melted. I'm not here to start an electrical fire, so I figured I should replace the damaged portion of the cord before using it. My dad isn't around so it was helpful to come online and find one of the first hits had a very simple explanation! Huzzah!

[poppykok]

Gosh, I wish you were my little brother or next door neighbor...grins...Seriously, thank you ever so kindly for taking the time to make this video...i'm a 60- year -old woman who is trying to get the courage to repair the wiring on an older lamp...Both of the wires came completely loose and were knocked off completely when the lamp accidentally was knocked onto the floor...It might be more costly though to buy the wire strippers than find a repairperson...
Thanks so much for your time...

[ditmasparkkid]

This is stuff they will never teach you in school. Thanks you saved me $200 cuz I accidentally cut my wire for my circle saw. It works like new now 😃.

[mtb]

Word, thanks for posting. It really is just that easy, and now my rice cooker is back in action!

[TucsonJohn]

On your two prong fix what I do is cut the marked wire a slightly different length than the unmarked wire, maybe an inch or less. This way when wrapping the connection there is less of a bulge and there also is more of the original insulation between the connections. I also twist the connections lengthwise and solder them. Makes a stronger connection and even less bulge.

[sugarmax]

Just wanted to say thank you! I never comment on videos but that was so clear and well done. I'm a country girl who loves to fix things on my own so videos like your own have been extremely beneficial.

Gracias,

Amelia

[mjsoup]

Good clear explanation, nice smooths cuts (ie: the video) and efficient use of words (no annoying unnecessary repetition and tangents), and good delivery. Thanks for your video!

[gacj]

You helped me as I just cut the orange cord with the hedge trimmer and didnt know they sold that orange female part where I only cut off 2 feet from end .... I will look for female orange part today ...Thank you for your help

[BaktolKillWithGuitar]

Cool demo dude!!!!
Before I saw your vid, I fixed a sauna machine cord and I thought I knew what I was doing...
When I plugged it in, It freakin exploded like shit....
Then I watched your video and I found out that I connected the copper wires in the opposite sides, And I connected it really messy...
So I give you a thumbs up, Hope you live forever and ever love you bro... You Saved My
ITS SAUNA

[ailandpete]

The estimate from the vacuum cleaner place was $80 to replace the cord. Thanks dude!