Putting On An Electric Plug.

[Tilly2]

I bought a new pond pump today and it didn't have a p[plug on it so I had to take the plug of the useless pump to put on the new one.
I used
A pair if cutting pliers to cut the plug off.
A wide flat screwdriver to undo the plug
A small Philips head screwdriver to undo the wire holder thingy
A tiny flat screwdriver to get the wires out of the holder things in the plug
A pair of pliers to cut the new cable
A wire stripper to expose the wires
Then I used them all again in reverse more or less

What a palaver!

Why don't they put a sort of usb thing on the end of the wire and produce plugs which you can just slot the wire into?

(I know that the length of the wire would be an issue but there must be an easier way to put a plug on a wire.

[boxtops]

It's years since I had to change a plug - everything I've bought for several years always comes with an integral plug (even my pond pump) - very surprised that yours didn't!

[craft1948]

I thought all electrical appliances had to be sold with plugs attached nowadays..................

[Tilly2]

I thought it should have a plug too. I bought it from Homebase. It's a reputable brand, Hozelock. I was not happy when I got it out of the box. It's working fine though. I didn't do any damage

[craft1948]

Isn't this covered by the plugs and sockets regulation 1994?

[boxtops]

I thought so too, craft. What does it say on the box, tilly, about the plug, do the instructions include "fit a plug of your own"?

[SlackAlice]

I know what your saying but it depends what sort of plug your fitting and what your plugging into. Could be ordinary 3 pin plug, Waterproof connector, or straight to a spur box.

Mine goes to a three spur box, the other two spurs being for UV filter and underwater lighting.

[Tilly2]

Yes, boxy the instructions tell you how to put on a plug.

[ethandron]

I once nearly had the unions on my back when, many years ago when i worked at the water board, I changed the plug on my electric typewriter..why wait for an electrician to come, fill in all sorts of forms, go away, come back with a plug changing person, when I could do it myself in five minutes? Didn't help that I was a 19 year old girl of course ;)
Two things my dad taught me, how to change a plug and how to change a tyre.

[Tilly2]

I have fitted an ordinary three pin plug. I don't understand most of what you've written, Alice. I don't know what a spur box is.

[SlackAlice]

Similar to these

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electrical/switches-sockets/outdoor-switches-sockets/outdoor_cable_connectors___connection_units/Diall-10A-In-Line-Connector-Black-12608732

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electrical/switches-sockets/outdoor-switches-sockets/outdoor_power_control/Diall-Power-Controller-4-Way-Switched-12608698

ok, wrong description on last one ☺☺☺

[Peter Pedant]

I sgree with craftie
I think it is unlawful to sell an electrical item without an integral plug.

[Tilly2]

Oh, thank you. I see. No, we don't have anything like that. We put the plug into an outdoor socket on the side of the pond.

[Tilly2]

I will ring the company tomorrow and ask about the legality.

[joko]

because then we'd all have to learn how to fit a 'usb thing' on the end of the wires instead...

kind of defeats the purpose really as if you are going to install a usb socket on the wire - why not just fit a plug ...?

the wires have to be firmly attached inside the plug for safety.
but some kind of slot and clamp system inside the plug so you could just push the wires through and release a mechanism that holds the wires in place would be good

[sunny-dave]

It appears to be (marginally) legal because they can argue that the pump is designed to be permanently attached to the mains wiring - which is safer than a plug/socket arrangement for outdoor equipment like pumps.

My guess is that the 'how to fit a plug' information will have some weasel words saying something along the lines of "if you decide to fit a plug instead of the preferred direct connection, then do it like this".

Pretty dubious though, given that many (most?) people now won't have a clue how to fit a plug correctly.

[Connemmara]

my mum showed me how to put on a plug when I was 9 years old.

[EcclesCake]

bLue wire to the left, bRown wire to the right simples!

What a shame I don't know my left from my right :-(

[craft1948]

lol when I split from the first Mr Craft and bought everything new for my own house nothing had a plug attached. I used to take the (usually) small appliances into the pub with me and buy someone a pint for fitting the plugs on for me.
The landlord did tell me off for bringing in a rather large floor lamp.

[ChuckFickens]

I'm fully qualified to fit a plug (yes I have a certificate for it!) and it amuses me slightly that I work for a company full of highly skilled electrical engineers but technically I'm the only person in the company that's allowed fit a plug to anything :)

Anyhow, Dave is correct, it would have been sold as an exempt item as it's intended to be permanently connected to a supply.

[Connemmara]

that is how I learnt Eccles.