Have you ever changed a plug? Do you know how to?

[Lord Bracknell]

Musing today about why shops think they need to open on Boxing Day, the thought crossed my mind that there used to be only two reasons why anyone needed to go shopping over the Christmas holiday. One was to buy batteries for some gift that had come without them. The other was to buy a three pin plug, for the same reason.

These days, every electrical appliance comes already fitted with a plug and no-one ever fits a plug at home. What used to be a standard domestic skill has now been lost forever.

What's your history with plugs?

 

[clapham_gull]

Change loads, but like a lot of people probably havent changed one for YEARS.

 

[Beach Hut]

I can change one OK but you are right it is not required anymore.

 

[Yorkie]

My Dad was a trained electrician. He taught me how to do that, change fuses (when it was fuse wire) and wire up light fittings etc etc.

 

[Frutos]

Never changed one, wouldn't know how to.

As for shops being open on Boxing Day, it's because we live in a consumer-orientated society where people want to be able to get whatever they want whenever they want it, and many shops are only too happy to meet that demand.

Sadly, I suspect we're not a million miles from Xmas Day opening being a commonplace thing.

 

[Beach Hut]

Never changed one, wouldn't know how to.

Here you go then:

http://uktv.co.uk/style/stepbystep/aid/118

 

[nail-Z]

Haven't for years. Most plugs these days are sealed so you couldn't change it even if you wanted to. Unless, of course, you cut the original one off and replace it with an old school plug.

 

[Hunting 784561]

I had to put a plug on a light yesterday that I made up from scratch.

It has been so long since last put a plug on, that I had to take the cover off an old plug in the house just to remember which way the blue and brown wires went...?

Im pleased I did though, as the fuse board has survived, the house is still standing , and no damage seems to have been done

 

[dougdeep]

I believe it's illegal now unless you are a trained electrician.

 

[El Presidente]

I thought LB was talking about buttplugs for a moment there. The mind boggled as to what Ros has bought him for Christmas.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I haven't changed one for years, El P.

 

[clapham_gull]

Probably producers of electrical goods quite sensibly supply one now and it's probably easier to produce a sealed unit.

But where the wastage comes in fact that the lead supplied is the same as something you've got hanging about the house or a "proprietary" type.

I find it shocking to be honest that mobile phone producers (for instance) are allowed to get away with producing something that only fits their phone.

The "kettle type" electrical lead is so common.

Working for a company that uses a lot of equipment like professional video machines (as well as having hundreds of PCs) that use the same lead I seen hundreds and hundreds of them thrown away.

 

[Lady Bracknell]

I haven't changed one for years, El P.

Best call in a trained electrician then.

Otherwise I foresee a nasty accident in the ring main department.

 

[Hunting 784561]

Best call in a trained electrician then.

Otherwise I foresee a nasty accident in the ring main department.

Quite..

You'll need some back up.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Good poll. We're so desperate to make life 'easier' for ourselves, some useful skills are being lost. I feel that about finding your way to places, and I'll never get a satnav. You should be able to navigate yourself from A to B, and surely the ability to plot a route and read a map will always be useful.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

I believe it's illegal now unless you are a trained electrician.

Indeed. I frequently hear police loudhailers round my neck of the woods. "BLUE ON THE LEFT, BROWN ON THE RIGHT" they scream out.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

Had to change one on a set of christmas lights last weekend.

 

[surrey jim]

have to do it from time to time, know how to

 

[Titanic]

I once spent a whole day changing 24 15amp plugs - eventually I learned the hard way that you have to remember to thread the flex through the plug top before attaching the wires to the pins - d'oh!

 

[British Bulldog]

have to do it from time to time, know how to

Do me a favour and let me the instructions fella, I've just finished building my teenage sons a new "naughty chair" and i'm not sure how to wire the plug up!