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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Do it Yourself Discussion! => Topic started by: HipGnosis on July 05, 2017, 04:21:52 PM

Title: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: HipGnosis on July 05, 2017, 04:21:52 PM
Since I rearranged my living room and put my electronics on a different wall, I'd trip a breaker if I made anything in my microwave when the TV is on.
Oddly, I can heat something up in the microwave, if it's done fairly shortly.   This actually made it harder for me to remember, because I didn't have to turn off the TV every time I used the microwave.
Well, the 3rd or 4th time it happened, after I reset the breaker I was setting the clock on the microwave and was setting it to the time on the oven, which is right next to the microwave.  It dawned on me that the oven had it's own outlet, on a separate circuit!  It's a gas oven and only uses elec. for the burner igniters, oven thermostat and the clock! (I think it has a timer too, but I've never used it)
I pulled the oven out from the wall and saw the outlet, about 2 feet off the floor, with an open outlet!  I unplugged the microwave from the outlet above the backsplash and plugged it into the outlet behind the oven.
I pushed the oven back to the wall... but it didn't go all the way.  The oven cord has a 90 degree plug, but the microwave didn't.
So I went to the big box hardware store.  The only 90 degree replacement plugs they had either had the cord going in the one way I couldn't use it (going away from the ground prong) or they were industrial duty and very big.  So I thought a bit and then bought a 'regular' replacement plug w/ ground.
I carefully drilled 3 holes in the top of the replacement plug.    I cut off 6" of the microwave plug (so I can use it for something else).  I cut back the outer casing of the cord and fed the wires thru the holes in the replacement plug.  I stripped the wires and connected them to the plug (green wire is ground). 
Then I cut down the part of the replacement plug where cord was 'suppose' to come out.
Plugged it in, pushed the oven back and set the clock on the microwave.
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: Mgmny on July 07, 2017, 04:39:01 AM
How did you secure the wires in your plug? You said you just pushed them in??? Did you tape it?
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: GuitarStv on July 07, 2017, 05:47:22 AM
Nice Job!  When I started learning about re-wiring guitars and amplifiers I was shocked at how simple it was to do things that most people would consider impossible (or very expensive).  There's a very unfounded fear of electronics that many people have.
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: NextTime on July 07, 2017, 07:13:49 AM
A few years ago our dog chewed through a lamp cord.  My father in law was visiting from outside the country, went to Lowes, bought a replacement cord, and wired it up.  Easy fix, but something I that wouldn't have crossed my mind prior to that. I had never even thought of there being replacement cords at Lowes.
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: Spork on July 07, 2017, 08:57:42 AM
A few years ago our dog chewed through a lamp cord.  My father in law was visiting from outside the country, went to Lowes, bought a replacement cord, and wired it up.  Easy fix, but something I that wouldn't have crossed my mind prior to that. I had never even thought of there being replacement cords at Lowes.

An aside: most times I've looked, it's cheaper to buy an extension cord of the same gauge wire than a replacement cord.  I usually end up buying an extension cord and cut the female end off of it.
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: HipGnosis on July 07, 2017, 09:03:20 AM
How did you secure the wires in your plug? You said you just pushed them in??? Did you tape it?
The plug has screw terminals for the wires.  I screwed them in.   After I pushed them thru the top of the housing.
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: HipGnosis on July 07, 2017, 09:07:20 AM
A few years ago our dog chewed through a lamp cord.  My father in law was visiting from outside the country, went to Lowes, bought a replacement cord, and wired it up.  Easy fix, but something I that wouldn't have crossed my mind prior to that. I had never even thought of there being replacement cords at Lowes.

An aside: most times I've looked, it's cheaper to buy an extension cord of the same gauge wire than a replacement cord.  I usually end up buying an extension cord and cut the female end off of it.
I've done that.  I'd cut about a foot off the female end.  Then I could put a male end on it and have a way to plug multiple power transformers into outlets or power strips.
Now I cut off the cord of things I'm disposing - to have at least one on hand.
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: HipGnosis on July 07, 2017, 09:31:20 AM
Can you post a picture of your plug?
It's not a great pic but...
click to see pic on flicker (https://flic.kr/p/WfEMGm)
Title: Re: DIY 90 degree power cord plug
Post by: Mgmny on July 07, 2017, 10:53:39 AM
How did you secure the wires in your plug? You said you just pushed them in??? Did you tape it?
The plug has screw terminals for the wires.  I screwed them in.   After I pushed them thru the top of the housing.

Ah!! After seeing the photo I misunderstood what type of plug you were using. Cool!