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Cut power cable repair?
GardenGrower11
Posts: 312
in Talkback
A friend has cut through a power cable of a new garden tool, and we're looking at the practicalities of repairing it. It's a hedge trimmer, but the same thing would apply to a lawn mower or anything else I guess.
In principle, it looks easy to find some sort of connector, strip back the cables and reattach the two parts of the cut cable. As easy as changing a plug. Is it that easy, is it safe, or am I missing something?
Any suggestions of where to buy a suitable connector, Maplins maybe?
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I would see if you can get a full replacement cord from a spares site and take it to bits and replace it. The only way I can think to repair the cord is to use domino blocks or solder the wires together but even if you tape them it wont be water proof and would be dangerous on a outdoor appliance where the grass its trailing on may be damp etc and the cord is liable to get tugged. If its cut near the plug or still has reasonable length you could just reattach the plug to where its cut.
16 amp Weatherproof Inline Connector. (3 pole i.e 2c+ E) IP68.
IP68 will cover you for wet grass, rain.
I just fixed ours after Himself decided to sever the cable with a spectacular bang and two thrown power breakers!
It was quite close to the unit so moisture won't be an issue. Cost me £2.09 from a local electrical supplier.
Use electrical tape on both wires separately, them tapes them together. Wrap round the flex approx 3 inch either way. I have done this numerous times. No problems. The electrical tape stops moisture getting in.
Thanks everyone for good advice, keep it coming, I would appreciate any input from anyone with experience of this, as there are obviously a range of things that might work.
I'll forward the link for this thread to my friend. I'm sure they'll appreciate it.
I just realised that I made it sound like I used magic. I stripped the cables back and used an inline socket. Took me ten minutes.
Thanks Steve, have you got a picture or link for the kind of socket you used?
Is it similar to the connector suggested by Frank?
Thanks Frank, my friend has had a look and thinks that looks like a good option.
Cairnsie, good advice too, thanks. But mass produced stuff is often not as easy as it should be to take apart and put back together. Apparently in this case, there's a non-standard screw preventing it, so re-connecting the cable might be an easier option.
Something like that.
There are two and three core sockets, make sure you get the right one. I saw them in a certain large DIY store and was shocked to see them for £7.99. I try to use local suppliers if at all possible and the local electricial supplies shop came good!
Just a few points to note here...
1 - it's safer to have a continuous cable which runs from the plug end into the appliance: you can get a kit of weirdly shaped screwdriver bits to open up things like this
2 - if you are using an inline connector like the picture above, then make sure the half with the visible pins is not connected to the mains socket side of the lead: you would get an electric shock if the power feed was live and you touched the pins
3 - don't use electrical tape to make the repair: this might be OK for temporary fixing of low voltage devices, but is not safe for mains voltages.
debbie brooks: you mention you have such an arrangement, so you really should get it fixed properly
4 - if in any doubt, don't do any electrical work without speaking to a qualified electrician.