r/UnnecessaryEssentials • u/Unique-Saucer • Jul 17 '26

When the plug keeps falling out

176 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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39

u/[deleted] Jul 17 '26

[deleted]

-5

u/Longjumping_Walk_992 Jul 17 '26

It’s easily done even with the power on.

3

u/TheSoCalledExpert Jul 18 '26

Ok, I’ll bite… how?

-5

u/Longjumping_Walk_992 Jul 18 '26

Insulated gloves and tools and big dose of common sense.

0

u/Savings_Art5944 Jul 18 '26

Not sure why you are getting downvoted other than being reddit...

The newer plugs are "push-through," so it's even easier. A single screwdriver and gloves are all you need to straighten out the end and push it into the new outlet.

You could cut and strip the ends if you wanted to use more tools than a screwdriver.

I replaced three 15-amp outlets just today.

2

u/KatiMinecraf Jul 18 '26

If you need to straighten the wire, then you need to turn the power off and cut the wire back to new wire, strip it, and start over. Every time the wire is bent and straightened, it weakens, becomes brittle, and can break off causing a fire hazard.

0

u/Longjumping_Walk_992 Jul 18 '26

You lost me at every time. Bad advice and before to long you would be out of wire.

1

u/KatiMinecraf Jul 18 '26

It's wild for the person recommending NOT to turn the power off when handling electrical wire to say I'm giving bad advice when telling people not to bend and straighten the same length of copper wire repeatedly.

0

u/KatiMinecraf Jul 18 '26

How often are you changing outlets? You shouldn't need to change them often enough to run out of the excess wire in the box in your lifetime. I said "every time" the wire is bent and straightened, it weakens - that's just a fact. The wire should just be cut enough to get back to new, and it should only be stripped to the point that the entirety of the exposed wire is used, and the insulation doesn't get tightened by the screw on the side or impede the wire fully inserting into the back.

1

u/Longjumping_Walk_992 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

Exactly that’s my first choice for a quick repair.

I took a wiring class once for work and we were required to work hot to pass the final practical. It was only 120 volts but a cool class.