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#1
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Plug won't come out
I plugged in an old appliance.
I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. Thanks, Cheron |
#2
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Plug won't come out
"chermena" writes:
I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. Thanks, Cheron Wonder if it welded itself in there somehow, or if dissimilar metals caused a fun little chemistry experiment in there. Replacement duplex outlets are cheap enough that your fallback would be to kill the breaker, break the outlet faceplate, replace the duplex outlet, cut off the cord end and replace the cord end (paying close attention to matching the blade conductor to the right end in the unlikely event such an old appliance has a polarized cord. Best Regards, -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ |
#3
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Plug won't come out
"chermena" wrote in message oups.com... I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. It might have arced and produced a spot weld. Pry it out with a screwdriver and inspect for arcing. I'd replace the outlet in any case, by the way. |
#4
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Plug won't come out
Charles Schuler wrote:
"chermena" wrote in message oups.com... I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. It might have arced and produced a spot weld. Pry it out with a screwdriver and inspect for arcing. I'd replace the outlet in any case, by the way. Ouch. Better cut the power before using a screwdriver that way! -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . |
#5
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Plug won't come out
"CJT" wrote in message ... Charles Schuler wrote: "chermena" wrote in message oups.com... I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. It might have arced and produced a spot weld. Pry it out with a screwdriver and inspect for arcing. I'd replace the outlet in any case, by the way. Ouch. Better cut the power before using a screwdriver that way! Aw, common. What do you suggest? |
#6
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Plug won't come out
Charles Schuler wrote:
"CJT" wrote in message ... Charles Schuler wrote: "chermena" wrote in message egroups.com... I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. It might have arced and produced a spot weld. Pry it out with a screwdriver and inspect for arcing. I'd replace the outlet in any case, by the way. Ouch. Better cut the power before using a screwdriver that way! Aw, common. What do you suggest? I suggest you can electrocute yourself if you try to use a screwdriver to pry out a plug before turning off the power. Duh. -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . |
#7
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Plug won't come out
I suggest you can electrocute yourself if you try to use a screwdriver to pry out a plug before turning off the power. Duh. Yeah ... right. Here is what you would have to do: Grip the metal part of the screwdriver with your left hand and ground your feet at the same time. Guess what? It still would not work in 9999 out of 10000 tries. You'd rather post criticisms than post solutions. Typical these days. ******. Just go away. Better yet, Plonk. |
#8
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Plug won't come out
"Charles Schuler" wrote in message . .. "CJT" wrote in message ... Charles Schuler wrote: "chermena" wrote in message oups.com... I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. It might have arced and produced a spot weld. Pry it out with a screwdriver and inspect for arcing. I'd replace the outlet in any case, by the way. Ouch. Better cut the power before using a screwdriver that way! Aw, common. What do you suggest? Electrocution would certainly be unlikely, but shorting the circuit could happen. It just seems prudent to open the breaker before messing with an outlet. |
#9
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Plug won't come out
I once made the mistake of telling a mechanic - don't worry - it can go
in only 1 way (on a multi-pin connector). He proved me wrong. Is it a normal plug one small side and one larger side (polarized)? Did someone force it in the wrong way - normally not possible? If so, turn breaker off ( plug a light in other part of outlet to make sure of the correct breaker) as suggested and use a screwdriver to remove. If this is what happened, you really do need to replace outlet. George |
#10
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Plug won't come out
On 2 Jan 2007 14:49:56 -0800, "George" wrote:
I once made the mistake of telling a mechanic - don't worry - it can go in only 1 way (on a multi-pin connector). He proved me wrong. Is it a normal plug one small side and one larger side (polarized)? Did someone force it in the wrong way - normally not possible? Not so much on wall outlets, but on extension cords, I often force the wide prong into a non-polarized slot. If you tip it first and get it half way in, then you can tip it back and get it in. You don't have to worry about it falling out either, like you often do with extension cords. If so, turn breaker off ( plug a light in other part of outlet to make sure of the correct breaker) as suggested and use a screwdriver to remove. If this is what happened, you really do need to replace outlet. George |
#11
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Plug won't come out
chermena wrote: I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. Thanks, Cheron Using a 2 prong plug in a grounded outlet is fine , happens all the time in my kitchen with small appliences. I would turn off breaker , and remove/replace the outlet. Then you can try a screwdriver to remove the plug, or break the outlet with pliers and remove the plug or whatever else you can think of to try. Wiggling the plug up and down may loosen up something if its just stuck. |
#12
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Plug won't come out
chermena wrote:
I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. Thanks, Cheron Plugging it into a switch is always a bad idea, you should have found a receptical to plug it into. If this was alt.pets I'd suggest tossing a bucket of water on it...G Jeff (Who says, "Don't try that with electrics.") -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
#13
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Plug won't come out
"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message If this was alt.pets I'd suggest tossing a bucket of water on it...G Might still work in this case too. |
#14
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Plug won't come out
On 2 Jan 2007 13:51:12 -0800, "chermena"
wrote: I plugged in an old appliance. I put two prongs into a three prong switch - never been a problem before. I used the appliance just fine. I went to remove the plug and it will NOT come out! Any ideas?? I'm stumped as to why this would happen. Thanks, Cheron You plugged it into a ***SWITCH*** ???????? Assuming you meant and outlet, I bet it welded itself in there. If this is a heating type appliance that sucks lots of power, it's very likely welded in there. I have had that happen a couple times now. Shut off the power to that outlet, and shake - wiggle - rock - pull - and beat the crap out of it with your fist. Either it will come out intact, or the plug or outlet will break. Let em' break. You really need to replace both the outlet and the plug when you are finished. If all the banging and motion wont get it out. cut the plug off the appliance cord, break the outlet cover until you can get to the outlet screws, and remove the outlet. Replace the outlet, the outlet cover plate, and the plug. Final cost, under $10 for parts, and hour or two of labor, (less for someone with experience), and an undisclosed number of cuss words. |
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