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Plug Extension Cords Together

Here's a trick I learned while working construction.
If you plug two extension cords together like this, they won't come unplugged by accident.
When you're done they're easy to unplug.

26 comments

Jun 13, 2011. 4:57 PME_MAN says:

i always use this, but ill try it with the extra twists next time....

May 31, 2011. 8:14 AM

Jedrokivich says:

This 'ible very much needed to be published.

May 30, 2011. 5:17 PMSpokehedz says:

I once went to a hardware store, and they had these little boxes that you clipped over the ends of the cords that stayed on permanent. Then, when you plugged in the cable, you slipped the boxes over the ends and they made a satisfying click together.

DUMBEST. THING. EVER.

I spent a good 10 minutes just laughing at this product, and couldn't comprehend what fool would spend his money on something that takes at most 15 seconds to just tie the cable ends in what you have pictured here.

The boxes were not waterproof. They were not particularly well secured either, as it had to be a 'one size fits all' product, so I can imagine the cables coming unplugged INSIDE the box if you tugged hard enough. It was not crush resistant. It didn't even look like it was that well made.

Jul 31, 2006. 7:37 AMWolvesOfWar says:

i knew that trick, theater light and sound at school club thing. but, do you now how to store a long wire? ahah

May 30, 2011. 5:10 PMSpokehedz says:

When you are coiling it, you switch off on which side you put new loops on. When you uncoil, the wire/cable will lay flat and not kink up on itself.

Oct 8, 2006. 1:27 AMkennytatheguy says:

oo oo i know, my dad showed me along time ago, but i forgot... but i remember that all u gotta do to untangle it is pull, and the whole thing gets undone =D

Jul 22, 2011. 1:00 PMgrundisimo says:

It's basically just a crochet chain with the cord.

Apr 15, 2012. 11:23 AMZerocool818 says:

its called a carpenters knot

May 30, 2011. 4:53 PMNaturalCrafter says:

thanks for this good reminder. Not only do plug want to unplug, they tend to ground out if the ground may be damp. We get busy working on projects and forget about the limit of the cord.

Jul 30, 2006. 6:11 PMScott Dallesasse says:

Actually the best way is to hold the ends of both cords and tie a figure 8 or flemish bend knot. That will take the stress off of the ends in case the cords are pulled tight

May 30, 2011. 10:26 AMstretch mark says:

Takes stress off the ends at the expense of adding stress to your cord though.

Jul 31, 2006. 5:56 PM

theRIAA says:

no the best way to do it is splice the cords together, add nylon fibers to the splice and dip it in a vaut of molten orange plasic. this way it easier, it takes up less cord and less "weight"

May 30, 2011. 4:48 AMkarlpinturr says:

If you want a permanent fix, yeah..., but this 'ible ain't about permanent joins.

May 30, 2011. 5:58 AM

rimar2000 says:

Hi Tim, glad to have your news!

Sep 21, 2008. 12:59 AM

SFHandyman says:

I just saw this. I put it up also. My Dad is a carpenter and taught me to do this.

Jan 2, 2008. 10:00 PMbudmc77 says:

i use it all the time when i have a drill or sumthing that won't stay pluged into a extension cord...awesome trick tho

Nov 9, 2006. 11:33 PMRobbGodshaw says:

tell me more about this "counter coil" please!

Sep 24, 2006. 7:33 AMYakeyglee says:

I love that, I am going to use that for my USB extention cord

Sep 3, 2006. 4:34 AMWolvesOfWar says:

not that long, just 10 meters or such(maybe more)

Aug 27, 2006. 10:48 PMbicyclelifestyle says:

How to store long wire? Are you talking about the counter-coil? I learned that trick working at an amusement park. Having a 100' length of coil and throwing it out so it is straight.