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.

Comments

[Matthew Lane Tripp]

Take both lines and hold them side by side about a foot away from the plugs then tie a knot in the cord made from two side by side cords...

[E_MAN]

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

[Jedrokivich]

This 'ible very much needed to be published.

[Spokehedz]

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.

[WolvesOfWar]

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

[Spokehedz]

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.

[kennytatheguy]

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

[grundisimo]

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

[Zerocool818]

its called a carpenters knot

[NaturalCrafter]

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.

[Scott Dallesasse]

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

[stretch mark]

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

[theRIAA]

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"

[karlpinturr]

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

[rimar2000]

Hi Tim, glad to have your news!

[SFHandyman]

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

[budmc77]

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

[RobbGodshaw]

tell me more about this "counter coil" please!

[Yakeyglee]

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

[WolvesOfWar]

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

[bicyclelifestyle]

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.

[hivoltage]

i do this all the time. especially handy w/ christmas lights and such.

[iman]

same here scurl! dont feel to bad :)

[Scurl!]

i agree, stuff like this makes me feel dumb, too. but only because i knew this and didn't think to tell anyone else about it....good job!

[mikesty]

Stuff like this makes me feel dumb. Thanks :)

[manimawesome]

funny what no one thinks of. brilliant.

[TheCheese9921]

my dad showed me this but yea it works great