How to make your electric cords last longer ..

Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices

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U. S. GOVERNMENT

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Electric cords contain copper and rubber — two
materials needed to win the war. Little of either
can be spared for civilian use. So it's up to you
to make what you have last.

Remember that by care
cords you are saving th
electrical equipment. A
tributes to the all-out for

TAKE CARE OF ELECTRIC

Cords. ..Plugs

These are the parts of the electric cord —

Outlet plug, which fits into the wall outlet or
other source of electricity.

Appliance plug, which fits over the prongs of
the electrical equipment.

Cord, connecting the two plugs, made up of
two twisted bundles of fine copper wires. Each
bundle is wound with cotton thread and en-
closed in a rubber tube. The two rubber
tubes are further insulated with cotton thread
or asbestos, and usually are bound together by
a fabric or rubber covering.

Handle With Care

Don't hit plugs against hard objects... don't
yank the cord, kink it, twist it sharply, or knot
it... don't let the cord touch hot surfaces...
don't let a cord get wet... don't handle a wet
cord except with a thick pad of dry cloth.

Don't try to hide cords where they will be
stepped on or pushed against... don't do any-
thing that will expose the wires or that will let
the two wire bundles touch... don't staple or
nail cords to the wall or baseboard.

Never handle any cord with wet hands. Many
fatal accidents happen that way.

Save Cord Wear

If you have a switch at the outlet — turn the
switch to "off" before you connect or disconnect
the plugs. This prevents sparking between
metal prongs and outlet. Sparking eats away
metal and will in time cause poor connections.

If there is no switch, disconnect the plug
from the wall outlet first. It is much less
expensive to buy a new outlet plug than to
replace the appliance plug and the appliance
terminals.

To disconnect either plug, grasp the plug, not
the cord. Pull straight. If the plug sticks,
rock it gently from side to side as you pull, to
loosen one connection at a time.

It's the safest policy to disconnect the cord
from the outlet each time you finish using a
heating or cooking appliance.

Off Duty

Put cords away free from kinks, knots, or
sharp bends. Hang cords over large, round
wooden pegs... over two or more metal hooks...
or coil them loosely. Hang or coil the cord so
the same spot doesn't always get the rub or
bend.

ittHrwwwJteA f

d repair of electric
'life line" of your v
every saving con- -^
ory.

CORDS

Store in a clean, dry, cool place. Keep
rubber- covered cords in a dark place. If you
put cords in a drawer, be sure there's nothing
in the drawer to cut the cord covering.

If the cord is attached "for keeps," wrap it
loosely around the appliance, but let a heating
appliance cool first.

Extension Cords

Use them with caution: Extension cords usually
are not recommended, because it is dangerou. "zo
fasten them closely to baseboards or wall. It
maybe necessary to use them, however, now that
materials for installing new outlets are limited.
If so, inspect an extension cord from time to
time to be sure it has not frayed or worn thin.

Plug an extension cord in an outlet — never
attach it permanently. If you run the cord '
for a way around the room, attach it to the
baseboard with rubber or fiber-insulated fas-
teners. Run it around door casings — never
across a doorway, over steam or hot-water
pipes, or over hot-air registers.

Never run a cord where it will trip someone,
where it will be walked on, or where furniture
may be moved over it. If the covering is worn
off the wires, result may be a short circuit.. .a
fire... or dangerous electrical shocks.

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TAKE CARE OF ELECTRIC CORDS

Save Cord Wear Store in a dl

These are the parts of the electric cord-

If you have a switch at the outlet— turn the

put cords in a drawer, be sure there's nothii

switch to "off" before you connect or disconnect

other source of electricity.

the plugs. This prevents sparking between

If the cord is attached "for keeps," wrap

loosely around the appliance, but let a heatii

appliance cool first.

Extension Cords

expensive to buy a new outlet plug than to

closed in a rubber tube. The two rubber

tubes are further insulated with cotton thread

are not recommended, because it is dangerou.

or asbestos, and usually are bound together by
a fabric or rubber covering.

the cord. Pull straight. If the plug sticks.

fasten them closely to baseboards or wall,
materials for installing new outlets are limit*

Handle With Care

rock it gently from side to side as you pull, to

time to be sure it has not frayed or worn thin.

Plug an extension cord in an outlet— ne^

yank the cord, kink it, twist it sharply, or knot

from the outlet each time you finish using a

it.. .don't let the cord touch hot surfaces...

heating or cooking appliance.

for a way around the room, attach it to t

don't let a cord get wet. ..don't handle a wet

baseboard with rubber or fiber-insulated fi

cord except with a thick pad of dry cloth.

Off Duly

Don't try to hide cords where they will be

across a doorway, over steam or hot-wal

sharp benda. Hang cords over large, round

nail cords to the wall or baseboard.

may be moved over it. If the covering is wc

Never handle any cord with wet hands. Many

the same spot doesn't always get the rub or

off the wires, result may be a short circuit,

bend.

fire.. .or dangerous electrical shocks.

REPAIR

>ls Attach the Plug

repairs yqu need: Scissors, Warning! Look out for

If a cord breaks in 1

der. But if making

Making New Connections

Remove the Old Plug

driver and thumb (7). Draw it up so in:

' out from under

Cut off about

hold the two wire bundles. Pull wires free.
O Ouiki plug. Take the plug apart and note

Prepare Wires for Reconnection

nds of each wire bundle tightly-

right. Be careful not to break off a
sr wires. Twist each bundle to r

r damaged end of the cord (
If this is the appliance-plug ei

the plug back together again.
Frayed or Worn Coverings
Only outer covering damaged..

enough to melt solder quickly. Wipe I

■Wrap the end of a fabri
From fraying (3). Cut i

: and stretch it. . >vt rl.ippm

i along to completely .

splice (a). Draw

mndle separately wit
ts width to about one

i \t-..k\;\ kc-cp the soldering i:

MAKING A NEW CONNECTION WITH APPLIANCE PLUG

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PLAY SAFE

The Right Cord

Use a cord with asbestos insulation for heat-
ing appliances. For hard wear in damp places,
it is best that an electric cord be covered with
tough rubber. For ordinary household use —
on lamps, clocks, radios — cords covered with
cotton or silk braid are suitable.

Best way to check on how well a new cord
will wear is to look for the colored bracelet of
the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. This
nonprofit organization makes tests for safety
and strength of electric cords on request from
a manufacturing company. It does not com-
pare one manufacturer's product with another.

The gold band of the Underwriters' Labora-
tories on a cord shows the cord is built for an
extra long life and can stand a great deal of
bending. Next most durable are cords with a
red band. "Then come blue-banded cords, for
use with appliances where the cord gets little
bending. The yellow-banded cords are for
use where there is even less bending — such as
on a lamp.

Six Safety Rules

• Watch cords for wear. Repair at once.

• Keep a cord away from heat and from water,

• Don't run cords under rugs... any place where
they'll get unnecessary wear... or can trip people.

• Avoid use of extension cords. If you must
use them, be extra careful to check often for
frayed places.

• Never handle a cord with wet hands. Handle
a wet cord only with a thick pad of dry cloth.

• If you repair cords yourself, take time to do
a thorough job.

Other publications available from the
Department of Agriculture on the care
and repair of household equipment are...

How To Make Your Refrigerator Last
Longer.

How To Make Your Washing Machine Last
Longer.

Take Care of Household Rubber.

How To Make Your Gas or Electric Range
Last Longer.

How To Make Your Ironing Equipment Last
Longer.

Take Care of Vacuum Cleaners and Carpet
Sweepers.

Issued by

BUREAU OF HUMAN NUTRITION
AND HOME ECONOMICS

Agricultural Research Administration

U. S. Department of Agriculture

Washington, D. C.

March 1943

For sale by Superintendent of Documents, Washinston, D. C.
5 cents per copy; $1 per 100 copies

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16—33397-1