How to Repair a Vacuum Cleaner Power Cord

Vacuum cleaner power cords take a lot of abuse from being constantly swung around as you walk when vacuuming to being wrapped up around the vacuum when you are done to being run over a few times with the beater bar. These movements stress the cord and can eventually lead to failure. The three main areas of damage will be at the switch, in the center and at the end where the plug goes into the wall socket. All of these areas can be successfully repaired by the average do-it-yourself person.

The Switch

1

Unplug the vacuum cleaner from the wall socket.

2

Use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the switch plate that hold the switch in place. The cord will be secured with wire nuts attached to the individual wires. Unscrew the wire nuts, and release the cord from the switch.

3

Pull the cord out of the handle through its access hole. Cut the cord with a wire cutter where the damaged, broken or frayed wires are. Discard the damaged piece.

4

Push the wire back through the access hole. Strip the insulation off the individual wires with a wire stripper. Make sure there is approximately 1/2 inch of bare wire showing.

5

Wire nut the bare wires together with the switch wires. Make sure the same colored wires are wire nutted together.

6

Tuck the cord into the switch plate cavity, and remount the switch. Screw the screws in firmly until they are tight.

The Plug

1

Unplug the vacuum cleaner from the wall socket.

2

Cut the cord a few inches above a damaged plug or if the wires are frayed around the plug. Remove the old plug, and discard it.

3

Attach a new plug. Unscrew the cover on the new plug and push the body onto the cord. Strip the wires so that 1/2-inch of bare wire shows. Attach the wires to the electrical terminals in the plug housing. The white wires screw onto the silver terminal, the black wire screws onto the gold terminal, and the green wire, or ground wire, screws onto the green terminal.

4

Reattach the plug body to the housing.

Cord Damage In the Center

1

Unplug the vacuum from the wall outlet.

2

Cut the cord on both sides of the center damage.

3

Unscrew both a female and a male plug.

4

Push the bodies of each over one side of the cord. You will now have a female body on one side of the cut cord and a male body on the other side of the cut cord.

5

Strip the wires so that 1/2 inch of bare wire shows on each side. Attach the wires to the electrical terminals in the plug housings in both the female and male portions. The white wires screw onto the silver terminal, the black wire screws onto the gold terminal, and the green wire, or ground wire, screws onto the green terminal.

6

Reattach the plug bodies to their respective housings. Plug the male part into the female part.

Things You Will Need

Screwdriver

Wire cutter

Wire stripper

Male and female plugs

Warning

Electrical codes will not allow you to splice a power cord together or wrap the damaged area with electrical tape. Unless you want to discard the cord entirely and get a new one when the cord is cut or frayed in the middle, the only plausible repair is to cut out the damage and add in a female and a male plug.

If all else fails and you don't feel comfortable enough doing it yourself bring it on in to Shelby Vacuum and we'll get her done for ya! M-F 10:00-5:00