DP has just broke my dryer

That's what electricians want you to believe. They probably make a lot of money from easy little jobs like changing a wall socket or a light fitting.

I remember hearing a horror story about a kid who'd got their hand on a plug with a bit flex attached (the man had obviously cut the flex so he'd have a spare plug) the kid was killed by putting the plug into a socket.

I have a funny feeling that might also have been part of the campaign to get factory fitted plugs so people wouldn't feel the need to remove plugs from appliances.

Yep, and it's easy to replace a light socket or wire in a new ceiling light, too. I've done both, in pre-internet days, with the help of the Reader's Digest DIY book.

Ah well, you didn't have to buy a new plug, that was the "fun" part, getting something home and then ransacking drawers & cupboards for an old plug that was kicking about, or failing that, robbing a plug off something else instead.

When I was very little, early 1980s, I remember my mum's iron broke, and she had to borrow one from a neighbour...she was still using the neighbour's iron after buying herself a new one, as she was waiting for my dad to take the plug off the old iron and put it on the new one. Funnily enough, the broken iron actually had a factory-fitted plug marked "Morphy Richards", as they'd gone through a phase of fitting plugs as a selling feature. They didn't do it for all that many years, as it was too expensive. Anyway, that plug was then fitted to the next iron, and the one after that, neither of which were Morphy Richards!

We learned how to do it in physics in the first year at secondary.

Mind you, that was in the days before appliances came with plugs already fitted. My nieces can't get their heads round the fact that you used to have to buy a plug and fit it every time you bought something electrical.

ETA: I still remember the mnemonic for which way round the wires go, too: BLue Bottom Left; BRown Bottom Right.

Of course I am, it's the life-blood of people who post on Mumsnet. Not the "burn" indeed. 😂

That's not the burn you think it is. That was a question statement. Like, "You went into the shop?" Are you unfamiliar with this use of language?

Been a long time since you were in school then lol.

This is not in any national curriculum in the UK.

This post has just highlighted the absolute difference in age between those commenting and the OP.

@Needspaceforlego my parents used to do that too! But didn’t change electrical goods as often as we do nowadays

My dad used to mess with electrics (one time he made the upstairs lights turn on in the living room and the kitchen turn on a bedroom light, it was chaos and he didn't know what he was doing but he did fix it!) and has often changed plugs (- he would always cut plugs off old appliances before getting rid of them which is something I ended up doing and then getting rid of because I never used them and then I needed one and had to buy one 🤦🏻‍♀️).

I'd never done it until last year, a plug was damaged when we moved and I was so proud of myself for changing it, if it wasn't for my dad then I'd have not known but I'd have looked online to see how to do it.

I don't think it's a bad thing that you had to ask if it was safe, many people didn't grow up being told how to do these things but you do know now!

Since your DH broke it I'd want to tell him to do it but honestly, I'd do it yourself so you know what you're doing next time you need to do this.

I will say though, at least for my plug, it was so fiddly that you need steady hands (which I struggle with) and non thick fingers (reason my husband could never do it 😅) and it did make my already short wire just a little bit shorter but it works at least!

I'm mid 30's and was never taught anything about plugs at school either and like I said, if not for my dad I'd have not known.

Showing your age there factory fitted plugs have been a thing for 30 years

God I've just remembered my parents reusing plugs. Buy new telly or whatever, take the plug of the old one!

Electrician friend wasn't amused to find id left those card diagrams on my plugs

😁

Your medal is in the post 🏅

I learned to do this as a child!

THIS.

I'm not from the UK, we weren't taught how to change plugs in schools and I wasn't in brownies (or a local equivalent).

But the first thing I do when something breaks down or any DIY is needed - go on google/youtube and check whether I could fix it/do it myself. Many things are fairly straightforward and perfectly doable. Like hell I'd be a helpless damsel and call an electrician or any other tradesman, and pay a bunch of $$$ for a doable task. Basic common sense to me.

Like installing a washing machine. Changing the plug. And the like. An easy 5 min job you can do yourself if you're able-bodied.

I think there are a lot of bullies on this thread! There was a decision taken somewhere ages ago that electrical appliances had to be sold with a plug sort of welded on, to make it more difficult for idiots to replace plugs. When I was a girl there was a whole charity which taught women how to rewire plugs (free) - and yes, they would teach men too. It is easy. But nowadays because everything comes with a plug, we have a ghastly throwaway society and people are assumed not to want to do this any more!!!!

My advice - buy a good quality plug. I was gonna say MK, which is what my electrician husband would say, but looking at the comparitive prices I think they are taking the piss. So buy a mid range one, not the cheapest out there.

Second bit of advice, you will need a fuse as well as a plug. Other people have said this. Buy a 13 amp. Things that heat up need higher amp fuses. 😃

Third bit of advice - youtube or even a diagram will show you how to wire it up. An undervalued but very important part of the wiring is the bit at the 'neck' of the plug - just where the wire comes out and becomes visible. There is a sort of bridge here which is the final bit of wiring you do. Once the three little wires are safely screwed in, you do this up TIGHTLY to make sure that anyone tugging the main wire can't pull the whole installation out. I can't post an image but I am talking about what's called the cable grip in some of the pictures I've just found for you!

changing a plug is a standard year 10 science lesson where I work. One of the most useful things in the curriculum. Just change the plug

Oh, thanks - I never realised that manually wired-in plugs were still legal!

Wow - like in the days when seaside B&Bs would proudly proclaim on their signs outside that each room had a COLOUR TV - and a shaver socket too!!

She asks right there in the OP whether she should call an electrician. At no point has she said she was going to throw the dryer out. She has also said she is only 28.

I know plugs can be wired, my dad did it once with an electric heater. But honestly, I am 40 and was never taught that at school. Even if I was, would anyone hardly remember it? There's no need to go on at the OP about it.

How on earth would the op even know this was an opinion when she's only seen incased plugs supplied by manufacturers ?
People are so quick to stick the boot into a young girl asking for advice. What is wrong with people? seriously!! and older women bullying young women 😡

I'm so sorry for the hard time you're getting here op, my daughters are 28 and 26 and wouldn't know you could change a plug as they were tiny the last time i did it and that's when you could take apart a plug with a screwdriver and replace the amp. This video should help ☺️