to think most people wire their own plugs

[Toadinthehole]

The Guardian has begun an online photo gallery which exhibits people's personal experiences of the cuts in Britain.

Exhibit One is a picture intituled "Wiring my own white goods because I can't afford an electrician".

Link here.

Is someone having a little joke?

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

Mum, is that you?

windows dirtier after she's had a go!

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Ooh, I changed a plug... yesterday !! Do I win the internet?
Just as Ladyisabella said, I wanted to put a cable though a small hole in a cabinet, which meant taking the plug off, then putting it back one the cable was threaded through. Well, my mum did; it was her house.

She was happy that I drilled the little hole, but we had a quick debate over who got to do the plug. We both wanted to do it, as neither of us had changed one in so long. I won, so she made the tea. The plug was quicker.

[siezethenight]

I took off a sealed plug just last week as the prong was bent - it was the hoover. Had to cut it off, strip back the wires inside, take a regular plug off an appliance we never use and put it onto the hoover plus change the fuses.... I can't believe anybody would pay for this to be done... That people do not know how to do it. What happens if your prong gets bent? You get a new hoover or pay a man that can? Bonkers.

[Rosesforrosie]

Can anyone explain why people really ought to be able to change a plug? What's so awful about people who can't?

[Binkyridesagain]

DH, a sparky, realised he should take over wiring plugs when he 'caught' me using a tea spoon, sharp knife and my teeth to change one.

It was his fault though, if he had left his shed organised then I could have used the correct tools.

[Pigsmummy]

When buying new goods plugs are supplied so it's a non story really, I am 38 and it was taught in school but I doubt that it will be now after the law change.

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

It's not awful to not know how, it's just that it does come in handy to be able to.

Like my plug. One of those new fangled sealed ones, with the fuse that you can change without going into the plug. It got cracked. If i didn't know how to change a plug, I would have had to either buy a new item or call someone to come and help me.

As it was, I cut off the plug, cut away some of the outer tube, freed the wires inside, stripped off a bit to show the wire and used an old plug.

A plug is such a minor thing and yet people can sometimes chuck away a perfectly good item because of it! Bonkers.

[Jan49]

Rosesforrosie, well if you can't change a plug and you don't have anyone who will do it for you, you'll be stuck. Or maybe buying a new appliance because you can't change the plug. Or continuing to use an appliance with a few bare wires sticking out which you could electrocute yourself on.

[Rosesforrosie]

I would put it to you that most people if pushed could look it up on YouTube if the situation arose. Or can ask someone else to help.

If someone is stupid enough to use a plug with bare wires sticking out, then not being able to change the plug is the least of their day to day worries I'd have thought.

So worst case scenario is to buy a new appliance? I'm not sure that is such a dreadful tragedy.

As I say, I know the theory (and physics graduate DH, certainly does). But in all my adult life the situation just hasn't arisen. Plugs don't break... Certainly not before the original appliance is superseded/breaks anyway.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

"Exhibit One is a picture intituled "Wiring my own white goods because I can't afford an electrician"."

I wonder if this is quite as pathetic as it seems. I don't think this person is talking about putting a plug on a kettle - 'white goods' usually just means the big items like cookers and fridges. Cookers in particular don't have a plug but are wired into the mains. When I first moved home, my uncle - an electrician - cautioned me against connecting my cooker up myself, and insisted that he come round and do it for me. (For free, so not like a tradesman just drumming up business.) Done wrong, e.g. not switching off at the mains or not earthing properly, could produce a deathtrap.

[JollyPurpleGiant]

I changed a light switch cover myself a couple of years ago. I live in Scotland. Wonder if I've gone against building regs. Oops!

[WinnieFosterTether]

ImTooHecsy I wish I was your dm then you could wash my windows for me I've googled so many tips on washing windows and they still always look worse when I'm finished.

[GinOnTwoWheels]

^DH, a sparky, realised he should take over wiring plugs when he 'caught' me using a tea spoon, sharp knife and my teeth to change one.

It was his fault though, if he had left his shed organised then I could have used the correct tools.^

Binky, I went out and bought my own tools because my DP has the world's largest collection of tools mostly aincient and broken but inherited from his DF or DGF in the world's most untidly shed. Therefore, I am unable to find anything.

The ikea ones are cheap and good quality and come in a nice little case. I keep them in the billy bookcase and DP is not allowed to touch them on pain of death. When I need to change a fuse or whatever, I go get my own toolbox and complete the task without fuss.

I work in a technical industry and we often ask interviewees to wire a plug at interview. The success rate is not good.

[Binkyridesagain]

gin I've now bought my self a little tool kit, an ikea one, DH is also not allowed any where near it. He bought me a screwriver set a few years ago and slowly they have disappeared into his shed.

[JaponicaTroggs]

A lot of "why isn't everyone me" crowing on this thread. Not everyone is practical. I can't do most of the things mentioned, plugs, changing tyres., sewing. I have really poor fine motor skills in particular, can't do anything remotely fiddly, even threading a needle could take me an hour. I could research how to wire a plug and tell you how to do it but couldn't do it myself.
It makes you feel enough of a failure having no practicall skills without others sneering about it. I'm constantly having to justify not driving as well (non existent co-ordination, spatial awareness and panicky anxiety). I am a good cook though!

[Yonihadtoask]

I was taught how to wire a plug at a young age. But haven't done it for many years as most things now come with the plug already on.

I haven't ever changed a car wheel though. I called the RAC out the one time I had a flat. Don't have a spare in this car, just the filler stuff and compressor. I don't want t try that out either.

[Jan49]

Japonica, I think the point is that with some things either you need to be able to do them or you need someone else to do them, and wiring a plug is not something you'd call a professional for, I don't think. Being unable to do some things doesn't make you a failure. But I'm a single parent with no family except abroad and I haven't got anyone I'd ask. I either need to do things myself or pay a professional. I don't mind paying but I feel very awkward about things that I can't do but which aren't suitable to pay someone to do.

I can see that nowadays it's probably not often necessary to wire a plug, and I don't have to do it very often. BTW I can't drive either.

[JaponicaTroggs]

Jan, if I didnt have anyone else, I would have to pay someone or buy a new appliance. There's a difference between bring able to learn to do something yourself so as not to rely on others and not physically being able to it yourself. I would love to be able to do these things, I just can't. I would love to be able to wallpaper/paint instead of waiting for DH to do it, but Frank Spencer would do it better than me!

[JaponicaTroggs]

Oh and I wasn't brought up with a "girls can't do these things" attitude, my mum and sisters are great at these things, I am the only practical failure in the family.

[LaFataTurchina]

Where you left it - My dad installed my parents old oven/cooker and was thrown across the room by an electric shock! He was fine luckily.





I know electricity probably doesn't throw people across kitchens but that's the way he tells the story.

[BlackeyedSusan]

oh fuck. I demolished aa non supporting wall in the kitchen. I wallpapered aand painted the living room... 8 months pregnant... and I caan change tyre, and haave done so on more than one occsion. (never at the side of motorway though, that would be silly)

did not realise I was supposed to get someone to do it for me.. how silly.

[Rosesforrosie]

Susan, you've missed the point. You are not 'supposed' to do anything, you can do those things or not. With no shame or pride attached.

[quoteunquote]

bRown goes right, R
bLue goes left, L

I'm a bit that there are people who can't change a plug.