The official household repairs megathread

[larryselbows]

Alright, I'm not so sure that this thread deserves a name of such grandeur, but I didn't want to be selfish and make a thread only about my dilemma as I'm sure a lot of people may have other questions about household repairs that need answered also.

Now to my problem, I was using my laptop last night and realized the power supply was getting low, so I plugged it in. Only the issue is that the grounding prong on my laptop plug broke off... FUHHHHHH!!

Am I going to get electrocuted JF? Am I going to die? Somebody help, I'm fearing for my life here.

Anyway, I'm thinking of going to the hardware store and buying a new plug head, then cutting my current laptop plug head off and soldering the new one on. Does anybody have any experience doing this? Is there any advice that a handyman oracle can give me? Like if there is a positive and negative side to the innards of my laptop plug wire?

Jazzfanz, what do I do?!

Here's a pic

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Until stores open tomorrow, I'd take a fork and plug that hole up. Should work like a charm.

 

[Chris-L]

Your pic doesn't work. I like the fork idea, seems solid.

 

[Chris-L]

I've repaired a lot of tools/extension cords using the 3 pronged universal plug-ends. They are only a couple bucks at the hardware store, you only need a knife and screwdriver to install them. not sure if it would work on a laptop, but I don't see why not. Give it a try, what's the worst that could happen?


here https://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/skill-builder/0,,1576708,00.html

 

[larryselbows]

added an attachment of my pic.

Thanks for the link man.

 

[Deleted member 848]

Here's a pic

Chucks? What is this, the 70s?

 

[franklin]

I am no help as usual. Something stuck out though. You fear for your life right now yet you're willing to solder it and just go with the flow?

 

[bigb]

There would be no soldering involved. The new male cord end would have screw terminals for your wires. The cord should have three wires in it. A black, a white, and a green. Green is ground, white is neutral, and black is hot (power). It's a piece of cake, I've done hundreds of them. But then again, I'm a fully licensed electrician.

 

[larryselbows]

There would be no soldering involved. The new male cord end would have screw terminals for your wires. The cord should have three wires in it. A black, a white, and a green. Green is ground, white is neutral, and black is hot (power). It's a piece of cake, I've done hundreds of them. But then again, I'm a fully licensed electrician.

Hayward bless you.

 

[bigb]

I should have added that the possibility of you getting "shocked" or "electrocuted" are actually pretty low.