Softball 101: best way to re-attach the EU plug with these wires?

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

Newbie here with a fear of fire and other DIY mahem.

OK--so I have this heating element for my ski boot bag (essential equipment in Switzerland) and it has two plugs--one for the car and the other for 240V household use.
As I was stumbling into the elevator at 5AM on my way to the slopes I left the plug outside and it was caught in the elevator door when it closed. I did not notice and headed for the garage and as the elevator descended the bag was lifted up to the ceiling and the plug was ripped off before I could stop the elevator (cue bad jokes about my intelligence). Finding a replacement element is proving very challenging.

I have a few softballs--pretend I have the electrical DIY experience of a small child--all advice welcome.

What is the best way to attach this wire to this European Union plug?
Can I use electrical tape? Other tape? Or do I need to solder it first? Solder then tape? Should I be worried about a short or starting a fire?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Timbo]

Buy a replacement plug. Do NOT attempt to join that on again.
Shouldn't be too hard to find a plug in a diy or hardware store.
Example:

Flat European Rewireable Plug. 2.5A White (Enec - Kema Approved) | EuroNetwork

White rewireable 2 pin euro rewireable plug rated up to 2.5amps

www.euronetwork.co.uk

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

Buy a replacement plug. Do NOT attempt to join that on again.
Shouldn't be too hard to find a plug in a diy or hardware store.
Example:

Flat European Rewireable Plug. 2.5A White (Enec - Kema Approved) | EuroNetwork

White rewireable 2 pin euro rewireable plug rated up to 2.5amps

www.euronetwork.co.uk

Thank you--I am heading in that direction. Thank you again

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

Thank you--I am heading in that direction. Thank you again

One other question....I got new plug and re-wired it. Do I have to worry about polarity? I guess not and maybe a silly question but would be great to have confirmation. Is there something I can check? Thank you for considering it.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

One other question....I got new plug and re-wired it. Do I have to worry about polarity? I guess not and maybe a silly question but would be great to have confirmation. Is there something I can check? Thank you for considering it.

see pictures for the heating pad information.....and pictures for the color of the wires.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

see pictures for the heating pad information.....and pictures for the color of the wires.

I assume it does not matter but here is how it looks...when wired.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

see pictures for the heating pad information.....and pictures for the color of the wires.

I assume it does not matter but here is how it looks...when wired.

 

[westward10]

It isn't polarity biased. Push the cord further under the clamp so it isn't on the conductors.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

It isn't polarity biased. Push the cord further under the clamp so it isn't on the conductors.

OK. thanks. when you say cord are you talking about the wires or the white cord? I can advance the white cord but will need to cut and re-attach the wires. Is it OK to see a bit of copper when I attach the wires? Thanks again.

 

[westward10]

The white bit should be through the clamp. The connections could do with being tidier, strip back and fold over so it fills the terminal and the copper strands are not splayed/exposed.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

The white bit should be through the clamp. The connections could do with being tidier, strip back and fold over so it fills the terminal and the copper strands are not splayed/exposed.

Thank you. Clear now. I can definitely do better!

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

It isn't polarity biased. Push the cord further under the clamp so it isn't on the conductors.

Thank you again for the advice--re-did it, twisted wires and folded over so now it looks like this--am getting my nerve up to plug it in...will do it carefully and watch the heating element and plug to be sure they are working...good news that polarity is not an issue--that makes sense given that the plugs are the same and also the type of current 240V (although I need to read more to understand the polarity issue in Europe vs US).

 

[brianmoooore]

Shouldn't that plug have a CE mark on the label?

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

Shouldn't that plug have a CE mark on the label?

Hmm. Not sure. Got it online from Hornbach, an ACE hardware wannabe in Switzerland...

 

[westward10]

Yes that is a better job.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

Hmm. Not sure. Got it online from Hornbach, an ACE hardware wannabe in Switzerland...

said it was rated 240V and 10A

Hmm. Not sure. Got it online from Hornbach, an ACE hardware wannabe in Switzerland...

Here are some specs

 

[Lucien Nunes]

It's fine, it has the ESTI S+ mark. Note that it is not exactly the same as the one that got ripped off which was a Europlug, i.e. pan-EU 2.5A plug, but the one you have put on is a Swiss 2-pin 10A (i.e. the 2-pin version of the specific Swiss 3-pin plug) which is why it has a larger body profile. The funny thing is that a plug made in China specifically for Switzerland is labelled in English!

EU appliances that are sold with non-polarised 2-pin plugs are designed to be safe with either polarity. The wires are still blue and brown but that's mainly to avoid having to make another kind of cable with two wires the same colour.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

It's fine, it has the ESTI S+ mark. Note that it is not exactly the same as the one that got ripped off which was a Europlug, i.e. pan-EU 2.5A plug, but the one you have put on is a Swiss 2-pin 10A (i.e. the 2-pin version of the specific Swiss 3-pin plug) which is why it has a larger body profile. The funny thing is that a plug made in China specifically for Switzerland is labelled in English!

EU appliances that are sold with non-polarised 2-pin plugs are designed to be safe with either polarity. The wires are still blue and brown but that's mainly to avoid having to make another kind of cable with two wires the same colour.

Thank you. This forum is amazing. China makes everything and labels everything in English--too funny. Yes--it is not the same--I could not source a Europlug in Switzerland--probably available but not through usual hardware stores that we now cannot visit--and their online search capabilities are sometimes problematic but that is another story. I modified the plug by removing the ground pin since it was not going to be grounded. I think that I am set and will let you know how it goes--I am sure that I will once again be able to heat my ski boots and will be extra careful to avoid elevators with my boot bag!..

 

[Lucien Nunes]

The reason you can't buy a replacement Europlug is that they don't exist. The true Pan-European 2-pin type is always moulded on. There are various rewireable plugs available both 2 and 3 pin, but they are based on the local standards. The Italian version doesn't fit German sockets, for example, although Europlug fits both.

 

[Grewupwithoutelectricty]

Plugged it in for a few hours--everything worked fine--thank you again for the hand-holding!