Sorting out elec wires

2112 wrote:
STOP is the correct answer

On the contrary I think the colors will be found if OP continues.

STOP is the correct answer

path1 wrote:
In above link I asked about my 30 amp elec connection about 6 months ago. After reading the responses I put some gorilla glue where it was separating. Well, it’s beginning to fall apart again. I picked up new replacement head yesterday. I can’t see any wire colors. I see what looks like thin cardboard paper wrapped in there. To make sure I re-wire the right wires to the right legs, before I chop off the head. I’m going to use my volt meter with continuity tester and listen for the beeping sound in order to keep the wires going to the right legs. So that means getting out extension cord and volt meter so I can sort everything out. Sometimes on 120 volt stuff I make sure no elec is in wire and hook up a 9 volt battery and check at other end, looking for the 9 volts I'm putting in other end. To make sure I have the right wire. On vehicles, it is harder for me. Sometimes a wire will be same color as something close to it. Sometimes I have to look real close for dashes and dots to make sure I’m messing with right wire.

OK…Here is my question…

How do you experienced guys go about sorting out wires?

STOP. Now, before you shoot your eye out. If you're asking the question, you know only enough to be dangerous to yourself and others. Hire a pro.

Black wire to the copper prong white wire to the silver opposite side green to ground prong

Yes, you can test the cord with a hand-held meter for continuity. That isn't a bad thing to do occasionally, even measuring resistance of the three conductors. That process may turn up a problem within the assembly.

What you will find in your cord is that the three conductors are wrapped in paper. This is a measure to add longevity to the cord assembly. Peel off the paper and you will find the three conductors are sheathed in the appropriate color sheathing, green, white, and black. Install the cord's wires as recommended above--line voltage (black) to a brass terminal, neutral (white) to a silver terminal, and ground (green) to the ground terminal. After assembly, you can test for continuity (or resistance), again. Test between terminals to make sure there is not a stray wire strand or other issue.

Tips: Make sure you have the jacket of the cord assembly long enough to be secured by your new cord end. Some of these cord retrofit ends have less than optimal retaining clamps so that I sometimes use a piece of shrink wrap that envelops the bottom of the jacket entry and the cord. The shrink wrap makes the connection between the two more durable.

If all the wires are same color for a 120v circuit I remove all and pull new wire.
NEC requires color code.

path1 wrote:
I can’t see any wire colors.

Of course the wires are colour coded, how else would anyone know what wire did what?

Black - hot, goes to the lug with a brass coloured screw
White - neutral, goes to the lug with a silver coloured screw
Green - ground, goes to the large ground lug

Continuity tester, but strip that cable back and they will be black/white/green.

X2

LittleBill wrote:
continuity test on meter, no need for adding voltage. unit will even alarm on some meters when continuity is found

continuity test on meter, no need for adding voltage. unit will even alarm on some meters when continuity is found