Excess AC cord ?

jetlag100 · 05-27-2015, 07:19 PM

OK this may sound crazy to some, but, what does one do with the excess cord from my wall air conditioner...it looks stupid dangling on the wall..the outlet is high on the wall, just for the ac unit. Anyone?

ishoot308 · 05-27-2015, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetlag100

OK this may sound crazy to some, but, what does one do with the excess cord from my wall air conditioner...it looks stupid dangling on the wall..the outlet is high on the wall, just for the ac unit. Anyone?

How about just cutting it to the length you need and replace old plug with a new plug with the proper amperage rating.

wifi · 05-27-2015, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetlag100

OK this may sound crazy to some, but, what does one do with the excess cord from my wall air conditioner...it looks stupid dangling on the wall..the outlet is high on the wall, just for the ac unit. Anyone?

You're kidding ?!? Cut it off and put on your own connector, or maybe roll it up and use wire ties... Where are peoples imagination / innovation / common sense these days ?

tummyman · 05-27-2015, 07:56 PM

Call an electrician and have him add or move the outlet to a more convenient location.

camp guy · 05-27-2015, 08:01 PM

My favorite topic - electrical safety. The answer is (drum roll, please): you do nothing, unless you are a qualified electrician. If you are not, hire one, show him the situation, and listen to his suggestion. By the way, a little excess cord is not a problem.

Have a safe summer.

8gv · 05-27-2015, 08:02 PM

It depends...

How long is the cord? Any chance you can plug it into your neighbor's receptacle?

dpg · 05-28-2015, 06:23 AM

Hide the cord in the wall, run it outside underground and across the street to the closest neighbor.

ITD · 05-28-2015, 07:01 AM

Buy a couple nylon zip ties, coil the cord up and use the zip tie to secure it to something.

I'd be careful cutting the cord and putting a new plug on. Air conditioners draw a lot of current, you have to make sure you use a properly rated plug and more importantly make sure you have a good tight connection between the wires to the plug, otherwise it could overheat and melt or worse.

AC2717 · 05-28-2015, 07:32 AM

you could disconnect the wire in the AC unit itself, and shorten the wire and reconnect it. there is nothing wrong with doing this yourself as long as you connect it up the same way it was before you shortened it, don't cut the plug side off that's just nuts

Cal · 05-28-2015, 08:25 AM

Best answer yet AC2717!

You may also try removing the outer case and stuffing the excess cord inside without cutting anything. There is usually some room.

MAXUM · 05-28-2015, 11:23 AM

Hire an electrician to cut a cord and put a new plug on the end? Hmm... this takes about 5 minutes to do, there are a whopping three wires to connect to the new plug end and you'd really have to be a complete moron to screw it up if you can read simple directions (usually included with the new plug end).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OfdIfX-PwI

jetlag100 · 05-28-2015, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

How about just cutting it to the length you need and replace old plug with a new plug with the proper amperage rating.

Your not supposed to cut the cord...voids warranty.

jetlag100 · 05-28-2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal

Best answer yet AC2717!

You may also try removing the outer case and stuffing the excess cord inside without cutting anything. There is usually some room.

Tried that, buts there's not enough room....

jetlag100 · 05-28-2015, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camp guy

My favorite topic - electrical safety. The answer is (drum roll, please): you do nothing, unless you are a qualified electrician. If you are not, hire one, show him the situation, and listen to his suggestion. By the way, a little excess cord is not a problem.

Have a safe summer.

It's a lot of excess...the ac unit is in the wall. It's a cathedral ceiling, and looks re-donk-u-less...will have to call an electrician.

jetlag100 · 05-28-2015, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wifi

You're kidding ?!? Cut it off and put on your own connector, or maybe roll it up and use wire ties... Where are peoples imagination / innovation / common sense these days ?

I have plenty of imagination, common sense, and innovation...however, I am not an electrician, but, the wife of a firefighter, who knows the danger of screwing with cords that have been factory installed...You may like the "look" of rolled up cords on your wall, but, I don't. Thanks anyhoo!

SIKSUKR · 05-30-2015, 07:07 AM

Holy crap. Working with an electrical cord is not rocket science. I realize some people are more mechanically inclined that others but I cant imagine having to call an electrician because my cord is too long. If you dont want to shorten it than just do as AC or Wifi suggest.

TiltonBB · 05-30-2015, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Holy crap. Working with an electrical cord is not rocket science. I realize some people are more mechanically inclined that others but I cant imagine having to call an electrician because my cord is too long. If you dont want to shorten it than just do as AC or Wifi suggest.

There is a house on my street that is currently for sale with an asking price in the $5 million range.

A man who is friendly with the owner lived in the house for about 3 months. When he noticed a couple of lights out in the entry way ceiling light he couldn't figure out how to get up to it to change the bulbs. He called the owner and the owner told him that when any light bulbs burned out they just called an electrician to change the bulbs.

glennsteely · 05-31-2015, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiltonbb

there is a house on my street that is currently for sale with an asking price in the $5 million range.

A man who is friendly with the owner lived in the house for about 3 months. When he noticed a couple of lights out in the entry way ceiling light he couldn't figure out how to get up to it to change the bulbs. He called the owner and the owner told him that when any light bulbs burned out they just called an electrician to change the bulbs.

oh, the tough lives of the rich!!

Cal · 05-31-2015, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetlag100

Tried that, buts there's not enough room....

Oops, I did this with older units a while back. Guess newer ones are more compact

camp guy · 05-31-2015, 12:00 PM

The plug at the end of the cord on my AC units has a built in circuit breaker, something that probably could not be duplicated by a homeowner.

I think the prevailing wisdom involves consulting with an electrician.

brk-lnt · 05-31-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camp guy

The plug at the end of the cord on my AC units has a built in circuit breaker, something that probably could not be duplicated by a homeowner.

I think the prevailing wisdom involves consulting with an electrician.

Are you sure it's not a GFCI?

kauriel · 05-31-2015, 07:47 PM

We had same issue and got lucky that wrapping the cord around the frame for the AC once made it pretty close to the correct length.

dpg · 06-01-2015, 06:33 AM

Stop staring at it and don't worry about it before you know it you'll be raking leaves again.

05-27-2015, 07:19 PM	#1
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	Excess AC cord ? OK this may sound crazy to some, but, what does one do with the excess cord from my wall air conditioner...it looks stupid dangling on the wall..the outlet is high on the wall, just for the ac unit. Anyone?

05-27-2015, 08:01 PM	#5
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,181 Thanks: 299 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Excess AC cord My favorite topic - electrical safety. The answer is (drum roll, please): you do nothing, unless you are a qualified electrician. If you are not, hire one, show him the situation, and listen to his suggestion. By the way, a little excess cord is not a problem. Have a safe summer.

05-28-2015, 07:32 AM	#9
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,573 Thanks: 753 Thanked 353 Times in 265 Posts	you could disconnect the wire in the AC unit itself, and shorten the wire and reconnect it. there is nothing wrong with doing this yourself as long as you connect it up the same way it was before you shortened it, don't cut the plug side off that's just nuts __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

05-28-2015, 08:25 AM	#10
Cal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pitman , NJ Posts: 627 Thanks: 40 Thanked 21 Times in 12 Posts	Best answer yet AC2717! You may also try removing the outer case and stuffing the excess cord inside without cutting anything. There is usually some room. __________________ Paddle faster , I think I here banjos

05-30-2015, 07:07 AM	#16
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Holy crap. Working with an electrical cord is not rocket science. I realize some people are more mechanically inclined that others but I cant imagine having to call an electrician because my cord is too long. If you dont want to shorten it than just do as AC or Wifi suggest. __________________ SIKSUKR

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
fatlazyless (05-28-2015)

05-27-2015, 07:56 PM	#4
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 831 Thanks: 256 Thanked 671 Times in 242 Posts	Call an electrician and have him add or move the outlet to a more convenient location.

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Misha888 (05-27-2015)

05-27-2015, 08:02 PM	#6
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,092 Thanks: 64 Thanked 744 Times in 478 Posts	It depends... How long is the cord? Any chance you can plug it into your neighbor's receptacle?

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jetlag100 (05-28-2015)

05-28-2015, 06:23 AM	#7
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,591 Thanks: 150 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Hide the cord in the wall, run it outside underground and across the street to the closest neighbor.

The Following User Says Thank You to dpg For This Useful Post:
jetlag100 (05-28-2015)

05-28-2015, 07:01 AM	#8
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,925 Thanks: 476 Thanked 691 Times in 387 Posts	Buy a couple nylon zip ties, coil the cord up and use the zip tie to secure it to something. I'd be careful cutting the cord and putting a new plug on. Air conditioners draw a lot of current, you have to make sure you use a properly rated plug and more importantly make sure you have a good tight connection between the wires to the plug, otherwise it could overheat and melt or worse.

The Following User Says Thank You to AC2717 For This Useful Post:
Cal (05-28-2015)

05-28-2015, 11:23 AM	#11
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	Hire an electrician to cut a cord and put a new plug on the end? Hmm... this takes about 5 minutes to do, there are a whopping three wires to connect to the new plug end and you'd really have to be a complete moron to screw it up if you can read simple directions (usually included with the new plug end). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OfdIfX-PwI

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MAXUM For This Useful Post:
ishoot308 (05-28-2015), jetlag100 (05-28-2015)

The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to SIKSUKR For This Useful Post:
brk-lnt (05-30-2015), HellRaZoR004 (05-30-2015), ishoot308 (05-30-2015), trfour (05-30-2015), wifi (05-30-2015)

05-31-2015, 12:00 PM	#20
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,181 Thanks: 299 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Excess AC cord The plug at the end of the cord on my AC units has a built in circuit breaker, something that probably could not be duplicated by a homeowner. I think the prevailing wisdom involves consulting with an electrician.

05-31-2015, 07:47 PM	#22
kauriel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Laconia, N. MA Posts: 290 Thanks: 119 Thanked 62 Times in 44 Posts	We had same issue and got lucky that wrapping the cord around the frame for the AC once made it pretty close to the correct length.

06-01-2015, 06:33 AM	#23
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,591 Thanks: 150 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Stop staring at it and don't worry about it before you know it you'll be raking leaves again.

The Following User Says Thank You to dpg For This Useful Post:
ITD (06-01-2015)