Basic household electrical repair question

[fbrdphreak]

So my gf's pet rats are stored under her aquarium and they literally chewed only the two-prong power connector for one of her air pumps right off the wire. It is just a basic little two-prong power connector, with the power & ground wires running up to the air pump.

Can I just cut the power connector off a lamp or something (that looks of similar gauge, not some cheap-o flimsy nothing crap) and wire it up to the power cord off her air pump? Can I just twist the wires together and electrical tape it or should I solder the pieces together?

Suggestions?

 

[olds]

You can buy replacement plugs at hardware store that the wires attach to the plug with screws.

 

[Armitage]

Twist it together and get some of that heat-shrink tubing for each piece individually. Then tape the works.

 

[So]

It's a standard wall plug connector? Yeah. Make sure you get the polarity right if the original plug is polarized. I'd reccomend soldering it, for reliability's sake at the least. If you want to be fancy, pick up some heatshrink tubing.

Oh, and maybe move the rats. 😛

 

[fbrdphreak]

Any reason to solder them? I wouldn't think, the electrical connection should be just as safe, I'd think solder would just be more permanent.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: So
It's a standard wall plug connector? Yeah. Make sure you get the polarity right if the original plug is polarized. I'd reccomend soldering it, for reliability's sake at the least. If you want to be fancy, pick up some heatshrink tubing.

Oh, and maybe move the rats. 😛

Yeah, even though the cord won't move much I'd rather solder it. Now to get a soldering iron 🙂